2020_10_23_FAR_luisa_ruiz_gaton

After studying Pharmacy at licentiate degree in Seville, Luisa Ruiz Gatón completed, via spanish pharmacy residency program , the specialization program in Industrial and Galenic Pharmacy (EFIG) at the University of Navarra, which years later would become the Master's Degree in design Galenic and Manufacturing in the Pharmaceutical Industry (MDGFI). He now works at Viralgen VC, the Basque laboratory in charge of producing the second generation vaccine for Covid-19 at partnership with Harvard University.

"At the degree program, what most caught my attention was the research and the development of new drugs, as well as their industrial manufacture and all the quality control required. I became interested in it and discovered that there was a specialization program F.I.R in Industrial and Galenic Pharmacy, which was exactly what I wanted," he explains. "I chose place at the Pilot Plant of the School of Pharmacy and Nutrition, where all subject of pharmaceutical forms are produced, partly for use in the Clínica Universidad de Navarra. It was a very enriching experience, since, in addition to learning a lot from great professionals, it allowed me to meet pioneering multidisciplinary scientific teams in the development of innovative drugs, particularly in the field of nanotechnology. Getting to know this new cutting-edge world led me to decide to stay at the University after finishing the residency program to do a doctorate focused on development of nanoparticles for the oral treatment of different types of cancer". 

He assures that being part of project of research to achieve a vaccine against the coronavirus is a challenge that they face with enthusiasm and commitment, and for which the qualification of the researchers has been a determining factor in their choice. "The vaccine being developed by Massachusetts General Brigham Hospital (MGB) and Harvard University uses an adeno-associated virus (AAV), which is what we work with. The technology we have at our disposal allows us to produce large volumes of virus in a short time, which, together with the fact that staff has been highly qualified in the development of AAV-based viral vectors for years, made a difference that favored business being chosen to manufacture this vaccine," says Luisa Ruiz. 

Regarding the work of the academic community to find a solution to the pandemic, Ruiz Gatón believes that an "unprecedented global effort" is being made. "In Spain we have teams at research that are international references working to the maximum and carrying out very good developments. I remain positive because there are many good people doing good things, I trust in science to win this fight".