Mariana C. Castells, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School Director, Mastocytosis Center of Excellence, Mass General Brigham Director, Drug Hypersensitivity and Drug Desensitization Center, Mass General BrighamEDUCATION
- M.D. Universidat Autonoma de Barcelona, Spain
- Ph.D. Autonomous University of Barcelona, Spain
- Residency University of Kansas Medical Center
- Fellowship Medical College of Virginia
- Fellowship Brigham Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School
AFFILIATIONS
Mariana Castells is an internationally recognized physician-scientist whose research has transformed the understanding and treatment of anaphylaxis, mast cell disorders, and allergic hypersensitivity. Her laboratory investigates the cellular and molecular mechanisms that regulate mast cell activation and inhibition, with a particular focus on IgE-mediated allergic responses and desensitization. She pioneered many of the drug desensitization protocols, enabling patients with severe drug allergies to safely receive first-line therapies. Her work has also uncovered key inhibitory pathways in mast cells that may be leveraged to develop safer and more effective treatments for food allergy and other allergic diseases.
At FASI, Dr. Castells brings deep expertise in mast cell biology, anaphylaxis, biomarker development, and translational immunology. Her research provides critical insight into the effector mechanisms that drive allergic reactions and informs the development of next-generation therapies aimed at desensitizing and preventing severe allergic responses.