Senior Research Scientist

Dr. Sánchez Vela is a Senior Research Scientist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. He grew up by the Mediterranean Sea and attended Medical School in Valencia (Spain). After undergoing some postgraduate clinical training as a medical oncologist in Seville (Spain), he moved to the Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program at Memorial Sloan Cancer Center in New York City. Here, he leverages clinical and genomic data, genetically engineered mouse models, single cell multi-omic technologies, and pre-clinical drug trials to better understand and treat cancer. Specifically, he is interested in how the crosstalk between somatic mutations in tumor cells and their microenvironment shape cancer’s evolution. By understanding and altering these selective pressures, he aims to improve the outcomes of patients with cancer or at risk of developing it.

Dr. Sánchez Vela is currently investigating how age-related mutations in white blood cells—known as clonal hematopoiesis (CH)—influence breast cancer metastatic recurrence and treatment resistance. His research shows that mutated immune cells can send inflammatory signals that “wake up” dormant breast cancer cells and trigger metastasis growth. By blocking these signals, his team aims to prevent relapse and open the door to more effective, less toxic therapies for breast cancer patients.