NEXT-Val Drives Research into New Predictive Models to Improve Prognosis in Severe Stroke Cases
The Valdecilla Health Research Institute (IDIVAL) has awarded seven young researchers through the NEXT-Val program (NEXT generation VALdecilla), an initiative aimed at boosting translational research in the biomedical field in Cantabria. Among the awardees is Juan Marta Enguita, a neurologist specializing in cerebrovascular diseases, who is leading a project to understand and combat thromboinflammation associated with ischemic stroke, one of the leading causes of disability and death worldwide.
With a budget of nearly 150.000€ and grants of up to 25,000€ per project, NEXT-Val supports emerging researchers who have not yet led competitive projects, helping them take a step toward greater scientific independence and international competitiveness. For Juan Marta, this opportunity is another step in a journey that combines laboratory research with direct patient care. “Everything is influenced by my father, also a neurologist, who instilled in me a passion for asking questions and seeking answers,” he explains.
A Neurologist with a Passion for Research
His career began as a predoctoral researcher at the Atherothrombosis Laboratory at CIMA–University of Navarra, and continued as a postdoctoral researcher in the Stroke Research Group at Donostia University Hospital. There, he analyzed samples from 500 stroke patients and 85 thrombi, identifying previously undescribed markers of the disease. This work resulted in high-impact scientific publications and was recognized by scientific societies such as the Spanish Society of Thrombosis and Haemostasis, which awarded him second prize in basic and translational research for his study on the role of coagulation factor XIII in thromboinflammation. In March 2023, he defended his doctoral thesis with Summa Cum Laude honors and the Extraordinary Doctorate Award.
Currently, he is part of the RICORS-Stroke collaborative research network of the Carlos III Health Institute and participates in initiatives such as the Nordictus group, the RENISEN registry, and the Ictus-Cog consortium, which studies cognitive decline after stroke.
A Project to Unravel the Role of Thromboinflammation
His project, Role of Neutrophil–Platelet Interaction in Thromboinflammation Associated with Ischemic Stroke,” will analyze blood and thrombus samples from patients who have suffered severe strokes to study how the inflammatory response and immune system cells influence brain damage and recovery. The aim is to identify new biomarkers to improve prognosis, open up potential therapeutic avenues, and refine multimodal predictive models.
Marta Enguita notes that his interest in this line of research arose from a combination of circumstances: “Since my third year of residency, I had been collaborating with my thesis supervisor in a laboratory focused on coagulation, and my prior work on cerebrovascular diseases made this approach feel natural. Additionally, after the pandemic, thromboinflammation gained prominence due to the disorders caused by COVID-19.
Science Explained to Children, Too
He explains his research in simple terms using a relatable metaphor: “A stroke happens when a clot clogs one of the pipes that carries blood to the brain. Our goal is to analyze which components in patients’ blood contribute to the formation of these clots, and our dream is to develop a treatment that minimizes the risk of them forming.”
A Commitment to Social Impact
Stroke is a devastating condition: one in six people will suffer one in their lifetime, with a 20% mortality rate and 30% resulting in disability. “Anything that can be done to reduce its frequency and severity would make a huge difference in our society,” the researcher emphasizes, fully aware that while recent progress is encouraging, it remains insufficient.
Beyond his family, he finds inspiration in historical figures like his fellow countryman Santiago Ramón y Cajal, who, like him, devoted his life to unraveling the mysteries of the nervous system.
A Path Marked by Humor and Philosophy
Humor is never far from his path. He fondly remembers how, for years, his friends would ask about “his little lab mice, imagining who knows what scenes.” When asked for advice to future researchers, he blends pragmatism with creativity: “Enjoy the journey,” “there’s no change without exchange,” and “make a strawberry think like a tomato.”
Looking to the future, his aspiration is clear: “I’d like to feel that I did what I truly wanted, and that I knew how to adapt and make the most of what came my way.”
