Fàtima Bosch is a Pharmacist (1980) and PhD in Biochemistry (1985), University of Barcelona, with post-doctoral studies at Vanderbilt University, Case Western Reserve University, and NCI-Frederick Cancer Research Center. Presently, Full Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (1999) and Director of the Center of Animal Biotechnology and Gene Therapy (2003), Universitat Autònoma Barcelona. She received the Rey Juan Carlos I (1985), Narcís Monturiol (2002), Sant Jordi Cross (2005), Alberto Sols (2006) and ICREA Academia (2012, 2018), Jacob’s Ladder Norman Saunders International Research Prize, Canada (2019) and UAB Social Council’s Transfer (2020) awards. She has been Founding member of the European Society of Gene and Cell Therapy (1992), President of the Spanish Society of Gene and Cell Therapy (2007-2009), Vice-President of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (2009-2012) and member of the Gene Doping Expert Group of the World Anti-Doping Agency (2013-present).

Research interests

Prof. Bosch main strategic objective is to develop AAV-mediated gene therapy approaches for highly prevalent and rare metabolic and neurodegenerative diseases, with the ultimate goal to improve the quality of life for subjects affected by these diseases. First, Prof. Bosch studies aims to understand the pathophysiological causes of diabetes mellitus (Type 1 and 2), using transgenic animal models, and to develop gene transfer-based therapeutics. In 2020, UAB licensed two gene therapy programs developed in her lab for the treatment of type 1 diabetes to the new company Kriya Therapeutics. Second, Prof. Bosch is also involved in the development of gene therapies for severe inherited disorders, such as Mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS). Four gene therapy medicinal products received the orphan drug designation (EMA and FDA) and Phase I/II clinical trial for MPSIIIA is ongoing. She is also co-founder (2020) of the spin-off Telomere Therapeutics, to develop gene therapies for pulmonary fibrosis

 

Keywords

Gene Therapy, Diabetes, Mucopolysaccharidosis, Transgenic Animals