Joan Martín-Pérez is a PhD candidate in Genetics at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. His research focuses on the toxicological effects of micro- and nanoplastics in human health, with a special emphasis on endothelial dysfunction. He investigates how key properties—such as polymer type, particle size, and surface functionalization—modulate cellular responses such as cholesterol metabolism, oxidative stress, inflammation, and early markers of carcinogenesis. He uses a multidisciplinary approach combining fluorescence microscopy, flow cytometry, transcriptomics, and in vitro models based on human primary cells. His work contributes to advancing hazard assessment of emerging contaminants using both pristine and realistic (true-to-life) plastic particles released from commercial products.
