Juan Carlos Morales Sánchez has a PhD in Chemistry (Autonomous University of Madrid, 1996) and completed his education at the Universities of East Anglia (1991), Alcalá (1992), Sheffield (1995), Rochester (1997-1998), Stanford (1999), Institute of Organic Chemistry (belonging to the Spanish National Research Council, hereinafter “CSIC”) (1993-1996) and Institute of Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia (CSIC) (2000).

He has developed his professional career in the fields of Organic Chemistry and Biological Chemistry in both the public and private sectors. He began his professional career as Head of Chemistry at Puleva Biotech (now BiosearchLife, 2000-2006), resuming academic research at the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC). Juan Carlos is currently a scientific researcher at the López Neyra Institute of Parasitology and Biomedicine (CSIC) in Granada. He is the author of more than 70 publications and 11 patents. His research group focuses on three lines of research: a) design and synthesis of phenolic derivatives with application in inflammatory diseases; b) bioconjugates as tools to study molecular interactions; and c) G-quadruplex DNA ligands as chemotherapy drugs.

After confirming the good results obtained in animal models with the LIM21 and LIM109 molecules, developed within the framework of the scientific work carried out at his laboratory, Juan Carlos decided to launch the project today known as Limno Pharma. Juan Carlos is a founding partner and combines his professional activity with scientific guidance in the company.

Founding Partner and Scientific Advisor

jcmorales@limnopharma.com

Francisco graduated in Medicine (MD) from the Los Andes University in Venezuela in 1996 and began his research career studying a new animal model of Parkinson’s disease. He later graduated as a Specialist in Neurology (1998-2002) at the Los Andes University Hospital and worked on the epidemiology of this condition. He then completed a PhD in Medical Sciences (2006) at Okayama University, Japan, which focused on molecular mechanisms and new treatments for Parkinson’s disease.

Francisco moved to Spain after obtaining a grant from the BBVA/ Carolina Foundation, initially to work in clinical and basic research at the Virgen del Rocío Hospital in Seville. Since 2008 he has developed his research at the Andalusian Center for Molecular Biology and Regenerative Medicine (CABIMER) in Seville, where he is a senior scientist and principal researcher on the project.

His current line of research focuses on the neuroprotective effect of different drugs and advanced therapies (cellular and gene therapies) in the treatment of Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) and Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD). He is the author of almost 40 scientific publications, as well as co-inventor of 2 patents. He has extensive experience in clinical research, essential for creating bridges between basic and clinical researchers, and is the scientist responsible for the in vivo experiments in animal models that have driven this initiative.

Founding Partner and Scientific Advisor

fdiaz@limnopharma.com

David is currently the Executive Director of the Society for the Improvement of Science (“Sociedad para el Avance Científico” – “SACSIS”), which he founded in 2010. SACSIS is an organization created with the aim of promoting scientific research and technological innovation at the highest level. David is also the founder and editor of the family of scientific publications called “The All Results Journals” (ARJ), the first journals on the market dedicated to publishing negative results.

David completed his PhD in Chemistry at the Institute of Chemical Research (Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) – University of Seville), focusing on the synthesis of magnetic nanoparticles with medical applications. He continued his post-doctoral research in Bordeaux and at the Harvard Medical School after obtaining Fulbright and Marie Curie Fellowships scholarships, and pursued his professional career at the Andalusian Nanomedicine and Biotechnology Centre (BIONAND). He has published more than 30 scientific articles and is co-author of 3 patents.

David has an MBA from the EOI Business School (Seville) and a Master in Quality Management (ISO 9001) from UNED (Spanish Open University). He has received several awards for his initiative as an entrepreneur, including the following: Pablo de Olavide University, Best Entrepreneurship Project, 2015; Félix Delgado Bocos Foundation, Best Innovative Approach in Biomedical Science, 2012; Junta de Andalucía (Regional Government of Andalusia), Best Entrepreneurial Initiative for The All Results Journals in 2009; and Bancaja, Best Young Entrepreneur for The All Results Journals, 2008.

Founder and Business Development

dalcantara@limnopharma.com

Natalia has a PhD in Organic Chemistry and has a solid background and experience in scientific research. She has developed her career in both academia (Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and Free University of Berlin, Germany) and the private sector (Abengoa Research).

Natalia’s research over the last 15 years has been highly interdisciplinary, covering areas of Organic and Physical Chemistry, Pharmacology, Microbiology and Biotechnology, focusing in particular on the application of bio-organic chemistry as a tool for understanding biological processes. Her scientific output includes around twenty publications, the co-direction of one doctoral thesis, and as co-author in two patents and different communications at national and international conferences. She has experience in project development, team management and scientific communication.

Natalia has a degree in Chemical Sciences from La Laguna University (2000) and a PhD from the University of Seville (2005). After completing her PhD, she moved to the Free University of Berlin, where she carried out more in-depth research into Nuclear Magnetic Resonance techniques. In 2008 she rejoined the Chemical Research Institute of Seville, where she worked from 2008 until 2014, when she joined the Biotechnology Department of the company Abengoa Research, where she remained until 2017. Since then she has held different R&D consulting posts and has taught as a professor at the University of Seville in the Departments of Physical Chemistry and Analytical Chemistry, at the same time as joining the Limno Pharma team.

Founder

natalia@limnopharma.com