Publications:14
Sara Cuadrado Castano, PhD
About Me
Dr Sara Cuadrado-Castaño (PhD, Biological Science) was born in Salamanca (Spain) and graduated in Biology (2005) and Biochemistry (2012) at the University of Salamanca (USAL, Salamanca, Spain). She obtained her PhD with honors at the same university and her work on the development of the cancer therapeutic rNDV-B1/Fas virus was highlighted by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, granting her with the Archimedes National Award for Young Investigators in the discipline of Biomedicine (2007). In 2012, Dr Cuadrado-Castaño joined the laboratory of Professor Adolfo García-Sastre at ISMMS as a post-doctoral fellow with the goal of implement and expand the field of oncolytic viruses (OVs) for cancer treatment at the Department of Microbiology at ISMMS. Her postdoctoral work was focused on understanding the immunology behind the anti-tumor effect of RNA viruses to rationally design novel treatment strategies and targeted viruses that could be applicable to different cancer models. In 2018, she was promoted to Assistant Professor in the Dep. of Microbiology where she continues leading the Cancer Virotherapy Research Program. As today, her research portfolio has been expanded to different non-human avian virus (APMVs and IBDV) and non-pathogenic versions of Influenza A virus (delta-NS1). She keeps “hands on” working on the development and pre-clinical assessment of targeted OVs-based solutions to a broad range of cancers such as lung carcinoma, melanoma, brain, breast, and colon carcinomas, teaming up with extraordinary national and international experts in cancer and immunology, as well as engaging with private companies to expedite breakthrough solutions into the clinic.
https://labs.icahn.mssm.edu/garcia-sastre/oncolytic-viruses/
Language
English
Position
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR | Microbiology, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR | Pathology, Molecular and Cell Based Medicine
Research Topics
Anti-Tumor Therapy, Antigen Presentation, Apoptosis/Cell Death, Autophagy, Biochemistry, Biomedical Sciences, Breast Cancer, Cancer, Cellular Immunity, Chemokines, Chemotaxis, Cytokines, Dendritic Cells, Education, Gene Therapy, Immune Antagonism, Immunology, Infectious Disease, Inflammation, Influenza Virus, Interferon, Interferon Antagonists, Interferon Resistance, Knockout Mice, Lung, Lymphoma, Macrophage, Metastasis, Skin Cancer, T Cells, Technology & Innovation, Translational Research, Virulence Genes, Viruses and Virology
Multi-Disciplinary Training Areas
Cancer Biology [CAB], Disease Mechanisms and Therapeutics (DMT), Genetics and Genomic Sciences [GGS], Immunology [IMM], Microbiology [MIC]
Research
Cancer virotherapy is an emerging therapeutic approach that harnesses genetically engineered or naturally occurring viruses to selectively infect, replicate within, and destroy cancer cells while sparing normal tissues. Beyond direct oncolysis, these viruses can stimulate systemic anti-tumor immunity by reshaping the tumor microenvironment and enhancing immune recognition. Ongoing research focuses on understanding mechanisms of tumor susceptibility and resistance, optimizing viral design, and identifying biomarkers that predict response, with the goal of advancing precision virotherapy across multiple cancer types.
Publications
Selected Publications
- Re-engineering segment 8 facilitates generation of a versatile live-attenuated influenza A virus vector platform for secretory protein delivery. Soner Yildiz, Sara S. El Zahed, Fernando Villalón-Letelier, Qian Wang, Sowmya Yelleswarapu, Gloria Dawodu, Kaijun Jiang, Raveen Rathnasinghe, Umut Karakus, Rocio Seoane, Sara Cuadrado-Castano, Adolfo García-Sastre. Journal of Virology
- Infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) as a novel oncolytic virotherapy in glioblastoma. Vicent Tur-Planells, Yonina Bykov, Gloria Dawodu, Noemi García-Romero, Sara Izpura-Luis, Leticia Pérez-Rodríguez, Sergio Rius-Rocabert, Irina Palacín-Aliana, Javier Arranz-Herrero, Inmaculada Márquez-Leiva, Alvaro Monago-Sanchez, Maria Luisa Del Rio, Jose Ignacio Rodriguez-Barbosa, Jordi Cano-Ochando, Adolfo García-Sastre, Daniel Lozano-Ojalvo, Estanislao Nistal-Villan, Angel Ayuso-Sacido, Sara Cuadrado-Castano. Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer
- Outcome of SARS-CoV-2 reinfection depends on genetic background in female mice. Gagandeep Singh, Juan García-Bernalt Diego, Prajakta Warang, Seok Chan Park, Lauren A. Chang, Moataz Noureddine, Gabriel Laghlali, Yonina Bykov, Matthew Prellberg, Vivian Yan, Sarabjot Singh, Lars Pache, Sara Cuadrado-Castano, Brett Webb, Adolfo García-Sastre, Michael Schotsaert. Nature Communications
Industry Relationships
Physicians and scientists on the faculty of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai often interact with pharmaceutical, device, biotechnology companies, and other outside entities to improve patient care, develop new therapies and achieve scientific breakthroughs. In order to promote an ethical and transparent environment for conducting research, providing clinical care and teaching, Mount Sinai requires that salaried faculty inform the School of their outside financial relationships.
Below are financial relationships with industry reported by Dr. Cuadrado Castano during 2025 and/or 2026. Please note that this information may differ from information posted on corporate sites due to timing or classification differences.
Consulting or Other Professional Services
Examples include, but are not limited to, committee participation, data safety monitoring board (DSMB) membership- ViroFend Therapeutics SL
Founder/Co-Founder/Partner
- ViroFend Therapeutics SL
Mount Sinai’s faculty policies relating to faculty collaboration with industry are posted on our website. Patients may wish to ask their physician about the activities they perform for companies.