BELLVER SANCHIS, Aina

Academic training

Doctor in Biotechnology, UNIVERSITAT DE BARCELONA
Graduated in Pharmacy, UNIVERSITAT DE BARCELONA

Professional experience

As a pharmacist my research career has focused on developing new drug therapies for neurodegenerative diseases, in particular Alzheimer's disease (AD). In April 2023 I obtained my PhD in Biotechnology as a FI-SDUR fellow at the University of Barcelona. During my PhD thesis I specifically explored G9a, an enzyme responsible for the methylation of H3K9, a repressive mark closely related to cognitive impairment. Employing a multifaceted approach that encompassed mouse models of AD, along with cultured cells and Caenorhabditis elegans, my research highlighted the neuroprotective potential of G9a inhibitors (G9ai), demonstrating a reduction in the hallmarks of AD, improved cognitive performance and restoration of neuronal integrity. Although G9a inhibitors exist, they are mainly used in cancer therapies and do not apply to central nervous system (CNS) diseases. To explore this gap, as entrepreneur scientist I applied for a Llavor-AGAUR project (Call 2021; 20K€20) to identify a selective G9ai for the treatment of AD. This project involved synthesizing more than 35 inhibitors and performing in vitro and in vivo validation studies. The lead compound identified, FLAV-27, improve cognitive impairment, reduce Aβ aggregation, and restore neuronal integrity in the SAMP8 mouse model while addressing pharmacokinetic and toxicological challenges. Based on this success and I am trying to bring the development as close to clinical phases as possible, I obtained my second project as an entrepreneur (Producte-AGAUR Call 2023; 150K€) to further optimize FLAV-27 and move towards clinical applications. I lead the experimental part, planning, organizing and carrying out the experiments necessary for the development of the project; and the strategic part, presenting the project at various conferences and investors to obtain funding for the regulatory studies prior to the clinical phases. In addition, another line of research in which I have been mainly involved has been the synthesis and development of dual G9a inhibitors. As an Entrepreneur scientist, I was also awarded the Llavor project (Call 2023; 20K€20) to develop G9a/HDAC6 inhibitors. In addition, I have contributed as a team member to a project funded by the Spanish Ministry, in which we are developing G9a/GSK-3B inhibitors. Thanks to all these projects, I have of acquired knowledge in technology transfer between University-Industry, as well as being an inventor of two patents. All this has allowed me to author 23 peer-reviewed publications in high impact journals such as Aging and Disease, Pharmacological Research, Medicinal Research Reviews, Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, etc., contributing to advances in pharmacology and epigenetics. Likewise, I have been able to present these findings at numerous conferences, including 3 oral presentations and 22 posters at national (Spanish Society of Pharmacology, Spanish Worm Meeting, Jornada de Cromatina i Epigenètica (Societat Catalana de Biologia), etc.) and international congresses (Society for Neurosciences (SfN), International C. elegans Conference (GSA), ADPD Congress, etc.).