María José Alonso, Professor of Biopharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology at the University of Santiago de Compostela (USC), has just been recognized with the first ‘Nanotechnology Award’ granted by the company NOB166, for her research career in the field of Biopharmacy.
The researcher at the USC Singular Center for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CiMUS) received this award in a ceremony held on Thursday July 8th, at the Royal Academy of Medicine of Madrid, “for her dedication to the Nanotechnology sector”.
“The award-winning Mª José Alonso Fernández stands out in her research work in projects in collaboration with American, Canadian and European groups in the development of a vaccine against HIV. Her contribution is focused on the development of vaccine transport nanosystems”, highlighted the jury in its deliberation.
Professor Alonso thanked this distinction, in addition to the many others received throughout her career. “I want this recognition to go to all my fellows who accompanied me for three decades. Thanks to all”, said.
Alonso’s research trajectory
María José Alonso is full professor of Biopharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology at the University of Santiago de Compostela (USC). From 2006-2010, she was the Vice-rector of Research and Innovation of the USC. She has worked as a visiting scientist at University of Paris XI, (1986-87), at University of Angers, France (1989) and at MIT, US, during 1991-1992 and in 2012.
Her lab (https://www.usc.gal/grupos/mjalonsolab/) has 3-decades experience in the formulation of macromolecules, i.e. peptides, proteins, antigens, monoclonal antibodies and polynucleotides, using polymer-based delivery systems, and has pioneered numerous discoveries in the field of Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology and Nanomedicine. María J. Alonso has coordinated several research consortia financed by the WHO, the Gates Foundation and the European Commission. She is the most cited author in Spain in the area of Pharmacy and Pharmacology and has been among the TOP TEN in Pharmacology (Times Higher Education international ranking, 2010) (H Index 97). In the last two editions, she is part of the ‘Power List’ of the most influential researchers in the field of Biopharmaceuticals (The Medicine Maker, 2020)
She has also been very active transferring her knowledge to industry. She is the inventor of 22 patent families, most of them licensed to industry and she is part of 3 start-up ventures.
She has served to the Controlled Release Society (CRS) for 15 years and she has been President of the CRS (2017-19). She is also Editor-in-Chief of the Drug Delivery and Translational Research, an official journal of the CRS, and she is part of the editorial board of 12 journals.
She has received 37 awards, among them the ‘Research and Education Excellence Medal’ granted by the Spanish Government, the ‘Jaime I Award’, the ‘Castelao Medal’ awarded by the Xunta de Galicia and other awards granted by scientific organizations and foundations. She is a fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE) and a Fellow of the Controlled Release Society, a member of two academies in Galicia, the Royal Academy of Pharmacy of Spain (RANF), a member of the Royal Academy of Medicine of Belgium and also a member of the US National Academy of Medicine (NAM).
About NOB166
NOB166 is a technology-based company specialized in the development of next-generation protective biocides using nanotechnology.
