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Diana A. Aguilar Ayala

Diana A. Aguilar Ayala, post-doctoral researcher (work package 2).

Work package description – what does your work package do overall within ERA4TB
Work Package 2 focuses on preclinical testing of new drugs and treatment regimens for tuberculosis using lab-based studies with cells and bacteria. Our goal is to speed up the journey from the lab to the clinic by using both traditional and advanced experimental tools, led by experts across Europe. We use methods and technologies that either handle large amounts of data quickly or closely replicate the complexity of the disease to better understand tuberculosis and how drugs work against it. Our work involves exploring how new drugs function, how resistance develops, testing optimal drug combinations, and assessing how drugs behave in the body. The data we generate supports later stages of drug development, helping to predict patient outcomes and guide better decision-making to provide insights that improve the overall drug development process.

Length of time working on ERA4TB
Three years and a half. I started in December 2020.

Outline your background before joining ERA4TB e.g., previous job roles, areas of research, education
My major is microbiology. I did a joint PhD—one part in Biochemistry at Ghent University in Belgium and another in Biomedicine and Molecular Biotechnology at the National Polytechnic Institute (IPN) in Mexico.
Before ERA4TB, I was a tuberculosis researcher in Mexico. I worked at two places: the National Polytechnic Institute (IPN), where I studied how dormant bacteria in people without symptoms could become resistant to TB treatment, and the National Institute of Perinatology, where I focused on TB during pregnancy. I never really left the academic environment at IPN, so I was also supervising undergraduate students in TB research and teaching classes in Molecular Biology and Microbiology, both lectures and practical courses.
When COVID-19 hit, I jumped in full-time with a team of experts accredited by the Institute of Epidemiological Diagnosis and Reference of Mexico (InDRE). We were responsible for testing SARS-CoV-2 in pregnant women, newborns, and healthcare workers. I wasn’t just taking samples and running them in the lab; I also analysed epidemiological data to help guide the hospital’s response to the pandemic.

Tell us about your role within ERA4TB
I’m a post-doctoral researcher at the University of Zaragoza (UNIZAR), in charge of the implementation and execution of drug susceptibility tests using both traditional methods and new technologies. I’m also involved in coordinating scientific communication activities.
One of my favourite parts of my work has been implementing the Hollow Fibre System (HFS). It’s a technology not widely known in Europe but it has so many advantages. HFS simulates how drugs behave in the human body in a controlled environment where we grow bacteria. To put it simply, imagine a person with tuberculosis taking their medication every day. The drugs enter the bloodstream, reach the infection, and kill the bacteria, but the body also clears some of the drugs, which can leave some bacteria alive. Our system helps us figure out the best drug doses and timing to get rid of all the bacteria. This data can then be used to recommend doses in clinical trials. Right now, we have the largest capacity for using this technology in Europe!
I’m also leading the implementation of EUCAST methods, which are the European guidelines for testing how well drugs work against bacteria, in seven EAR4TB laboratories across Europe. I really enjoy being involved in scientific outreach, so I often help organize ERA4TB’s participation in events for both scientific and general audiences.
In short, I’m like a scientific resource, working closely with other teams in ERA4TB to implement, design, plan, execute, and collect data that helps move TB drug candidates forward.

Who do you collaborate most with in ERA4TB?
My team at UNIZAR and I work closely with WP5. They give us feedback on our experimental designs so they know what kind of data to expect when they analyse our results for predicting drug efficacy. I’m also in regular contact with other institutions within WP2 to coordinate different tests and complete the experimental workflows.
The input from asset owners is really important. When I say “assets,” I mean the potential anti-tuberculosis drugs, which are owned by companies and non-profit organizations. It’s super helpful to stay updated on any information they can provide about their compounds since it helps us plan our research in WP2. We keep in touch with them to let them know how their assets are progressing too.
Then, when the work it’s about information, generated data, managing, and ERA4TB approvals, we often contact synapse in WP8, then WP1 for data collecting.

From your point of view, what are ERA4TB’s key achievements to date?
One of ERA4TB’s main objectives was to create a European community-focused platform on TB translational research, knowledge integration and innovation. We have got it. I’ve been very close to the implementation of innovative tools with unprecedent capacities in Europe for drug development, as it is the implementation of Hollow Fibre System, which I was in charge of, OPTIKA which is a high-throughput susceptibility test overtime, also developed by the team at my institution. Others within WP2 are the granuloma like structure model, host-pathogen technics, novel biomarkers, and technologies for animal models from WP3 and WP4, among many other breakthroughs that are helping us profile and progress new TB drugs.

Why is the ERA4TB important?
ERA4TB fosters a collaborative European network of researchers and industry partners, combining expertise to tackle tuberculosis (TB) on a global scale. The work within ERA4TB is crucial because it accelerates the development of new and effective TB drugs, particularly in the face of rising drug resistance. The implementation of advanced tools allows us to test potential treatments more efficiently, moving them faster from the lab to clinical trials and ultimately to patients. This strategy offers a cost-effective pathway to a successful drug development, reducing risks, attrition costs and failure.
Personally, working with ERA4TB has been incredibly motivating and aligns perfectly with my passion. I’ve been dedicated to basic TB research since 2011, so joining this project feels like a major milestone—especially being able to work alongside top experts focused on translational research that makes a real-world impact. It’s not just about advancing my skills in research; it’s also about growing in communication and collaboration. This experience has given me a unique opportunity to contribute meaningfully to global health, which has always been a driving force for me.

What would you like both yourself and the ERA4TB project as a whole to achieve by the end of the project?
I’d love to see a list of strong anti-TB drug candidates ready for clinical trials, and I hope we can recommend a really effective combination regimen that proves successful in those trials. I also hope that ERA4TB becomes a model for other antimicrobial development efforts in infectious diseases. On a personal level, I want to use the expertise I’ve gained here to make a difference in other fields too, continuing to contribute to the fight against infectious diseases wherever I can.

In what ways, if any, has being involved in ERA4TB been beneficial for you and your career, and what have you most enjoyed about being part of the project?
I’ve definitely advanced my research skills, but more importantly, I’ve had the chance to connect with top experts in the field. For my career, ERA4TB has been an incredible opportunity to contribute to advancing TB treatments—something that once seemed like a distant goal, especially from the perspective of working in a developing country.
What I’ve enjoyed the most is working with the amazing people here. The network we’ve built is truly engaged, and everyone in ERA4TB is enthusiastic and always willing to support each other. Meeting colleagues at ERA4TB general assemblies, WP2 meetings, and other scientific events has been not only productive but also genuinely fun and inspiring.

Outside of work what do you enjoy doing?
Outside of work, I love exploring topics beyond my field—like society, psychology, and global issues. I really enjoy meeting up with friends, spending time with my husband, or having long calls with my family, who always bring fresh perspectives outside of science. My time in Belgium sparked a love for trying different types of beer, and I enjoy chatting with beer enthusiasts and friends who share this interest.
I’m always curious about people’s perspectives and motivations, including my own, so I make sure to set aside time each week for self-reflection with a psychologist. I also love listening to podcasts about the human mind. I tend to connect best with friends from different cultures because those differences fuel my curiosity and often lead to meaningful friendships. For my well-being, I stay active with exercise—whether it’s group classes, gym workouts, or switching up hobbies although less often like ice skating, roller skating, or jogging.

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