Ramón Martínez-Máñez

Born in Valencia on April 11, 1963, Martínez Máñez is one of the national and international leaders in the field of chemical research.

Among other lines of research, his group at the IDM Institute of UPV works on the development of nanometric devices with “molecular gates” for the controlled release of drugs. The studied nanoparticles are capable of retaining a load within their pore system and delivering it upon receiving a chemical, physical, or biochemical stimulus. These particles have been used, for example, for the selective release of cytotoxins to eliminate cancer cells and bacteria, as well as for the release of specific drugs in senescent cells, and for the release of substances in food or agricultural applications.

Additionally, Martínez Máñez’s team is working on the development of molecular probes for the detection, through color and fluorescence changes, of biomedical and environmental elements of interest, such as certain biomarkers or cells, drugs, nerve gases, etc.

Among the multiple recognitions he has received prior to this National Research Award, in 2016 he was honored with the Research Excellence Award from the Spanish Royal Society of Chemistry (RSEQ), and in 2018 with the Rey Jaume I Award for New Technologies.

Author of nearly 600 publications, Ramón Martínez Máñez has a prominent presence in the most significant journals in the field of multidisciplinary chemistry.