Dr Ismael Plaza Garcia-Abadillo

I am a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC). My work focuses on Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), the causative agent of tuberculosis and one of the world’s most lethal infectious pathogens. Despite the success of antibiotics over the past century, Mtb has a remarkable ability to develop resistance, posing an urgent global health threat.

In my postdoctoral project, I aim to unravel the molecular mechanisms underlying the acquisition of antibiotic resistance in Mtb. This research is embedded within the REpState consortium and the network established in Meindert Lamers’ laboratory, integrating an interdisciplinary approach based on biochemical methods, single-molecule techniques, and cryo-electron microscopy.

CV Summary

From 2016 to 2018, I completed both my Bachelor’s and Master’s theses in Professor Iván López-Montero’s laboratory at the Complutense University of Madrid. During this period, I worked with molecular biology, protein purification, confocal microscopy, and cell culture techniques to design a novel drug delivery system based on Listeriolysin O from Listeria monocytogenes. This experience strengthened my passion for research and motivated me to pursue a PhD.

From 2019 to March 2025, I carried out my doctoral research in Dr. Borja Ibarra Urruela’s laboratory at IMDEA Nanoscience (Madrid), where I investigated mitochondrial DNA replication. Since mtDNA maintenance is critical for cellular function and associated with various human diseases — including aging-related disorders — my research aimed to understand how defects in mtDNA replication contribute to the onset of these pathologies. This work allowed me to develop both scientific maturity and expertise in DNA replication mechanisms and advanced biophysical techniques.

Starting in December 2025, I am excited to apply my skills and experience  to study DNA replication in Mycobacterium tuberculosis within the Lamers lab.