Brief info
Dr María Paz Sánchez Seco is a senior scientist at the National Centre for Microbiology (CNM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Spain, which serves as the national reference laboratory for zoonotic diseases. She is the head of the Laboratory of Arboviruses and Imported Viral Diseases, combining research with diagnostic and reference activities supporting the Spanish National Health System.
Her scientific career has focused on the study of arboviruses and other emerging viruses, integrating public health research, laboratory diagnosis, and viral characterisation. In recent years, her main research line has centred on Crimean Congo haemorrhagic fever virus, while she has also led and contributed to research projects on Dengue, Zika, Chikungunya, and other arboviruses such as Toscana virus.
The methodologies developed through her work have contributed to the detection and characterisation of emerging viral agents, advancing knowledge of these pathogens in Spain.
In addition to her research role, Dr Sánchez Seco has been actively involved in the laboratory response to major infectious disease events, contributing to the management of cases related to viruses such as Ebola, Zika, Dengue, Crimean Congo haemorrhagic fever, and mpox. She also regularly advises the Spanish Ministry of Health, supporting the development of surveillance protocols, risk assessments, and national preparedness plans.
She is a member of the National Coordination Committee for the Prevention, Surveillance and Control of Vector Borne Diseases and serves as alternate National Focal Point for the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) in this field.
Dr Sánchez Seco has acted as Principal Investigator in multiple research projects, leads a research group within the CIBER for Infectious Diseases (CIBERINFEC), and has authored over 140 scientific publications.
She is also actively engaged in training and capacity building, contributing to postgraduate education, specialised courses, and science communication initiatives.