Our interviewee is Claudia Cifuentes Caballero, a Postdoctoral researcher in the laboratory of Professor Nicola Vannini at the Oncology, Microbiology and Immunology department, Faculty of Medicine, University of Fribourg, Switzerland. Claudia received a FEBS Open Bio Poster Prize at the FEBS Advanced Course “Immunology, metabolism and ageing" (8–11 September 2025), in Matrei am Brenner, Austria.
Tell us about your research topic/work. What project(s) are you working on? What is the aim of your study?
The title of the poster was “Targeting AMP accumulation and fatty acid metabolism alterations in aged T cells to restore CAR-T cell function.” My project focuses on the metabolic reprogramming of CAR-T cells derived from aged donors to enhance their anti-tumor capacity and long-term persistence. Ultimately, this work aims to improve cellular therapies for older patients, as cancer incidence in our society is strongly associated with age, highlighting the need to develop age-inclusive therapeutic strategies.
Who or what inspired you to choose a career in science?
My father is a chemist and my mother is a physician, so from a very young age, I was fortunate to grow up surrounded by scientific thinking and curiosity. Their passion for research and medicine inspired me to explore science as a way to understand the world and contribute to improving human health.
How does it feel to receive a FEBS Open Bio Poster Prize as recognition for your work? How do you see this Prize influencing your career and future plans?
I feel very fortunate and grateful to have received this recognition. Awards like this are extremely motivating and encourage us to continue working with enthusiasm and commitment. In addition, this recognition helps increase the visibility of my work, which I hope will allow me to connect with experts in the field and positively influence my future career development.
What advice would you give to aspiring students/scientists?
I would like them to remember that research is a marathon, not a sprint. Although there may be frustrating moments, the reasons why we do this work are far more important than the small daily frustrations. I would also encourage them to maintain a healthy work–life balance, as having time to recharge is essential to sustain motivation, creativity, and energy in the long term.
Where do you envision the future of your career?
I envision continuing to learn and further develop my skills in Switzerland for a few more years. In the medium to long term, I would like to return to my home country, Spain, and contribute to research in the place where I first began my journey in science.