Cristina Garmendia, PhD - Chairwoman

She served as Minister for Science and Innovation of Spain from April 2008 to December 2011, leading some of the most groundbreaking reforms ever made in this area, including the Spanish Innovation Strategy and the Law for Science, Technology and Innovation, as well as restructuring of major government funding programs and agencies. During her tenure she forged important international agreements, especially during the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2010.

In 2001, she founded and developed the biotechnology holding Genetrix. Previously, Cristina was Executive Vice President and CFO of the Amasua Group. She is also a founding partner in Ysios Capital Partners, a biotech specialized investment fund. Cristina served as President of the Spanish Bioindustry Association (ASEBIO), as member of the board at the Spanish Confederation of Employers’ Organizations (CEOE), and as member of various scientific or advisory boards.

Juan Carlos del Castillo - Managing Director

Juan Carlos holds a Bachelor degree in Economics & Business Management and specializes in Innovation Management. He has played a key role in the development of Biotechnology in Spain in both public institutions and private companies. He was the manager of the Spanish National Center for Biotechnology , and founder and General Manager of Bionostra, Chimera Pharma and Microbionta. He has been lecturer of the Health Executive MBA of the ESCP Europe and has won several excellence awards.

Gabriel Márquez, PhD - Scientific and Regulatory Affairs Director

Gabriel holds a Degree and a PhD in Biological Sciences from Universidad Complutense and has 20+ years experience in Research and Development. He has been Director of the R&D Departments at Farmitalia Carlo Erba, Pharmacia & Upjohn, Pharmacia Corporation and Quintiles in Spain, as well as Director of the Department of Immunology and Oncology at the Spanish National Center for Biotechnology. Gabriel has participated in the design and follow up of clinical trials and he was responsible for the conducting of preclinical safety and concept test studies for products that eventually reached the clinical stage, including two products currently at an advanced clinical stage that have obtained Orphan Drug designations in Europe and the US.

Lourdes Lapeña - Finance Director

Lourdes holds a Degree in Law and a Master in Financial Management from the School of Industrial Organization (Escuela de Organización Industrial) in Madrid, She has more than 6 years of experience in corporate finance. She joined Genetrix from Arthur Andersen, where she worked on accounting and supply projects for companies including Microsoft Iberia. Previously, she was senior auditor at Fábregas Mercade.

Antonio Gómez-Almansa Plaza - Chief Counsel and HR Director

Antonio holds a Degree in Law from San Pablo CEU University in Madrid, a postgraduate degree in Law of New Technologies (DNT), and a Master in Business Law (MAJ) from the Instituto de Empresa in Madrid (IE). His professional experience has been developed in national and international law firms, working in various branches of law with special emphasis on Commercial and Corporate Law.

Juan Sebastián Ruiz - Institutional Relations Director

Juan Sebastian has specialized in attracting public funding for the last 7 years; Juan Sebastian has worked for companies like Repsol-YPF, Endesa and Gamesa Eólica. Currently, he is representing Genetrix as the board member of several business associations in the biotechnology sector as ASEBIO, BIOMADRID and MADRID BIOCLUSTER, as well as a member of the Monitoring Committee of the National plan in Spain about R&D plus Innovation (I+D+i). Juan Sebastian has a degree in Law and Business Administration (University of Carlos III of Madrid).