Our professionals
Dr. Catalina Vivancos Sánchez
Specialist in Neurosurgery.
Her main clinical focus is the study and surgical treatment of neuro-oncological conditions and drug-resistant epilepsy.
Professional career
Degree and Master’s Degree in Medicine and Surgery from the University of Barcelona (UB), Hospital Clínic, in 2017.
Specialist in Neurosurgery at Hospital Universitario La Paz in Madrid. 2018-2023.
She has furthered her training through international fellowships in neuro-oncology at Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Gui de Chauliac (Montpellier, France) with Prof. H. Duffau, and in epilepsy surgery at the Claudio Munari Epilepsy Surgery Center (Milan, Italy) with Dr. F. Cardinale.
She has experience and training in cranial and spinal robotic navigation (Excelsius GPS) and has completed the “EANS Training Courses” diploma awarded by the EANS (European Association of Neurosurgical Societies). She is a member of the Neuro-Oncology Working Group of the Spanish Society of Neurosurgery (SENEC).
Her previous professional experience includes working as an attending neurosurgeon at Hospital Universitario La Paz, with a focus on neuro-oncology (awake surgery), epilepsy surgery, and pediatric neurosurgery, from 2023 to 2026; and as an attending specialist in pediatric neurosurgery at Hospital Universitario Niño Jesús in 2025.
RESEARCH AREAS
- She has collaborated on 8 research projects, including studies on the development and application of next-generation sequencing (NGS), methylome analysis, and liquid biopsy in the diagnosis of central nervous system tumors.
- She is currently pursuing a PhD in Medicine and Surgery with a research project in neuro-oncology.
AREAS OF INTEREST
- Neurosurgical oncology.
- Gliomas and other primary tumors of the central nervous system.
- Metastases and secondary tumors of the central nervous system.
- Surgery for drug-resistant epilepsy.
- Spine surgery.
Activity
In teaching
- Instructor in Neurology for the EIR exam preparation course at Academia AMIR, Madrid.
- 2022-2023.
- Instructor in the Experimental Vascular Microneurosurgery Course: Anastomoses and Repair Techniques Course in several editions between 2025 and 2026. Madrid.
- Speaker at various national courses related to neuro-oncology and craniofacial deformities.
In research
- Author of 22 articles published in national journals (Neurocirugía) and international journals (Cancers, Brain Sciences, Journal of Neurosurgery, Child’s Nervous System, among others), author of one book, and contributor to 10 book chapters related to her specialty.
- She has presented more than 70 communications at national and international conferences in her specialty.
Scientific organizations
- Delegate to the Individual Members Committee of the European Association of Neurosurgical Societies. 2025-2026.
- Member of the Neuro-Oncology Working Group of the Spanish Society of Neurosurgery since 2024.
- Member of the European Association of Neurosurgical Societies since 2020.
- Member of the Spanish Society of Neurosurgery since 2020.
- Member of the Neurosurgical Society of the Community of Madrid since 2019.
Awards
- GEBRO-SENEC 2025 Grant Award from the Neuro-Oncology Working Group for the article “Clinical Impact of a Next-Generation Sequencing Approach for Glioblastoma Patients”. 2025.
- Dr. Luis Álvarez Grant. IdiPaz. Sub-investigator. 2022.
- Pedro Mata Award. SONCAM. 2021. Second runner-up prize for the book “Experimental Microsurgery in Rats. Fundamentals and Basic Techniques in Vascular Bypass”.
- Award for best poster presentation at the XXV Congress of the Spanish Society of Neurosurgery. 2022.
- Award for best poster presentation at the 20th Neurorachis Congress.