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Assistant Adjunct Professor

Zulema is an Assistant Adjunct Professor in the Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics at UCLA. Her research focuses on developing gene and genome-editing therapies by repairing a patient’s own blood stem cells (human hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells, HSPCs) to treat inherited blood and immune disorders, including sickle cell disease (SCD) and severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID).

With more than a decade of experience developing HSPC-based gene therapy and genome-editing approaches, Zulema has contributed to the development of lentiviral and CRISPR-based therapies for SCD and is currently advancing adenine base editing therapies for CD3δ-SCID.

Beyond developing gene therapies, her group investigates the biology of HSPCs, exploring how cellular senescence, impaired autophagy, and remodeling of the bone marrow niche drive stem cell aging and dysfunction to develop new therapies for aging and blood disorders.

Outside the lab, she enjoys climbing, practicing yoga, and returning to Spain each summer to spend time with family and friends.