Dr. Francisco Sierra Lopez| Medicine and Health Sciences | Best Researcher Award

Guest researcher, High Specialty Regional Hospital of Ixtapaluca (HRAEI), Mexico

Francisco Sierra López is a guest researcher at the High Specialty Regional Hospital of Ixtapaluca (HRAEI), Mexico. A molecular biologist and biomedical innovator, he specializes in the study of extracellular vesicles and their role in infections, cancer, and immunological processes. He received his Bachelor’s in Biology and completed postdoctoral research at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), followed by a Master’s and Ph.D. in Science from the Center for Research and Advanced Studies (CINVESTAV-IPN). His interdisciplinary approach led to the discovery and patenting of immunogenic giant extracellular vesicles (VEGs) derived from protozoan parasites. Francisco has authored four internationally recognized publications and is credited with both a national and a WIPO-registered patent. His research continues to explore novel diagnostic and therapeutic avenues in oncology and infectious diseases.

Profile

Google Scholar

Education

Francisco Sierra López holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology and pursued his postdoctoral training at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), one of Latin America’s most prestigious research institutions. He earned his Master’s and Doctorate degrees in Science from the Center for Research and Advanced Studies of the National Polytechnic Institute (CINVESTAV-IPN), specializing in cell and molecular biology. During his academic tenure, he engaged in groundbreaking studies on protozoan parasites and molecular signaling, which later expanded into the study of extracellular vesicles across species. His educational journey was characterized by a consistent focus on translational research, integrating bench-side discovery with real-world applications. Francisco’s advanced training in biomedical sciences forms the cornerstone of his research career, laying a foundation for his subsequent innovations in immunogenic vesicle technologies.

Experience

Francisco Sierra López currently serves as a guest researcher at the High Specialty Regional Hospital of Ixtapaluca (HRAEI), where he investigates biomedical applications of extracellular vesicles (EVs). His earlier career includes roles as a doctoral and postdoctoral researcher at CINVESTAV-IPN and UNAM, respectively. Throughout his scientific path, Francisco has designed and led interdisciplinary research projects—particularly those examining extracellular vesicle secretion in pathogenic protozoa, cancerous tissues, and immune cell lines. He has served as principal investigator in four funded research projects and collaborated with various specialists in parasitology, oncology, and cellular biology. Despite having no direct industry collaborations to date, his research findings hold strong potential for clinical and pharmaceutical innovation. Francisco’s work is marked by technical precision and creative experimentation, leading to peer-reviewed publications and internationally recognized patents.

Research Focus

Francisco Sierra López’s research centers on the secretion and application of extracellular vesicles (EVs) across a spectrum of biological contexts, from protozoan parasitology to immunology and oncology. He has conducted experimental studies on EVs secreted by protozoan parasites, such as Entamoeba histolytica and Acanthamoeba culbertsoni, elucidating their roles in host-pathogen interactions. His work also extends to understanding EVs in cancer cells (including ovarian cancer and leukemia) and immune cells (monocytes, macrophages), particularly under co-infection conditions such as COVID-19. Francisco’s innovative methodologies have led to two patents concerning the purification and immunogenic potential of EVs. His cross-disciplinary approach bridges cellular biology with biomedical application, aiming to transform vesicle biology into actionable health interventions. This research contributes not only to fundamental biology but also to diagnostics, vaccine development, and therapeutic targeting.

Publication Top Notes

1. Influence of Micropatterned Grill Lines on Entamoeba histolytica Trophozoites Morphology and Migration

Authors: F. Sierra-López, L. Baylón-Pacheco, et al.
Journal: Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology, Vol 8, 295, 2018
Cited by: 8
Summary: This study reveals how surface topography influences the morphology and motility of E. histolytica, highlighting the interaction between physical microenvironments and protozoan behavior.

2. Characterization of Low Molecular Weight Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases of Entamoeba histolytica

Authors: F. Sierra-López, L. Baylón-Pacheco, SC Vanegas-Villa, JL Rosales-Encina
Journal: Biochimie, Vol 180, pp. 43–53, 2021
Cited by: 5
Summary: This biochemical investigation characterizes phosphatases in E. histolytica, offering insight into potential enzymatic targets for therapeutic intervention in amoebiasis.

3. Extracellular Vesicles Secreted by Acanthamoeba culbertsoni Have COX and Proteolytic Activity and Induce Hemolysis

Authors: F. Sierra-López, I. Castelan-Ramírez, D. Hernández-Martínez, et al.
Journal: Microorganisms, Vol 11(11), Article 2762, 2023
Cited by: 3
Summary: The paper explores enzymatic activities within EVs secreted by A. culbertsoni, showing their role in red blood cell lysis and pathogenicity mechanisms.

4. A Fraction of Escherichia coli Bacteria Induces an Increase in the Secretion of Extracellular Vesicle Polydispersity in Macrophages

Authors: SMM Sierra-López F, Iglesias-Vázquez V, et al.
Journal: International Journal of Molecular Sciences, Vol 26(8), 2025
Summary: This upcoming article discusses how bacterial co-infection alters EV secretion profiles in immune cells, with implications for inflammation and viral pathogenesis.

Patents

1. Immunogenic Giant Extracellular Vesicles of Parasitic Protozoa

Patent No.: MX/a/2016/014875 | IMPI | Issued: March 22, 2023
Folio: MX/E/2016/081517
Inventors: Francisco Sierra López, Luis A. Carreño Sánchez, José L. Rosales Encina
Patent Link (IMPI)

2. Same Patent Filed at WIPO

Folio: PCT/IB2017/056917 | Published: June 17, 2018
Patent Link (WIPO)

Conclusion

Dr. Francisco Sierra López stands out as a high-potential early-career researcher whose innovative work on extracellular vesicles spans a rare combination of protozoan pathogenesis, cancer biology, and immunology. His cross-disciplinary research, patented technologies, and early scholarly impact indicate a trajectory toward excellence in biomedical science.