She is a biotechnologist who has managed to form part of one of the most cutting-edge cancer research teams in the world. And then, out of the blue, she has also decided to become an astronaut. While this path may seem strange to some, for her there was a moment when it all clicked. “Doing research in microgravity opens up a world of possibilities to generate knowledge and new applications that cannot be reproduced on Earth,” explains Sara García Alonso (León, 1989). “There are many examples of applications and research carried out on the International Space Station (ISS) related to cancer research: crystallisation of proteins, new formulations of anti-cancer drugs, tumour monitoring systems, or tumour models as organoids.”
Up close, this scientist exudes great determination. And her explanation of the reasons that led her to take this important step in her life bears this out. Although she was intrigued by the idea of becoming an astronaut, she had never considered it until she saw the European Space Agency’s (ESA) call for applications and discovered what astronauts do on their missions in space. “Surprisingly, I found many analogies to what I was looking for in the “ideal job” I thought I had found in research: advancing inspiring scientific projects, promoting technological development and working in a multidisciplinary and multicultural environment. And what this other job offered me was the opportunity to do all this from space, with all the adventure and fascination that entails.”
“The studies on how microgravity affects muscular and skeletal degeneration in astronauts are being applied to osteoporosis treatment and rehabilitation, especially for the elderly”
Sara García Alonso studied biotechnology at the University of León, where she was at the top of her class and won two awards for academic excellence. She says she always wanted to have a profession that would advance knowledge and contribute to society, which is why she chose oncology research. “I was attracted to STEM professions (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) from a young age because of the endless opportunities and applications they offer to improve society and the world around us. On the other hand, biology was one of my favourite subjects in high school, and when I discovered biotechnology as a career, I felt it was the right one for me because it involves using biology to improve our environment, with applications in everything from agriculture to biomedicine,” she recalls.
Her example shows how advances in scientific knowledge can have enormous crossover applications, as we have just seen with the development of the Covid-19 vaccine, which was heavily influenced by previous research in other fields, such as oncology. She recalls other examples. “Advances in knowledge are good in themselves. Applications come later. The example of Covid-19 is clear, but there are many others: Francis Mojica’s basic research led to CRISPR technology, which has completely revolutionised biology; the establishment of bases in Antarctica contributed to the discovery of the hole in the ozone layer; studies on how microgravity affects muscular and skeletal degeneration in astronauts are being applied to osteoporosis treatment and rehabilitation, especially for the elderly. We have to invest in science because it offers good returns.”
“Advances in knowledge are good in themselves. Applications come later. We have to invest in science because it offers good returns”
Until the time comes for her to take part in a space mission, Sara García Alonso continues to work in the Experimental Oncology Group led by Mariano Barbacid at the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO). “One of the lines of research we are pursuing in the group is to develop drugs that promote the degradation of a protein involved in cancer. Barbacid’s group has spent years studying the signalling pathways involved in different types of cancer driven by mutations in the KRAS oncogene, such as lung adenocarcinoma and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma,” she explains. These studies, carried out in genetically modified mouse models that mimic these human pathologies, have already shown that the genetic elimination of the RAF1 protein leads to tumour regression in lung tumours and, in combination with the elimination of the EGFR protein, also in pancreatic tumours. “However, in order to apply these findings to a clinical setting, it is necessary to develop drugs capable of eliminating the RAF1 protein from cells. That is our goal,” explains the scientist.
“There is female talent and there are many successful women, but they don’t appear in textbooks and in the media as much as men do”
The passion she exudes for science is still seen in far fewer girls than boys. “I think the lack of examples of successful women in science, or the fact that it’s not completely normal for a woman to pursue a career in science or technology, can discourage many girls from trying. And when you’re so young, it’s hard to imagine that you can be the first to achieve something, or just go where a lot of women don’t seem to go, and that makes us limit ourselves. There is female talent and there are many successful women, but they don’t appear in textbooks and in the media as much as men do,” the researcher stresses. Her advice to young women is “not to set limits for yourself, because with effort and passion you can go very far if you really believe in it. If science is your vocation, I encourage you to pursue it, because it is a beautiful profession, immensely rewarding and never boring.”
Sara García Alonso believes that although we are increasingly aware of the importance of gender equality in the fields of science and technology for social and economic progress, we must be aware that major changes take time to be fully implemented. She suggests a number of measures worth pursuing: “Encourage girls’ interest in science and technology from an early age, facilitate the participation of successful women scientists and technologists as role models and mentors, eliminate bias in the recruitment process, and offer flexible working policies to facilitate work-life balance, among others.”
“Although we are increasingly aware of the importance of gender equity in science and technology, it is important to realise that it takes time for major changes to be fully implemented”
She herself has already become a role model for these girls. In the first phase of ESA’s selection process for new astronauts, 23,000 candidates applied and 25 were selected, of which 17 were chosen. The scientist recalls that the most difficult part was “the intelligence tests in Hamburg, Germany, and the toughest part was dealing with the uncertainty of how and when the tests would be conducted and whether you would be up to it.”
A very important moment in her scientific career was when she made the decision to contact Mariano Barbacid and join his team as a postdoctoral researcher. “Before that, I was obsessed with another professional idea that was not working, but that I refused to let go. Now I am very happy with the way my research career has evolved. During this period, we have made major scientific breakthroughs, we have built up a group of brilliant researchers that I have the privilege of supervising, and I have managed to join the European astronaut corps as a reserve. It is possible that none of this would have happened if I had not dared to seek an alternative path to what I thought was the canonical one.”
“I would like to carry out a space mission focused on oncological or biomedical research in the absence of gravity, which could provide a new perspective and generate data that could help advance the treatment, prevention or diagnosis of diseases”
When asked about her aspirations in this new professional stage of her life, her scientific mind is evident in everything she says. “I am incapable of dreaming the impossible, so to make it plausible, I would like to have a mission to the International Space Station and, if given the choice, a second mission to the Moon as part of the Artemis programme. I’d like to conduct experiments that push the boundaries of our knowledge, whether it’s biomedicine or the origins of our planet and solar system.”
On the research side, she dreams of completing the line of research initiated by her group’s discoveries and developing a RAF1 degrader that can be administered to people with lung and pancreatic cancer. “In the medium to long term, I would like to carry out a space mission focused on oncological or biomedical research in the absence of gravity, which could provide a new perspective and generate data and knowledge that could help advance the treatment, prevention or diagnosis of diseases.” Given her tenacity, there is no doubt that she will succeed.
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