Advanced Formulation of Bioengineered Molecules
Scientic Supervisor / Contact Person
Name and Surname
Irene Bravo Osuna
ORCID (link)
Researcher ID (link)
Other ID (link)
Localization & Research Area
Faculty / Institute
Faculty of Pharmacy
Department
Pharmaceutical Technology and Food sciences
Research Area
Chemistry (CHE), Life Sciences (LIF)
MSCA & ERC experience
Research group / research team hosted any MSCA fellow?
Yes
Research group / research team have any ERC beneficiaries?
No
Research Team & Research Topic
Research Team / Research Group Name (if any)
INNOFTAL (Innovación, terapia y desarrollo farmacéutico en oftalmología)
Website of the Research team / Research Group / Department
Brief description of the Research Team / Research Group / Department
The members of the research team are part of the INNOFTAL Group (Innovation, Therapy, and Pharmaceutical Development in Ophthalmology; UCM 920415), affiliated with the Department of Galenic Pharmacy and Food Technology at the Faculty of Pharmacy, Complutense University of Madrid (UCM). Established in 2004, the group has been recognized as "excellent" in its most recent evaluation by the Spanish National Agency for Evaluation and Foresight (ANEP).
The group is coordinated by Prof. Rocío Herrero and Prof. José María Martínez de la Casa, both Full Professors at the university and members of this project team. Additionally, team members actively participate in the research groups "Pharmaceutical Innovation in Ophthalmology" (led by R. Herrero Vanrell) and "Research in Ocular Pathology and Visual Pathways" (led by J. García Feijóo) at the San Carlos Clinical Hospital Health Research Institute.
Over the past five years, the team has been continuously involved in more than 35 national and international competitive funding projects. This includes participation in four international projects: PANOPTES, RISE 3D-NEONET, and two MSCA-ITN projects: EDEN and ORBITAL. The team has also contributed to over 20 National R&D&I Plan projects, including FIS, ISCIII Networks, and Retos (MAT) initiatives. Six team members were also involved in the REACT-EU project (ANTICIPA-CM) under the Madrid Operational Program 2014-2020, aimed at addressing the COVID-19 crisis.
In terms of private funding, the team has participated in projects funded by pharmaceutical laboratories, including both Article 83 and 60 contracts, and clinical trials. These resources have enabled the team to equip its research laboratory with cutting-edge technology and expand its workforce by hiring dedicated researchers.
Our team combines advanced technology with multidisciplinary expertise to push the boundaries of current ophthalmic care. We provide a dynamic and stimulating research environment, supported by state-of-the-art facilities and a strong commitment to innovation and academic excellence.
The group is coordinated by Prof. Rocío Herrero and Prof. José María Martínez de la Casa, both Full Professors at the university and members of this project team. Additionally, team members actively participate in the research groups "Pharmaceutical Innovation in Ophthalmology" (led by R. Herrero Vanrell) and "Research in Ocular Pathology and Visual Pathways" (led by J. García Feijóo) at the San Carlos Clinical Hospital Health Research Institute.
Over the past five years, the team has been continuously involved in more than 35 national and international competitive funding projects. This includes participation in four international projects: PANOPTES, RISE 3D-NEONET, and two MSCA-ITN projects: EDEN and ORBITAL. The team has also contributed to over 20 National R&D&I Plan projects, including FIS, ISCIII Networks, and Retos (MAT) initiatives. Six team members were also involved in the REACT-EU project (ANTICIPA-CM) under the Madrid Operational Program 2014-2020, aimed at addressing the COVID-19 crisis.
In terms of private funding, the team has participated in projects funded by pharmaceutical laboratories, including both Article 83 and 60 contracts, and clinical trials. These resources have enabled the team to equip its research laboratory with cutting-edge technology and expand its workforce by hiring dedicated researchers.
Our team combines advanced technology with multidisciplinary expertise to push the boundaries of current ophthalmic care. We provide a dynamic and stimulating research environment, supported by state-of-the-art facilities and a strong commitment to innovation and academic excellence.
Research lines / projects proposed
The formulation of biotechnology-derived compounds in modified-release systems is one of the greatest challenges of pharmaceutical technology, still lacking an effective response in the 21st century.
Our research group has been working for over 15 years on the microencapsulation of pharmacologically active proteins for the intravitreal treatment of neurodegenerative retinal diseases, such as glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and retinitis pigmentosa. Microencapsulation of neurotropic factors (GDNF, BDNF) and anti-VEGF compounds has been successfully achieved, always using biodegradable polymeric compounds approved by regulatory agencies for intravitreal administration. We have developed a microencapsulation method capable of protecting these biological compounds during the microencapsulation and subsequent sterilization process, creating a new technological platform able to provide sustained long-term release of the bioengineered compounds in their active form to the retina.
We have also explored protein microencapsulation for other purposes, such as the creation of animal models of chronic retinal degeneration, or the adjuvant effect for cell therapy at retinal level.
We have an extensive network of national and international collaborations that allow us to complement our technological studies with a wide range of in vivo evaluations. We highlight our collaborations with Professor Michael Young of Harvard University (USA), Professor Blanca Arango of the University of Tübingen (Germany) or the GIMPSO research group at the Miguel Servet Hospital in Zaragoza (Spain), among others.
