Institute of Life Science 2 Internal Atrium

Dr Jezabel Garcia Parra

Affiliate

Faculty of Medicine Health and Life Science

j.garciaparra@swansea.ac.uk

Available For Postgraduate Supervision

About

Jezabel’s research focuses on the development of advanced therapeutics in precision medicine and the study of novel cancer biomarker.
In Swansea University, she has been directly involved in projects of ADC development, discovery of novel ADC targets, study of exosomes for therapeutic applications, development of 3D culture models and implementation of high-content imaging procedures.
Her clinical interests have been always focused in the oncology field, mainly exploring gynaecological (ovarian, endometrial and cervical cancer) and breast cancers.
Her scientific career has been always connected to translational medicine and her aim is to contribute through preclinical research to the development of novel cancer treatments and tools for early diagnosis of cancer.

Areas Of Expertise

• Cancer
• Drug development
• Biomarker discovery
• Reproductive Biology
• Antibody-Drug Conjugates
• Exosomes
• Translational Biomedical Research

Publications

Research Highlights

García-Parra, J., Dalmases, A., Morancho, B., Arpí, O., Menendez, S., Sabbaghi, M., Zazo, S., Chamizo, C., Madoz, J., Eroles, P., Servitja, S., Tusquets, I., Yelamos, J., Lluch, A., Arribas, J., Rojo, F., Rovira, A., Albanell, J., & Garcia Parra, J. (2014). Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibition enhances trastuzumab antitumour activity in HER2 overexpressing breast cancer. European Journal of Cancer, 50(15), 2725-2734.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejca.2014.07.004, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa38411
Rojo, F., García-Parra, J., Zazo, S., Tusquets, I., Ferrer-Lozano, J., Menendez, S., Eroles, P., Chamizo, C., Servitja, S., Ramírez-Merino, N., Lobo, F., Bellosillo, B., Corominas, J., Yelamos, J., Serrano, S., Lluch, A., Rovira, A., Albanell, J., & Garcia Parra, J. (2012). Nuclear PARP-1 protein overexpression is associated with poor overall survival in early breast cancer. Annals of Oncology, 23(5), 1156-1164.
https://doi.org/10.1093/annonc/mdr361, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa38412
Howard, D., Garcia-Parra, J., Healey, G., Amakiri, C., Margarit, L., Francis, L., Gonzalez, D., Conlan, R., Conlan, S., & Garcia Parra, J. (2016). Antibody–drug conjugates and other nanomedicines: the frontier of gynaecological cancer treatment. Interface Focus, 6(6), 20160054
https://doi.org/10.1098/rsfs.2016.0054, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa33095
Healey, G., Pan Castillo, B., Garcia Parra, J., Davies, J., Roberts, S., Jones, E., Dhar, K., Nandanan, S., Tofazzal, N., Piggott, L., Clarkson, R., Seaton, G., Frostell, A., Fagge, T., McKee, C., Margarit, L., Conlan, S., & Gonzalez, D. (2019). Antibody drug conjugates against the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE), a novel therapeutic target in endometrial cancer. Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer, 7(1)
https://doi.org/10.1186/s40425-019-0765-z, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa52619
Pisano, S., Wang, X., Garcia Parra, J., Gazze, S., Edwards, K., Feltracco, V., Hu, Y., He, L., Gonzalez, D., Francis, L., Conlan, S., & Li, C. (2020). Nanomicelles potentiate histone deacetylase inhibitor efficacy in vitro. Cancer Nanotechnology, 11(1)
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12645-020-00070-8, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa55789
Howard, D., James, D., Murphy, K., Garcia Parra, J., Pan Castillo, B., Rex, S., Moul, A., Jones, E., Bilbao Asensio, M., Michue-Seijas, S., Lutchman-Singh, K., Margarit, L., Francis, L., Rees, P., Gonzalez, D., & Conlan, S. (2021). Dinaciclib, a Bimodal Agent Effective against Endometrial Cancer. Cancers, 13(5), 1135
https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers13051135, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa56783
Howard, D., James, D., Garcia Parra, J., Pan Castillo, B., Worthington, J., Williams, N., Bentham, Z., Rees, S., Lutchman-Singh, K., Francis, L., Rees, P., Margarit, L., Conlan, S., & Gonzalez, D. (2022). Dinaciclib as an effective pan-cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor in platinum resistant ovarian cancer. Frontiers in Oncology, 12
https://doi.org/10.3389/fonc.2022.1014280, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa61957
Williams, M., Howard, D., Donnelly, C., Izadi, F., Garcia Parra, J., Pugh, M., EDWARDS, K., Lutchman-Sigh, K., Jones, S., Margarit, L., Francis, L., Conlan, S., Taraballi, F., & Gonzalez, D. (2024). Adipocyte derived exosomes promote cell invasion and challenge paclitaxel efficacy in ovarian cancer. Cell Communication and Signaling, 22(1)
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12964-024-01806-4, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa67596

