Dr Suarez-Merino has a DPhil in Human Molecular Genetics from the University of Oxford and followed that with positions at University College London, the Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta in Milan and the Centre for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (Spain) on the molecular biology of cancer. She then joined Gaiker Technology Centre as head of the Biotechnology group, working on pre-clinical studies in pharma, cosmetics and medical devices and started to work on nanomaterials as well, including participating in several large-scale EU funded projects. Blanca was then Head of Technology at TEMAS AG (Switzerland) where she provided consultancy services on processes and products containing nanomaterials under different regulations (REACH, Occupational Health, Biocides, Food, Medical Devices and Cosmetics). She is a national expert under the Nanotechnologies Standardization Group through the Swiss Association for Standardisation (SNV), an expert of the Swiss National Platform on the safe handling of synthetic nanomaterials and has contributed to the development of the Precautionary Matrix for Nanomaterials, and the on-going adaptation of OECD Guideline 442D for nanomaterials. Dr Suarez-Merino joined the NIA in October 2020 as Director of Regulatory Affairs to support members on all aspects of nanotechnology regulations and standards.