Tel. +34 913941739
Complutense University
Plaza de Ramón y Cajal, s/n
The Pharmaceutical Innovation in Ophthalmology research group is dedicated to the design, development, and evaluation of new formulations for ophthalmic administration (topical and intraocular). The translational research carried out by the group is directed towards the development of individualised treatments and the design of new, more effective, and safer therapies as key elements in the field of health. The studies undertaken take a multidisciplinary approach.
The formulations developed are intended for the treatment of multifactorial pathologies such as dry eye and glaucoma. Formulations are also being developed for the controlled release of active substances (anti-inflammatories, neuroprotective agents, and antioxidants, among others) intraocularly for the treatment of posterior segment pathologies (glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, retinitis pigmentosa, etc.) in order to avoid successive administrations of the preparations. In most cases, the formulations developed require the evaluation and application of new biomaterials for ocular administration. The group specialises in the development of intraocular administration systems such as microspheres and in the microencapsulation of biotechnological products. These include the development of new systems for the controlled release of neuroprotective agents for the treatment of ophthalmic neurodegenerative diseases.
Once formulations have been designed, they are characterised by evaluation of pharmacotechnical properties and in vitro and in vivo tolerability. Efficacy studies are conducted in animal models.
Technology transfer is carried out through collaboration with companies and the development of patents. One of them, concerning a new artificial tear, is being transferred to a pharmaceutical company.
The group maintains collaborations with national and international groups and has obtained national public funding research projects, European Union funding and private funding projects with various pharmaceutical companies.
The Interventional Cardiology Unit of the HUSC has played a key role in the assessment of these technologies, with international prestige not only as a participant in the main clinical trials carried out in the field of coronary revascularisation, but also as a promoter of its own lines of research.
Dr. Rocío Herrero Vanrell is University Professor (2019) combines her teaching and research activity with management tasks in the Department of Galenic and Food Technology (Faculty of Pharmacy, Complutense University of Madrid).
She develops innovative pharmaceutical formulations and controlled release systems using nanotechnology and microtechnology that are of translational interest. She encourages public-private collaboration with scalable formulations that can be transferred to the pharmaceutical industry.
Continuous participation in 25 research projects (19 as PI) (9 National, 4 European, 2 RETICs, 1 Singular and Strategic of the MEC, 2 projects of the CENIT-Ministry of Industry programme, 2 funded by the Complutense University and 5 research contracts with pharmaceutical companies). Inventor of 4 patents, two national (one of them extended to Europe) and 2 American.
She has supervised 15 doctoral theses, 6 of them international.
Outside the university sphere, she has held the position of Assistant Collaborator of the Coordination Team in the Materials Technology Area of the National Agency for Evaluation and Prospective (ANEP) for 4 years and she is a member of the editorial committee of the journal Archivos de la Sociedad Española de Oftalmología (Archives of the Spanish Society of Ophthalmology). She has also been collaborating with the MAT (Materials Science) programme manager of the Scientific and Technical Coordination, Evaluation and Monitoring Division for 1.5 years.