All Research

Journal Articles

Williams, M., Howard, D., Donnelly, C., Izadi, F., Garcia Parra, J., Pugh, M., EDWARDS, K., Lutchman-Sigh, K., Jones, S., Margarit, L., Francis, L., Conlan, S., Taraballi, F., & Gonzalez, D. (2024). Adipocyte derived exosomes promote cell invasion and challenge paclitaxel efficacy in ovarian cancer. Cell Communication and Signaling, 22(1)
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12964-024-01806-4, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa67596
Howard, D., James, D., Garcia Parra, J., Pan Castillo, B., Worthington, J., Williams, N., Bentham, Z., Rees, S., Lutchman-Singh, K., Francis, L., Rees, P., Margarit, L., Conlan, S., & Gonzalez, D. (2022). Dinaciclib as an effective pan-cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor in platinum resistant ovarian cancer. Frontiers in Oncology, 12
https://doi.org/10.3389/fonc.2022.1014280, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa61957
Howard, D., James, D., Murphy, K., Garcia Parra, J., Pan Castillo, B., Rex, S., Moul, A., Jones, E., Bilbao Asensio, M., Michue-Seijas, S., Lutchman-Singh, K., Margarit, L., Francis, L., Rees, P., Gonzalez, D., & Conlan, S. (2021). Dinaciclib, a Bimodal Agent Effective against Endometrial Cancer. Cancers, 13(5), 1135
https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers13051135, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa56783
Pisano, S., Wang, X., Garcia Parra, J., Gazze, S., Edwards, K., Feltracco, V., Hu, Y., He, L., Gonzalez, D., Francis, L., Conlan, S., & Li, C. (2020). Nanomicelles potentiate histone deacetylase inhibitor efficacy in vitro. Cancer Nanotechnology, 11(1)
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12645-020-00070-8, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa55789
Healey, G., Pan Castillo, B., Garcia Parra, J., Davies, J., Roberts, S., Jones, E., Dhar, K., Nandanan, S., Tofazzal, N., Piggott, L., Clarkson, R., Seaton, G., Frostell, A., Fagge, T., McKee, C., Margarit, L., Conlan, S., & Gonzalez, D. (2019). Antibody drug conjugates against the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE), a novel therapeutic target in endometrial cancer. Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer, 7(1)
https://doi.org/10.1186/s40425-019-0765-z, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa52619
Howard, D., Garcia-Parra, J., Healey, G., Amakiri, C., Margarit, L., Francis, L., Gonzalez, D., Conlan, R., Conlan, S., & Garcia Parra, J. (2016). Antibody–drug conjugates and other nanomedicines: the frontier of gynaecological cancer treatment. Interface Focus, 6(6), 20160054
https://doi.org/10.1098/rsfs.2016.0054, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa33095
García-Parra, J., Dalmases, A., Morancho, B., Arpí, O., Menendez, S., Sabbaghi, M., Zazo, S., Chamizo, C., Madoz, J., Eroles, P., Servitja, S., Tusquets, I., Yelamos, J., Lluch, A., Arribas, J., Rojo, F., Rovira, A., Albanell, J., & Garcia Parra, J. (2014). Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibition enhances trastuzumab antitumour activity in HER2 overexpressing breast cancer. European Journal of Cancer, 50(15), 2725-2734.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejca.2014.07.004, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa38411
Rojo, F., García-Parra, J., Zazo, S., Tusquets, I., Ferrer-Lozano, J., Menendez, S., Eroles, P., Chamizo, C., Servitja, S., Ramírez-Merino, N., Lobo, F., Bellosillo, B., Corominas, J., Yelamos, J., Serrano, S., Lluch, A., Rovira, A., Albanell, J., & Garcia Parra, J. (2012). Nuclear PARP-1 protein overexpression is associated with poor overall survival in early breast cancer. Annals of Oncology, 23(5), 1156-1164.
https://doi.org/10.1093/annonc/mdr361, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa38412

Taught Modules

PMNM11 Nanomedicines, pharmaceuticals and advanced therapeutics

This module will explore the history and development of molecular medicines and pharmaceuticals, providing the basis for an advanced understanding of next generation therapeutic approaches. Using landmark technology and chemical development phases informed by separation science and mass spectrometry, the module uses an application driven approach to provide the student with an extensive knowledgebase of drug development, the pharmaceutical industry and nanotherapeutics. Students will be able to characterize and map the path of a drug from administration, to metabolism and elimination, and critically evaluate drug design and delivery approaches. Traditional small chemical entities used in molecular medicine will be outlined, using drugs such as taxols and tamoxifen as exemplars. Common target oncology and non-oncology disorders will provide the context; with students encouraged to explore targeted nanoparticle fabrication, drug encapsulation and release profiling, from early first generation drugs such as Abraxane to second generation biologically targeted SMART delivery systems. Future molecular medicines such as antibody drug conjugates and kinase inhibitors will be taught by guest lectures from industry and clinicians, covering the spectrum of drug development to delivery and clinical considerations.

Key Grants and Projects

SMARTExpertise fund RISE: ReNeuron, IgInnovations and Swansea University development of Exosomes towards clinical utility 2018
Life Science Research Network Wales fund ADC targets from in-silico high-throughput screening identification into target validation 2017 - 2018
Life Science Bridging Fund, AgorIP fund SNIPER ADC development for gynaecological cancers 2014

Career History

Research Assistant and PhD Student, Barcelona Biomedical Research Park (PRBB) - Spain

2006 - 2012
Research Officer, Reproductive Biology and Gynaecological Oncology Research Group (RBGO), Swansea University Medical School

2014 - Present

Dr Jezabel Garcia Parra

Email address

About

Areas Of Expertise

Publications

Research Highlights

All Research

Journal Articles

Taught Modules

PMNM11 Nanomedicines, pharmaceuticals and advanced therapeutics

Key Grants and Projects

SMARTExpertise fund RISE: ReNeuron, IgInnovations and Swansea University development of Exosomes towards clinical utility 2018

Life Science Research Network Wales fund ADC targets from in-silico high-throughput screening identification into target validation 2017 - 2018

Life Science Bridging Fund, AgorIP fund SNIPER ADC development for gynaecological cancers 2014

Career History

Research Assistant and PhD Student, Barcelona Biomedical Research Park (PRBB) - Spain

Research Officer, Reproductive Biology and Gynaecological Oncology Research Group (RBGO), Swansea University Medical School