Ralph Laufer, PhD - Scientific Director

Dr. Laufer has more than 20 years research expertise in receptor pharmacology, in vivo pharmacology, drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics. He holds a M.Sc. cum laude in Chemistry and Ph.D. summa cum laude in Biochemistry from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He was an EMBO post-doctoral fellow at the Institut Pasteur and Associate Director of Laboratory at the Collège de France in Paris before joining IRBM in 1990 as Group Leader. In 1997 he was appointed Head of Pharmacology at IRBM, and in 2001 Senior Director Pharmacology at Merck Research Laboratories Rome. Dr. Laufer led the DMPK team that supported the discovery of Isentress. Among his scientific achievements are the discovery of the NK-3 tachykinin receptor and the anti-obesity properties of ciliary neurotrophic factor. He is a Six Sigma Executive Belt, author of over 80 scientific papers and inventor on 15 patents.

Vincenzo Summa, PhD - Head of Chemistry

Dr. Summa obtained his M.Sc. cum laude in Chemistry  at the University of Rome "La Sapienza" and a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry at Wuppertal University, Germany. He joined IRBM in 1996 and was appointed Director Medicinal Chemistry at Merck Research Laboratories Rome in 2007. Dr. Summa’s research experience and interests include organic chemistry and medicinal chemistry.  Dr. Summa led the team of chemists that discovered Isentress, and was responsible for the discovery of two drugs that are currently in clinical development. He is the author of over 40 scientific papers and inventor on 25 patents. 

Sergio Altamura, PhD - Head of Biology

Dr. Altamura holds an M.Sc. cum laude in Biology from the University of Rome “La Sapienza” and a Ph.D. in Human Biopathology from the Universities of Rome and Madrid. He joined IRBM in 1990 and created the Biotesting group responsible for assay design, assay development, and automated screening. He contributed to the basic research findings that led to the discovery of Isentress and was involved in the discovery of several preclinical candidates, predominantly in the antiviral, oncology and cardiovascular therapeutic areas. In 2007 he was appointed Director, Pharmacology at Merck Research Laboratories Rome. Dr. Altamura is the author of over 60 scientific papers and 5 patents

Elisabetta Bianchi, MSc - Head of Peptide Chemistry Unit

Elisabetta Bianchi obtained her M.Sc. cum laude in Chemistry at the University of Rome “La Sapienza”. She was a staff scientist in the Peptide Chemistry Group at Eniricerche, Sclavo and in the Department of Organic Chemistry at Menarini Ricerche before joining the Peptide Group at IRBM in 1991. In 2007 she was appointed Senior Investigator, Peptide Center of Excellence at Merck Research Laboratories Rome. As project leader and member of Merck Early Development Teams she contributed to the preclinical and clinical development of peptide therapeutics up to phase I. Ms. Bianchi has more than 20 years research experience in peptide and protein chemistry, combinatorial and conjugation chemistry and peptide vaccine development. She is the author of 60 scientific papers and inventor on 21 patents.

Edith Monteagudo, PhD - Head of Preclinical Research Unit

Dr. Monteagudo holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina. She was a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Rome “La Sapienza”. From 1991 to 2001 Dr. Monteagudo was Head of the Structural Analysis Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, at Menarini Ricerche in Rome. She joined IRBM in 2001 as Group Leader in the Chemistry Department and was a member of the HIV team that discovered Isentress. In 2007 she was appointed Associate Director, Preclinical Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics. During this tenure she was responsible for preclinical support of four drugs that are currently in clinical development. She was a member of the Merck team focused on DMPK of Biologics. She is the author of 60 scientific papers.