Isabel Polanco studied Medicine at the Complutense University of Madrid, Medical School. Spain. She specialized in Paediatrics and Gastroenterology at the Autonomous University of Madrid, and she graduated as a Doctor of Medicine at the Autonomous University of Madrid (Cum Laude).

She specialized in Paediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition at the Children’s University Hospital ‘La Paz’ (Madrid). In 1987 she becomes Full Professor of Paediatrics at the Medical School at the Autonomous University of Madrid, Spain.

Isabel Polanco has been Head of the Department of Paediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition at the Children’s University Hospital ‘La Paz’ for 30 years, General Secretary of the Spanish Paediatrics Association, General Secretary of ESPGHAN and member of the Editorial Board of the Journal of Paediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition.

Her main topic is celiac disease: diagnosis, genetic, immunological and environmental factors. She has published more than 515 papers in national and international journals and 16 books. She has received 38 national and international Prizes and obtained 52 grants for research. She is a member of ESPGHAN, LASGHAN, CDEUSSA, and 21 international paediatric associations.