The Medicinal Chemistry Lab was started by Prof. María L. López-Rodríguez in the early 1990s. Upon returning from postdoctoral stays at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and the University of Florida, she realized there was a transformative demand for the development of far reaching medicinal chemistry programs towards medical unmet needs. Thus, she drove the evolution of a small lab to a consolidated research group with expertise in different disciplines focused on moving forward together with a shared primary objective: to address new challenges in medicinal chemistry and chemical biology.

Biogenic amine and cannabinoid signaling via GPCRs were the first hot topics in which the group made significant discoveries of compounds acting on the central nervous system. Progressively, interests were extended to other research areas, such as the development of antibiotics and the exploration of different antitumor strategies.

During her entire career, María Luz has fully supported the people who joined her laboratory and has encouraged researchers to turn their brilliant ideas into fully developed projects, providing a strategic vision and helping to secure the necessary funding.

We have been very fortunate to have shared with her challenging projects, stimulating ideas and inspiring moments. This scientific value has gone hand in hand with the core values she has always stayed true in both her personal and professional life: commitment, hard work, integrity, honesty, empathy and cooperation.

Now that María Luz has passed the scientific baton to the next generation, we hope to be worthy successors that she can always be proud of as we are able, through our work, to bring value to society through scientific excellence and integrity.