The research group of the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) "Pharmacokinetics, Nanotechnology and Gene Therapy" (PharmaNanoGene) is attached to the Department of Pharmacy and Food Sciences in the Faculty of Pharmacy, and to the Lascaray Research Center.

The group PharmaNanoGene, recognized as a Consolidated group in the Basque University System, focuses its research activity in the field of the design and evaluation of medicines, and it is composed by 5 lecturers, 8 predoctoral researchers and 4 PhD researchers.

One of the main research lines of the group is related to development of new micro- and nanoparticle-based delivery systems, specifically lipid nanoparticles, intended to improve the absorption of poor soluble drugs, and to delivery nucleic acids (gene therapy). In the field of gene therapy, the group is developing delivery systems for the treatment of ocular diseases (i.e. X-linked juvenile retinosquisis), metabolic diseases (i.e. Fabry disease) and infectious diseases (i.e. chronic hepatitis C).

Other of the research lines is the pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic analysis applied to the antibiotherapy, specifically in critically ill patients. The aim of this research line is to predict by means of the pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic analysis the efficacy of new antibiotics in the treatment of serious infections caused by multiresistant pathogens.

In the last years, the group has implemented a new research line related to the Pharmaceutical Care. It is remarkable the project about Pharmaceutical Care in polymedicated elderly patients, as part of the so-called Consigue national program, where different institutions and universities are taking part. The objective of this project is to reduce potential side effects and achieve greater efficacy in the treatment of polymedicated elderly patients, by means of pharmacotherapeutic monitoring.

Finally, the group is also carrying out studies related to the regulation of biotechnological medicines (specifically biosimilar medicines). This field has attracted high interest in the pharmaceutical industry, due to the possibility of favor the access of patients with severe pathologies, such as cancer or autoimmune diseases, to expensive treatments.

The lecturers of the group teach in Pharmacy Degree and in the studies of Human Sciences in the so-called Aulas de la Experiencia in Álava Campus; moreover, they take part in the University Master "Pharmacology, Development, Evaluation and Rational use of Medicines" and in the Doctoral Program "Research and Evaluation of Medicines. Application of Pharmaceutical Technology to the development of Advanced Therapies".

Faculty of Pharmacy
Department of Pharmacy and Food Sciences
Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology Area
Paseo de la Universidad, 7
01006 Vitoria-Gasteiz (Spain)