On the other hand, we are also working on the development of Trojan systems, formed by polymeric microsystems for intravitreal administration capable of releasing nanosystems close to the retina, as a technological platform for the development of gene therapy. In this sense, the first treatment based on gene therapy at retinal level has been already approved in 2017. In most cases, viral carriers are used, however, some authors are already successfully exploring the use of non-viral vectors based on nanosystems that present higher versatility and a safer profile. We believe there is truly a therapeutic niche at this level, and we are exploring it.
Thus, the two main lines we are currently working on are:
1) Co-microencapsulation of biotechnological agents with other neuroprotective compounds, with the aim of creating multi-loaded systems capable of delivering the loaded active compounds for several months, after intravitreal administration in chronic retinal degenerative animal models.
2) Development of Trojan intravitreal delivery platforms able to progressively release not only neuroprotective compounds but also nanosystems loaded with genetic material, intended for retinal treatment.
The ability to combine the latest trends and equipment in pharmaceutical technology with solid experience, a multidisciplinary team, and the complementarity of all our collaborators allows us to offer improved administration of proteins already used for retinal treatment, and opens the door to many other retinal treatments based on biotechnological compounds, including gene therapy.
Our research group has been working for over 15 years on the microencapsulation of pharmacologically active proteins for the intravitreal treatment of neurodegenerative retinal diseases, such as glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and retinitis pigmentosa. Microencapsulation of neurotropic factors (GDNF, BDNF) and anti-VEGF compounds has been successfully achieved, always using biodegradable polymeric compounds approved by regulatory agencies for intravitreal administration. We have developed a microencapsulation method capable of protecting these biological compounds during the microencapsulation and subsequent sterilization process, creating a new technological platform able to provide sustained long-term release of the bioengineered compounds in their active form to the retina.
We have also explored protein microencapsulation for other purposes, such as the creation of animal models of chronic retinal degeneration, or the adjuvant effect for cell therapy at retinal level.
We have an extensive network of national and international collaborations that allow us to complement our technological studies with a wide range of in vivo evaluations. We highlight our collaborations with Professor Michael Young of Harvard University (USA), Professor Blanca Arango of the University of Tübingen (Germany) or the GIMPSO research group at the Miguel Servet Hospital in Zaragoza (Spain), among others.
On the other hand, we are also working on the development of Trojan systems, formed by polymeric microsystems for intravitreal administration capable of releasing nanosystems close to the retina, as a technological platform for the development of gene therapy. In this sense, the first treatment based on gene therapy at retinal level has been already approved in 2017. In most cases, viral carriers are used, however, some authors are already successfully exploring the use of non-viral vectors based on nanosystems that present higher versatility and a safer profile. We believe there is truly a therapeutic niche at this level, and we are exploring it.
Thus, the two main lines we are currently working on are:
1) Co-microencapsulation of biotechnological agents with other neuroprotective compounds, with the aim of creating multi-loaded systems capable of delivering the loaded active compounds for several months, after intravitreal administration in chronic retinal degenerative animal models.
2) Development of Trojan intravitreal delivery platforms able to progressively release not only neuroprotective compounds but also nanosystems loaded with genetic material, intended for retinal treatment.
The ability to combine the latest trends and equipment in pharmaceutical technology with solid experience, a multidisciplinary team, and the complementarity of all our collaborators allows us to offer improved administration of proteins already used for retinal treatment, and opens the door to many other retinal treatments based on biotechnological compounds, including gene therapy.
Key words
Application requirements
Professional Experience & Documents
We have extensive experience working with Marie Curie students, having participated in four H2020 projects to date.
We are looking for motivated individuals with a strong background in pharmaceutical sciences, biomedical research, or biotechnology, particularly those with experience in drug delivery systems, biodegradable materials, or ophthalmology-related research. Ideal candidates should have:
Hands-on experience in formulation development, including microparticles, polymeric and lipidic nanosystems.
Knowledge of cell culture techniques, in vitro models, or preclinical evaluation relevant to ophthalmic treatments.
Experience in polymer chemistry, biomaterials.
Experience in gene therapy is highly valued.
Strong analytical skills and experience with characterization techniques such as microscopy, spectroscopy, or drug release profiling by ELISA or HPLC.
Proven ability to work in multidisciplinary environments and contribute to collaborative research projects.
Interested fellows are required to submit the following documents for evaluation:
Curriculum Vitae (CV), letter of motivation and reference letter (optional but recommended).
Applicants with experience in European research projects, scientific writing, or grant applications are encouraged to highlight these skills in their application.
We are looking for motivated individuals with a strong background in pharmaceutical sciences, biomedical research, or biotechnology, particularly those with experience in drug delivery systems, biodegradable materials, or ophthalmology-related research. Ideal candidates should have:
Hands-on experience in formulation development, including microparticles, polymeric and lipidic nanosystems.
Knowledge of cell culture techniques, in vitro models, or preclinical evaluation relevant to ophthalmic treatments.
Experience in polymer chemistry, biomaterials.
Experience in gene therapy is highly valued.
Strong analytical skills and experience with characterization techniques such as microscopy, spectroscopy, or drug release profiling by ELISA or HPLC.
Proven ability to work in multidisciplinary environments and contribute to collaborative research projects.
Interested fellows are required to submit the following documents for evaluation:
Curriculum Vitae (CV), letter of motivation and reference letter (optional but recommended).
Applicants with experience in European research projects, scientific writing, or grant applications are encouraged to highlight these skills in their application.
One Page Proposal
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