Manel Esteller, born in Sant Boi de Llobregat, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain (1968), graduated with Honours in Medicine from the Universitat de Barcelona (1992) and earned his PhD in molecular genetics (1996). He was an Invited Researcher at the School of Biological and Medical Sciences at the University of St. Andrews (Scotland, UK). He was a researcher at the Johns Hopkins University and School of Medicine (Baltimore, USA) where he established promoter hypermethylation of tumour suppressor genes as a hallmark of all human tumours (1997 to 2001). He led the CNIO Cancer Epigenetics Laboratory (2001-2008) and directed the Cancer Epigenetics and Biology Program (PEBC) in Barcelona (2008-2019). As Director he guided the Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute (IJC) (2019-2024). Currently, he leads the Cancer Epigenetics Group at Sant Pau Research Institute (IRSantPau), is Chairman of Genetics in the School of Medicine of the University of Barcelona, and is an ICREA Research Professor.
Research interests
-Definition of the Epigenome and Epitranscriptome of Cancer Cells: Profile of DNA methylation and histone modifications in tumor suppressor genes and repetitive sequences in cancer. Global and gene-specific definition of aberrant epigenetic changes and functional consequences in transcription regulation, DNA repair and chromosome instability. -Study of the Epigenetics and Epitranscriptomics Machinery and Mechanisms: Role and function of DNA and RNA methyltransferases, specificity of methyl-CpG binding domain proteins (the nuclear factors that recognize DNA methylation), analysis of biological properties of histone deacetylases and methyltransferases (enzymes that modify histones). -Study of Mutations in the Epigenetic Machinery: The mechanisms underlying the disruption of the epigenetic landscape in transformed cells are unknown. -Study of the Epigenetic and Genetic Disruption of Non-Coding RNAs in Human Cancer. -Characterization of the Epitranscriptome in Human Diseases.
Selected publications
- Palma, LG et al. 2025, 'Chromatin activity of IκBα mediates the exit from naive pluripotency', Elife, 14, RP102784.
- Sibai M, Esteller M et al. 2025, 'The spatial landscape of cancer hallmarks reveals patterns of tumor ecological dynamics and drug sensitivity', Cell reports, 44 - 2 - 115229.
- Siqueira E, Esteller M et al. 2025, 'NEAT1-mediated regulation of proteostasis and mRNA localization impacts autophagy dysregulation in Rett syndrome', Nucleic acids research, 53 - 4 - gkaf074.
- Thomas, N et al. 2025, 'DNA Methylation Epitypes of Burkitt Lymphoma with Distinct Molecular and Clinical Features', Blood cancer discovery, 6 - 4 - 325 - 342.
- Bove, G et al. 2025, 'METTL16-mediated inhibition of MXD4 promotes leukemia through activation of the MYC-MAX axis', Oncogene,44(43):4159-4172.
- Lin, YY et al. 2025, 'Pipeline Olympics: continuable benchmarking of computational workflows for DNA methylation sequencing data against an experimental gold standard', Nucleic acids research, 53 - 19 - gkaf970.
- Noguera-Castells A, Esteller M et al. 2025, 'A DNA methylation database of human and mouse hematological malignancy cell lines', Leukemia, 39-512-515.
- Santos-Pujol, E et al. 2025, 'The multiomics blueprint of the individual with the most extreme lifespan', Cell rep.medicine, 6 - 10 - 102368.
Selected research activities
RECOGNITIONS, SCIENTIFIC HONORS AND AWARDS 2025:
- Prize Jaume Aiguader i Miró, Academy of Medical and Health Sciences of Catalonia and the Balearic Islands
- Blue GENIUS Award, Vocento Group
- Social Media Ambassador, American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)
- Research Prize of the Barrié Foundation-RAMG
- Best Biomedical Scientist in Spain according to Research.com
- Highly Ranked Scholar by ScholarGPS
- Top 0.1% World Scientists based on Impact by Biomedical Data Science, and Statistics and Meta-Research Innovation Center (METRICS) at Stanford University