Cindy G. Avalos-de León, PhD

My research interests have evolved through a continuum of questions in transplantation immunology, centered on understanding the mechanisms that drive allograft rejection and immune tolerance. During my doctoral training, I investigated how donor conditions, including brain death and circulatory death, influence liver transplantation outcomes, with a particular focus on the impact of ischemia-reperfusion injury on hepatic function. This work provided a strong foundation in transplant biology and preclinical transplantation models.

As a postdoctoral fellow, I further developed my research interests by investigating the immune mechanisms underlying liver ischemia-reperfusion injury, with a particular focus on the role of small extracellular vesicles, dendritic cells, and immune regulation in shaping inflammatory responses with implications for liver transplantation.

Building on this knowledge, my current research aims to develop targeted strategies to promote donor-specific immune tolerance and improve long-term transplant outcomes by integrating transplantation immunology with emerging RNA-based therapeutic approaches.