Natalia Rivera

I am an Associate Professor (Docent) of Medical Genetics with a research focus on uncovering the genetic and genomic foundations of interstitial lung diseases (ILDs). My work centers on sarcoidosis, interstitial lung abnormalities (ILAs), and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), as well as on active research in rheumatoid arthritis and connective tissue disease-associated ILD (CTD-ILD). Across these intersecting disease areas, my research seeks to explain why patients differ in disease onset, progression, and clinical outcomes and how this knowledge can be leveraged to improve patient care.

I am the founder and lead principal investigator of the MESARGEN consortium (www.mesargen.org), an international platform dedicated to large-scale, multi-ancestry genomic studies of sarcoidosis. By systematically investigating the full clinical spectrum of sarcoidosis across diverse populations, my work aims to provide a comprehensive, globally relevant understanding of the disease’s genetic architecture, clinical heterogeneity, and underlying molecular mechanisms. MESARGEN is now part of the SARCOIDOMICS Network, a newly ERS-funded Clinical Collaboration Network, further strengthening international efforts to advance sarcoidosis research and accelerate the transition toward personalized medicine. Through this collaborative framework, we connect molecular discovery with clinical application, enhancing the scientific rigor, translational relevance, and clinical impact of our research while advancing the field of sarcoidosis at both molecular and clinical levels.

As I continue to expand my research in ILDs, I am actively seeking career opportunities to develop and lead innovative, genomics-driven research programs. My overarching goal is to generate new insights into disease mechanisms, dissect disease heterogeneity, and translate genomic discoveries into strategies that improve prevention, diagnosis, and patient care. By addressing the complexity of genomic variation in ILDs, my work directly contributes to the broader Precision Medicine vision. I am also deeply committed to fostering collaboration and mentorship, ensuring that scientific advances translate into meaningful and lasting benefits for patients.

• Defining clinically relevant molecular disease mechanisms in sarcoidosis, interstitial lung abnormalities (ILA), idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), and rheumatoid arthritis through integrated analysis of molecular phenotypes, including the genome, epigenome, transcriptome, proteome, and metabolome.
• Translating high-throughput multi-omics data into actionable genomic and molecular signatures that inform disease risk stratification, prognosis, and treatment response.
• Identifying and validating biomarkers for early diagnosis, disease progression, and therapeutic decision-making using large-scale, multi-ancestry population cohorts coupled with advanced computational and statistical genomics methods.

Doctoral courses 2019 - 2025:

• Director and lecturer of doctoral course (no. 5308) - Fundamentals of Statistical Genetics and Data Visualization, every Spring term
• Lecturer of doctoral course (no. 3145) Pulmonary inflammation, Spring 2019
• Lecturer of doctoral course (no. 3044) Basic Bioinformatics, Spring 2018 and 2019