Home » ICTAN Members » Elena Peñas Pozo

Elena Peñas Pozo

Tenured Scientist

Research Groups: Grain Seeds for Health Promotion (GRAINS4HEALTH)

Department: Departamento de Procesos Tecnológicos y Biotecnología

Short Bio

Bachelor’s degree in Biology (Complutense University of Madrid) and PhD in Food Science and Technology (Autonoma University of Madrid). I performed my PhD in the Instituto del Frío, investigating the reduction of food protein antigenicity through combination of technological treatments. In 2006 I received a grant from the Danone Institute to explore the application of innovative technologies for improving the safety of seed sprouts. In 2008 I developed may research career at Institute of Industrial Fermentations thanks to a JAE-Doc contract. During this period my research efforts were focused on the improvement of safety and functionality of vegetable foods. In 2010 I performed a 6-month stay in MTT Agrifood Research Institute (Finland) to acquiere skills in the analysis of volatile bioactive compounds. At the end of 2010 I continued my research career at the University of Milan, focused on the in vitro and in vivo safety assessment of cereal-based foods for people with coeliac disease. During these years I developed teaching activities in Italy and Albania. In 2014 I was awarded a Ramón y Cajal contract. Since October 2018 I have a permanent position at ICTAN. My research lines are focused on the optimisation of technological strategies (germination, fermentation and enzymatic hydrolysis) for producing innovative plant-based ingredients and foods with improved nutritional quality and with beneficial effects on the health of population groups with specific nutritional needs (people with coeliac disease or food allergies) from seeds and their by-products. The evaluation of the safety of such ingredients and foods by in vitro and in vivo approaches are a central part of my research activities. I have actively participated in research projects funded in competitive calls, both national and international, as well as in R&D contracts with companies. I carry out an important dissemination work through my participation in several scientific dissemination projects and I have participated as editor in several books and scientific journals.

Cáceres, P. J., Peñas, E., Martínez-Villaluenga, C., García-Mora, P., Frias, J. (2019). Development of a novel multifunctional yougurt-like product from germinated brown rice. LWT-Food Science and Technology, 99, 306-312.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lwt.2018.10.008

Aparicio-García, N., Martínez-Villaluenga, C., Frías, J., Peñas, E. (2021). Sprouted oat as a potential gluten-free ingredient with enhanced nutritional and bioactive properties. Food Chemistry, 338, 127972.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2020.127972A

Coello, K. E., Peñas, E, Frias, J., Martínez-Villaluenga, C., Cartea, M. E., Velasco, P., Frias, J. (2021). Pasta products enriched with moringa sprout poder as nutritive dense foods with bioactive potential. Food Chemistry, 360, 130032.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2021.130032

Aparicio-García, N., Martínez-Villaluenga, C., Frías, J., Crespo, L., Fernández Fernández, C., Alba, C., Rodríguez, J. M., Peñas, E. (2021). A novel sprouted oat fermented beverage: Evaluation of safety and health benefits for celiac individuals. Nutrients, 13, 2522.

https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13082522

Coello, K. E., Frias, J., Martínez-Villaluenga, C., Peñas, E. (2022). Manufacture of healthy snack bars supplemented with moringa sprout powder. LWT-Food Science and Technology, 154, 112828.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lwt.2021.112828

Carvalho Oliveira, L., Martínez-Villaluenga, C., Frias, J., Cartea, M. E., Francisco, M.,Cristianini, M., Peñas, E. (2024). High pressure-assited enzymatic hydrolysis potentiates the production of quinoa protein hydrolysates with antioxidant and ACE-inhibitory activities. Food Chemistry, 447, 138887.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2024.138887

Secondary metabolites in Brassicaceae: implications in plant breeding and stress defense (METBRAS).
Reference: PID2021-126472OB-100.
Main Researcher: Elena Cartea González y Pilar Soengas Fernández (MBG-CSIC).
Duration: 30/09/2022 – 30/09/2025
Funding entity: Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades.
Obtaining healthy breads of high nutritional quality with vegetable matrices, microbial inocula and innovative technological processes (NutriPanSalud).
Reference: CPP2021-008595.
Main Researcher: Novapan S. L.
Duration: 01/10/2022 – 30/09/2025
Funding entity: Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación a través del Plan de Recuperación, Transformación y Resiliencia.
Towards elucidating the nutritional and bioactive potential of traditional plant-based fermented food products from Ethiopia.
Reference: COOPB22027.
Main Researcher: Elena Peñas Pozo (ICTAN-CSIC).
Duration: 01/01/2023 – 31/12/2024
Funding entity: CSIC.
Legume research network.
Reference: RED2022-134237-T.
Duration: 01/06/2023 – 31/05/2024
Main Researcher: Diego Rubiales Olmedo (IAS-CSIC).
Funding entity: Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación.
Upcycling oat pulp: turning by-products from plant-based drink industry into safe, tasty, and healthy gluten-free foods (OAT2RETURN).
Reference: PID2021-138978OB-100.
Main Researcher: Cristina Martínez Villaluenga y Elena Peñas Pozo (ICTAN-CSIC).
Duration: 01/09/2023 – 31/08/2027
Funding entity: Plan Nacional I+D. Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación/Agencia Estatal de Investigación y FEDER una manera de hacer Europa.
Revalorisation of an agro-food by-product and indigenous microorganisms: Design of differentiatted dietary supplements for the prevention of metabolic syndrome.
Reference: COOPB23076.
Main Researcher: Begoña de Ancos (ICTAN-CSIC).
Duration: 01/01/2024 – 31/12/2025
Funding entity: CSIC.
Peruvian fava beans and Amazonian yams nano-flours aim at 3d printer applications for special diet products.
Main Researcher: María Teresa Silva Pedrosa Celrici (UNICAMP, Brasil).
Duration: 01/02/2024 – 30/01/2027
Funding entity: Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología e Innovación, Gobierno Federal de Brasil.

915492300 ext. 436427

elenape@ictan.csic.es

ORCID:
0000-0002-8539-9465

Researcher ID:
6603269563

Scopus Author ID:
C-8557-2015