I am originally from Brazil and received my PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul. My previous research focused on the synthesis of new kinase inhibitors and the evaluation of their biological activity in pediatric cell lines. At IQAC, I am currently developing innovative drug strategies to selectively target and eliminate cancer stem cells by exploiting the activity of the ALDH enzyme. In my free time I enjoy cooking and spending time in nature.
Dr Laia Josa-Culleré
I embarked on my academic journey at the University of Barcelona, where I graduated in Chemistry. My passion for research led me to the University of Cambridge, where I completed a research Master’s under the guidance of Finian J Leeper. There, I developed new click reporters for the bioorthogonal labelling of cancer cells.
In 2019, I earned my PhD from the University of Oxford, working with Mark G Moloney. My research focused on validating tetramate scaffolds to prepare simple mimics of natural products with antibacterial and anticancer properties. This experience sparked my love for medicinal chemistry.
Post-PhD, I joined the spin-out company OxStem, working with Angela J Russell. As an oncology team leader, I guided researchers in identifying new small molecules that induced differentiation of leukaemia cells both in vitro and in vivo.
This experience highlighted the crucial role of cancer stem cells in cancer resistance, prompting me to dedicate my research career to targeting them.
Securing a Marie Curie Individual Fellowship and later a Juan de la Cierva fellowship brought me back to my hometown, Barcelona. I joined the MCS group led by Amadeu Llebaria at IQAC-CSIC, where I delved into the world of photopharmacology and began applying it to oncology.
In 2025, I was awarded an ERC Starting Grant and a Ramón y Cajal fellowship, which enabled me to establish the Drug Discovery & Medicinal Chemistry research group at IQAC-CSIC, and since 2026 I am a Tenured Scientist. Our group is committed to developing innovative chemical strategies to eliminate cancer stem cells.
Outside of work, I cherish time with my two children, and I also enjoy cooking, hiking, and reading!
Postdoctoral researchers
PhD students
I hold a Bachelor of Pharmacy from the University of Barcelona, where I completed my Bachelor’s Thesis on the genetic-engineering tool PolyPurine Reverse Hoogsteen Hairpins, under the supervision of Verónica Noé and Carlos Ciudad at the CCVN Lab.
Driven by a strong interest in drug design, I moved to Madrid to pursue an Interuniversity Master’s Degree in Drug Discovery, jointly offered by the Complutense University of Madrid, San Pablo CEU University, and University of Alcalá. My Master’s Thesis explored novel reactivity of cyclopropenes, supervised by Ángel Manu Martínez and Gema Domínguez at the OrgMet Lab, in San Pablo CEU University.
Currently, in the Drug Discovery & Medicinal Chemistry research group, I am working on light-responsive ALDH inhibitors to target cancer stem cells, from their design and synthesis to their biological evaluation.
During my spare time, I enjoy reading, solving puzzles, and staying active through physical exercise.
I graduated in Chemical Engineering from IQS-URL, where I completed my Bachelor’s Thesis at CSIC, focusing on the synthesis of chelator-polymeric nanoparticles for imaging applications and theranostics. This experience sparked my passion for research and led me to pursue a Master’s in Molecular Biotechnology, during which I worked in the Cancer and Ageing Mechanisms group in Josep Carreras leukaemia research institute.
Currently, I am excited to be pursuing my PhD in the Drug Discovery & Medicinal Chemistry group. My project combines chemistry and biology to develop innovative drug delivery systems targeting cancer stem cells through the activity of the enzyme ALDH.
Outside the lab, I love participating in creative activities, spending time outdoors, and immersing myself in music. I’m part of a music band where I enjoy performing, rehearsing, and composing new songs. I also have a passion for reading, traveling, and sharing quality moments with friends.
I received my Master’s degree in Pharmacy from the University of Zagreb. After an ERASMUS+ internship at the University of Barcelona under the mentorship of Prof Rodolfo Lavilla, I decided to come back to Barcelona for a PhD.
I am working primarily on design, synthesis and activity evaluation of photoswitchable FGFR3 inhibitors. I enjoy good music, sports, all kinds of outdoor activities, and good company.
Research students and visitors
I hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Biotechnology from Miguel Hernández University (UMH), where I completed my Bachelor’s Thesis at the Institute of Bioengineering. My research focused on the characterization of Arabidopsis thaliana mutants affected in genes involved in chloroplast gene expression, which allowed me to develop my interest in molecular biology and experimental research.
I am currently a JAE Intro ICU Research Fellow at IQAC-CSIC, contributing to a collaborative project between the Nanomedicine for Therapeutic Applications (NM4T) and Drug Discovery & Medicinal Chemistry (DDMC) research groups. My work focuses on developing and characterizing novel cancer stem cell (CSC) models to support the evaluation and validation of new therapeutic compounds with greater biological relevance.
Outside the lab, I enjoy travelling, exploring new places and cultures, spending time with family and friends, and staying active through sports.
I am from Poland and I received my Master’s Degree in Chemistry and Forensic Toxicology at University of Wrocław. For Bachelor’s Thesis I’ve researched pro-oxidative activity of SARS-CoV-2 glycoprotein S complexes. For Master’s thesis I’ve worked on photochemistry of peptides, namely on their photocatalytic macrocyclisation.
I’ve always been interested in drug discovery and therefore nearing graduation I’ve started looking for places where I could pursue my interest. That’s how I found my way to IQAC-CSIC, where I’ll be doing my traineeship.
Outside the lab, I love board games and rock climbing, but above all I love travelling, so probably I cannot even begin to express how excited I am to be moving to Barcelona!
I am currently pursuing my final year of a Bachelor’s Degree in Pharmacy at IQS-Blanquerna (URL), with a specialization in Drug Design and Development. My interest in this field led me to conduct my Final Degree Project on the synthesis and characterisation of novel psychedelic compounds with potential therapeutic applications.
I was also able to conduct an internship at the Catalan Institute of Oncology (ICO) which allowed me to gain in-depth knowledge on current cancer therapeutics and some of the innovative therapies within the onco-heamatological field.
At the DDMC group, I will contribute to the ERC SeleCStem project preparing functionalised drugs to direct them selectively to cancer stem cells.
Outside the lab, I am a sailor and I also love spending time with friends.
I am from Costa Rica and moved to Barcelona in search of opportunities in STEM research. I obtained my Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry at IQS-URL, where I confirmed my strong interest in laboratory work. During my final degree project, I focused on drug discovery and medicinal chemistry, working on the synthesis of covalent inhibitor candidates for protein kinases.
I am currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Pharmaceutical Chemistry with the support of the IQS Business Foundation scholarship. This training is allowing me to further develop my knowledge and move closer to my goal of contributing to medicinal chemistry research aimed at improving quality of life.
This path has led me to IQAC-CSIC, where I will work in characterising photoswitches containing a pyrimidine, and using them to develop light-dependent ULK1 inhibitors. Beyond my academic interests, I am also a ballet and contemporary dancer. I enjoy listening to music, spending time with friends, and swimming in the ocean.