PhD in Pharmacy from the Complutense University of Madrid. Scientific Researcher of the CSIC at the Food Sciences Research Institute (CIAL). She is the Associate Vice-President of the Scientific-Technical Areas of the CSIC, the member of the Advisory Scientific Committee of the CSIC, and the former Director of CIAL (CSIC-UAM joint institute). She is the Vice-President of the Microbiology group of the OIV (International Organisation of Vine and Wine), having participated as an expert in this international organisation since 2000.

Her research experience and activity are centred on the biotechnology of lactic bacteria and food safety, as well as human nutrition and health. She has conducted studies on the production and elimination of biogenic amines, the development of analytical and molecular methods of amine, bacteria and gene detection, the assessment of natural alternatives (peptides, enzymes, phenolic extracts) and nanomaterials (silver nanoparticles) as preservatives of chemical origin, including their potential toxicity, and research on the influence of diet on the oral and intestinal microbiota and its genome (microbiome), through simulation models, intervention studies in humans and the use of omic technologies.

She has been head researcher in 50 national and international research projects and has participated in contracts with the production sector. She has published over 150 international indexed articles, edited 6 international books, and holds 5 patents. She has supervised 10 PhD theses in Spain and abroad and has been invited as speaker in more than 60 conferences and scientific meetings.