Nerea Irigoyen

Nerea Irigoyen is a Fellow at the University of Cambridge, affiliated with the School of Biological Sciences and the Department of Pathology. Her research focuses on the role of virus genome translation in viral pathogenicity and disease, particularly how virus translation is regulated and its impact on virulence, disease, and viral tropism. Her work examines coronaviruses, flaviviruses, viral translation, and cellular stress responses upon infection. She employs techniques such as ribosome profiling, RNA-Seq, and primary cells and organoids, alongside molecular and biochemical methods. Her research areas include immunology, antiviral screening, and proteostasis.

Nerea Irigoyen is a Research Group Leader at the University of Cambridge, specializing in virology with a focus on RNA viruses, particularly coronaviruses and flaviviruses. Her research explores the molecular mechanisms of viral gene expression, replication, and host interactions. She investigates how viral proteins modulate host cellular processes, such as the unfolded protein response and ribosomal frameshifting, to enhance viral replication. Her work also addresses the role of host proteolytic activity in viral capsid assembly and the impact of viral RNA structures on infection dynamics. Through advanced techniques like ribosome profiling and cryo-electron microscopy, she aims to uncover therapeutic targets for viral diseases, including SARS-CoV-2 and flaviviruses such as dengue and Zika.