Beatriz Pelaz

Beatriz Pelaz is a Full Professor at the University of Santiago de Compostela's Singular Center for Research in Biological Chemistry and Molecular Materials (CiQUS), where she co-leads the BioNanoTools research group. Her academic journey began with Chemistry and Biochemistry degrees from the University of Valladolid and Zaragoza, followed by a European PhD from Zaragoza in 2012. After postdoctoral work at Philipps-University Marburg (2012-2016), she returned to Spain as a Ramón y Cajal fellow in 2017 and secured an ERC Starting Grant in 2020.

Her research focuses on remotely controlled smart materials for biomedical applications, with particular expertise in DNA origami surface modification, biomimetic nanocarriers, and nano-bio interactions. Her group develops advanced nanomaterials for drug delivery, cancer therapy, and diagnostic applications, pioneering techniques like cell membrane-cloaked MOF nanocrystals and plasmonic nanosystems activated by external stimuli.

Analysis of her recent publications reveals strong emphasis on

• Stimuli-responsive drug delivery systems (light, ultrasound, magnetic fields)
• Biomimetic nanocarriers using cell membrane cloaking
• DNA origami for precise ligand arrangement
• Hybrid nanostructures combining plasmonic/magnetic nanoparticles with MOFs

Her work bridges materials science, biology, and medicine to create next-generation therapeutic platforms.

Scientific recognition includes:

• 2024 National Research Award for Young Scientists (Felisa Martín Bravo category)
• ERC Starting Grant (2020)
• RAGC-UIE Award for Young Researchers (2024)
• Membership in the Spanish Young Academy

As principal investigator, Pelaz directs multiple European and national projects including SPACING (H2020), REAP (H2020), and ODASMIR (MSCA). She actively mentors doctoral students including Manuel Ceballos Guzmán, Manuela Cedrún Morales, and Martina Migliavacca, whose recent theses focus on engineering nanoMOFs and biomimetic nanocarriers. Her BioNanoTools group comprises over 20 researchers spanning postdoctoral fellows to predocs.

The group operates within CiQUS, a CIGUS-recognized research center with EU funding through Galicia FEDER 2021-2027. Pelaz maintains strong industry connections through technology offers and has significantly contributed to making Spain's National Research Awards more gender-equal, with over half of 2024 awards going to women.