Meet the Team

A world-class team of scientists and executives driving LentiStem forward.

Team

Francisco Martín Molina (PhD)

Main Founder & President of Scientific Advisory Board

Pioneer in gene and cell therapy, Professor at the University of Granada, and Head of the Gene & Cell Therapy group at GENYO. 30+ years advancing safer & more efficient gene transfer systems, for cancer and rare disease treatment. Holds 13 international patents, 80+ high-impact publications cited over 2,100 times. Former researcher at the Institute of Cancer Research (UK) and UCL Windeyer Institute (UK). Dr Martin is Principal Investigator of the Gene and Cell therapy group at GENYO. His activity in the last 25 years has focused on developing new, more efficient and safer gene transfer systems for application in advanced therapies for the treatment of cancer and rare diseases. He worked at the Institute for Cancer Research (ICR) from 1995 to 1997 and later at the Windeyer Institute of Medical Sciences (UCL) from 1997 to 2002 in London (UK), focusing on vector development. Retrovirals for the development of immunotherapy strategies against cancer. In 2002 he established his own Cell and Gene Therapy (CGT) research group as Ramón y Cajal hired at IPB López Neyra (CSIC) and since 2009 at GENYO. He is secretary of the Board of the Spanish Society of Gene and Cell Therapy. He is a member of the academic committee of the Doctoral Program in Biomedicine (University of Granada) and the Master of Immunology at the UGR. Since 2012 Dr. Martin has published more than 70 scientific and technical articles in international journals, including Nature Biotechnology, Journal of Molecular Biology, Trends in Biochemical Science, EMBO journal, Stem Cells, Molecular Therapy, Journal of Virology, Journal of Immunology, Arthritis & Rheumatism, journal of Virology, and others. His articles have been cited more than 1500 times and have an H = 22 index. He has generated 10 patents related to the development of SAFER AND MORE EFFICIENT gene delivery systems for rare disease gene therapy and immunotherapy against Cancer. Currently his interest is focused on the optimization of gene therapy tools for applications in rare diseases and cancer. In particular, he is studying how to improve the tools to be able to generate advanced therapy drugs (ATMPs) based on the genetic modification of hematopoietic stem cells and T cells. Using these technologies, his group is developing new therapeutic strategies (ATMPs) for the treatment of Pompe disease and refractory leukemia type B. Dr. Francisco Martin is the main founder and scientific advisor to LentiStem Biotech.

Carlos M. Molina (MBA)

Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

19+ years leading large-scale international projects. Expertise in strategic execution, resource management and business growth. Founder of multiple companies including Bioceramic, Debla Desarrollo, and CRISPNA Bio. Currently CEO at Facial Team, a global leader in health sector innovations. Carlos Martín Molina is a Civil Engineer from the University of Granada (1995-2001) and a Master in Economics and Business Management (Executive MBA) from the San Telmo International Institute. He has more than 19 years of experience in the Management and Direction of large projects, such as highways, subways, shopping centers, urbanizations or large residential buildings. During these years, he has worked in first-rate international companies, and his main functions have been the Execution and Monitoring of Strategic Plans, Human Resources Management, Planning of Term Objectives, Cost and Sales and Team Management. In 2012, he founded, together with a group of medical friends, Bioceramic 2012, a company dedicated to the manufacture and sales of sportswear. In 2016, he founded Debla Desarrollo e Infraestructuras, S.L. company dedicated to the Engineering, Construction and Consulting of real estate assets. He currently develops his work as Technical Director in this company, managing all areas of the company, from financial, administrative, technical, to human resources or communication and marketing. Within his activity at Debla, he is the Project Manager of the Facial Team, a company in the health sector, a pioneer worldwide for the type of treatments he performs. In 2017 he founded, together with a team of scientists, LentiStem Biotech, S.L. company dedicated to Gene Therapy, of which he is a founding partner and sole administrator.

Laura Rico (PhD)

Co-CEO LentiStem Biotech

R&D Manager and interim CEO of biotech co. 3 business accelerations certificates (SILO-EOI, AcexHealth And., Incibe-Tetuan V.-Google). Founder & CEO of a Sc.-regulatory consultancy in preclinical R&D for Advanced Therapies. 25+ years experience: Sc. Director of the 1st Spanish cell-th. co. (Cellerix), Precl. R&D Head at the sector's leading public initiative (now "Radytta").

Juan Cabrera (PhD)

Expert in Medicine and International Business

Pharmacist, entrepreneur, inventor of the first FDA-approved microtechnology injectable drug (Varithena®). International biotech business experience, with a track record of turning science into market-ready products.

Isabel García (MPA, BBA)

Strategy Director

Exec international experience in the biotech & medical sectors, with a focus on Medical innovation-dev., and Business management & public administrations control (Master’s Degree).

Juan Antonio Marchal MD, PhD

Vice Chair, Advisory Board

Medical doctor, Professor of Anatomy & Embryology, co-founder of biotech spin-offs, and expert in pancreatic cancer, regenerative medicine, and 3D bioprinting.

Julia Martínez Martínez

Chief Accounting Officer (CAO)

Tax and accounting expert with over 20 years’ experience managing full-cycle corporate accounting. Extensive experience in financial management for SMEs and large Graduate in business. Tax and accounting advisor with more than 20 years of experience in the entire cycle of general accounting. She has extensive experience in all tax returns that have been filed with the Tax Agency. Presentation of appeals against notifications and claims from the State Tax Agency and the Junta de Andalucía with more than 90% success. Extensive experience in accounting for SMEs and Large companies, presenting all the annual, quarterly or monthly models that these companies have to present to the state and regional tax agency. Co-founder and CAO of LentiStem Biotech.