Dr. Marta Alonso-Hearn holds a Degree in Biological Sciences from the Complutense University of Madrid and a PhD in Sciences from the Autonomous University of Madrid. She has developed her professional career at the Autonomous University of Madrid, the Biological Research Center (CSIC) in Madrid, and Oregon State University (OSU, USA). In 2005, she joined the Department of Biomedical Sciences at the College of Veterinary Medicine (OSU) as an assistant professor, developing a research line focused on the study of the biology and pathogenesis of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP). Since 2008, she has been working in the Department of Animal Science at NEIKER as a research specialist in Microbiology, Immunology, and Genetics. Her current research focuses on the molecular and immunological interaction between MAP and cattle, as well as the identification of immunological and genetic markers that distinguish animals resilient to disease and heat stress. To this end, she employs advanced methodologies such as in vitro and ex vivo infection models, genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, epigenetics, digital PCR, gene editing, and real-time fluorescence microscopy. Her methodological approach contributes to the development of early diagnostic tools and the integration of health traits (immunocompetence and resistance to disease and heat stress) into breeding programs for dairy and beef cattle.