Paola Pinto Hernandez

Postdoctoral researcher in the Integrative Physiology group, Paola Pinto-Hernández is interested in understanding the molecular and epigenetic mechanisms linking physical activity and metabolic health.

Originally from the north of Spain, Paola completed her PhD at the University of Oviedo, where she specialized in the study of miRNAs and inter-tissue communication during exercise. During her doctoral training, she carried out an international stay at the Karolinska Institutet in the laboratory of Profs. Juleen Zierath and Anna Krook, investigating the in vitro response to exercise in miRNA secretion using skeletal muscle models. Paola joined the Karolinska Institutet as a postdoctoral fellow in January 2025.

My research focuses on the role of epigenetic mechanisms, particularly non-coding RNAs (miRNAs and lncRNAs), in response to exercise within the skeletal muscle as the central engine of our metabolism. During aging, this engine progressively loses its capacity to adapt to metabolic stressors, a process often accelerated by type 2 diabetes. My work aims to map the complex interactome of these sequences to uncover how we can prevent the loss of muscle mass and plasticity. Ultimately, I strive to identify molecular keys that can keep our bodies resilient and healthy throughout the aging process.

Teaching is a fundamental pillar of my academic career and my commitment to training future scientists. During her doctoral studies at the University of Oviedo (Spain), Paola taught laboratory sessions for undergraduate students in biotechnology and biology within the Department of Functional Biology (physiology area).