The Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology (IATA) – part of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) – is a multidisciplinary research center organized into three departments: Biotechnology, Food Science, and Preservation and Quality. The Lactic Acid Bacteria and Probiotics Group is part of the Department of Biotechnology and is composed of five scientists leading four laboratories. Our group’s research lines include studies on the genetics, physiology, and ecology of lactic acid bacteria and other microorganisms in food and the gastrointestinal environment, with the aim of determining and optimizing their role in human health, industrial processes, and food quality.
Dr. María Carmen Collado, the group leader, is a young researcher who was recently promoted to Research Professor at CSIC. The Collado Group was established in 2015 and was consolidated through a European Research Council (ERC) grant, which enabled the creation of a longitudinal birth cohort study, MAMI–Maternal Microbes, with plans to expand this cohort. Our team is recognized as an R&D&I Excellence Group of the Valencian Community, with a research line focused on Antibiotics, Microbiota, and Resistance, and its implications for child health. Additionally, IATA-CSIC has recently been awarded the Severo Ochoa Center of Excellence distinction.
We have a strong scientific output and participate regularly in both national and international scientific meetings. We also collaborate closely with healthcare institutions and the food industry. Our social commitment is reflected in outreach activities such as EXPOCIENCIA and European Researchers’ Night events. Dr. Collado has also participated in science communication projects such as “LAS CIENTÍFICAS CUENTAN” (Women Scientists Matter), funded by FECYT.
In terms of doctoral and postdoctoral training, we have successfully supervised numerous PhD theses, and our alumni have gone on to hold prominent positions in research and academia. Our group offers a multidisciplinary and collaborative research environment, with access to cutting-edge facilities and continuous training opportunities. We also maintain significant international collaborations that enrich the experience of our researchers.
In summary, our laboratory is committed to advancing scientific knowledge in the field of the microbiota and child health, fostering collaboration, training, and science communication to benefit society as a whole.
