Dr. Alena Pance, an accomplished cellular and molecular biologist, embarked on her academic journey in Venezuela, where she first recognized the gravity of infectious diseases during her undergraduate studies, sparking her passion for parasitology. Her journey led her to the University of Cambridge in the UK, where her research focus shifted towards transcriptional regulation during her Ph.D. There, she probed the mechanisms underlying neuroendocrine differentiation pathways, vital in the formation of neurons and exocrine cells. Subsequently, her post-doctoral work at the University of Burgundy in France focused on controlling NOS2 expression, a key aspect of the innate immune response with potential implications in cancer therapy. Dr. Pance secured a Senior Staff Scientist position at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, where her research spanned cellular differentiation, inflammatory responses, cardiac function, blood homeostasis, and the regulation of specific genes, all with significant implications in diseases from cancer to malaria.

She also has an enduring interest in tropical infectious diseases, particularly malaria. Her groundbreaking work in differentiating erythrocytes from stem cells has revolutionised the study of human genetic traits' role in malaria infection. This innovation enables the generation of genetically modified and patient-specific erythrocytes, shedding light on human genetic diversity's impact on malaria susceptibility. Dr. Pance's collaboration with Dr. Jackson at the University of Cambridge aims to investigate genomic variation in voltage-gated sodium channel promoters, focusing on the mechanisms underpinning Brugada syndrome, a cardiac condition linked to distinct beta 3 subunit channel variants. Dr. Alena Pance's remarkable career underscores her unwavering commitment to advancing our understanding of cellular and molecular biology, transcriptional regulation, and their profound implications for human health and disease. Her pioneering work offers promising solutions to pressing health challenges.