Biography

Olaia is originally from Valencia, Spain. She studied Chemistry at the University of Valencia. During her undergraduate studies she did research under the supervision of Prof. Juan Cervera focusing on the development of new drugs with antitumor activity. Then, she relocated to Madrid to study a master’s degree in Organic Chemistry at Universidad Autónoma de Madrid under the supervision of Dr. Maribel Rodríguez-Sancho. Her research focused on the design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of new photoswitchable neuromuscular blockers.

In February 2017, she started her Ph.D in Organic Chemistry at the Medicinal Chemistry Institute (IQM-CSIC) under the supervision of Prof. María José Camarasa and Dr. Ana San-Félix. She worked on the development of novel antivirals, specifically, inhibitors against HIV and enterovirus A71. During her third year, she moved to the Center of Biopharmaceuticals at Copenhagen University under the supervision of Prof. Christian A. Olsen. She worked on the design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of HDACs PROTACs. She completed her Ph.D in March 2022. After that, she worked as a research associate at IQM under the supervision of Prof. María Jesús Pérez-Pérez focusing on SARS-CoV-2 inhibitors.

Olaia joined our research lab in February 2023 to work on the development of novel small molecules for neglected tropical diseases.

Outside the lab, she enjoys playing padel with friends, hiking, traveling, and discovering new places.

Highlighted Publications

  1. Gargantilla, M.; Francés, C.; Adhav, A.; Forcada-Nadal, A.; Martínez-Gualda, B.; Martí-Marí, O.; López-Redondo, M.L.; Melero, R.; Marco-Marín, C.; Gougeard, N.; Espinosa, C.; Rubio-del-Campo, A.; Ruiz-Partida, R.; Hernández-Sierra, M.P.; Villamayor-Belinchón, L.; Bravo, J.; Llacer, J.L.; Marina, A.; Rubio, V.; San-Félix, A.; Geller, R.; Pérez-Pérez, M.J. J. Med. Chem. 2023, 66 (15), 10432-10457. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c00576
  2. Martí-Marí, O.; Abdelnabi, R.; Schols, D.; Neyts, J.; Camarasa, M.-J.; Gago, F.; San-Félix, A. Insertion of an Amphipathic Linker in a Tetrapodal Tryptophan Derivative Leads to a Novel and Highly Potent Entry Inhibitor of Enterovirus A71 Clinical Isolates. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24, 3539. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24043539
  3. Martí-Marí, O.; Martínez-Gualda, B.; Fernández-Barahona, I.; S.; Mills, A.; Abdelnabi, R.; Sun, L.; Noppen, S.; Neyts, J.; Schols, D.; Camarasa, M.J.; Gago, F.; San-Félix, A. Organotropic dendrons with high potency as HIV-1, HIV-2 and EV-A71 cell entry inhibitors. Eur J Med Chem. 2022, 5; 237, 1-17. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejmech.2022.114414
  4. Martí-Marí, O.; Martínez-Gualda, B.; de la Puente-Secades, S.; Mills, A.; Quesada, E.; Abdelnabi, R.; Sun, L.; Boonen, A.; Noppen, S.; Neyts, J.; Schols, D.; Camarasa, M.J.; Gago, F.; San-Félix, A. Double Arylation of the Indole Side Chain of Tri- and Tetrapodal Tryptophan Derivatives Renders Highly Potent HIV-1 and EV71 Entry Inhibitors. J. Med. Chem. 2021, 64, 14, 10027–10046. DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c00315

Awards

  • Ramón Madroñero Award for Novel Researchers of the Spanish Society of Medicinal Chemistry (SEQT), 2021. This award is given in recognition of the contributions of novel researchers to medicinal chemistry drug discovery.
  • Esteve Award for Novel Researchers of the Spanish Society of Medicinal Chemistry (SEQT), 2019. This award is given in recognition of the contributions of novel researchers to medicinal chemistry drug discovery.