Isabel Rozas

Professor Isabel Rozas is a Professor in the School of Chemistry and an affiliated faculty member at the Trinity Institute of Neuroscience (TCIN), Trinity College Dublin. With a PhD from Universidad Complutense de Madrid and postdoctoral experience in Canada, she joined TCD in 2000, rising to full Professor in 2011. She is a Fellow of Trinity College Dublin (2005) and a globally recognized expert in medicinal and computational chemistry, particularly in guanidinium-based compounds and DNA minor-groove binders.

• PhD, Universidad Complutense de Madrid (1987)
• MSc (Licenciado de grado), Universidad Complutense de Madrid (1982)
• BSc (Honours), Universidad Complutense de Madrid (1981)

Her research lies at the intersection of medicinal chemistry, computational modeling, and drug discovery, with a focus on designing novel therapeutic agents for cancer, infectious diseases, and neurological disorders. She investigates compounds targeting DNA minor-groove, α2-adrenoceptors, kinase pathways in multiple myeloma, and viral proteases like TMPRSS2 involved in SARS-CoV-2 entry. Her work combines synthetic organic chemistry with computational methods to understand non-covalent interactions, contributing to the IUPAC definition of hydrogen bonding.

Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong trend toward multifunctional therapeutics—designing guanidinium derivatives that bind nucleic acids or inhibit key enzymes. Her work spans anticancer agents, antivirals, anti-infectives, and CNS-active compounds, unified by a central chemical motif. She has published 173 peer-reviewed articles with over 9,000 citations (Google Scholar), reflecting sustained impact in the field.

Scientific Awards and Recognition:

• Fellow of Trinity College Dublin (2005)

Advising and Grants: Professor Rozas has supervised 20 PhD and 5 MSc students. She has secured approximately €2.5 million in research funding, including major SFI grants for developing SARS-CoV-2 entry inhibitors and anti-tuberculosis agents. Her leadership extends to editorial roles (e.g., Editor of Results in Chemistry) and organizing major conferences such as Medicinal Chemistry Ireland.

Laboratories and Teams: She leads a multidisciplinary research group at TCD that integrates experimental and computational approaches, collaborating with biochemists, microbiologists, and pharmacologists. She founded and chairs the Division of Medicinal and Biological Chemistry within the Institute of Chemistry of Ireland and has held key leadership roles at TCD, including Director of Research and Director of Global Relationships in the School of Chemistry.