Ana Martinez is a researcher and professor at the Center for Biological Research (CIB) of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) in Barcelona, Spain. Since more than 30 years ago, her interest is focused on neurodegenerative disorders, leading numerous research projects on the medicinal chemistry and rational drug design of new drugs for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, spinal cord trauma, and multiple sclerosis, being in close contact with biopharmaceutical companies for technology transfer. She was R&D Director of NeuroPharma (2002-2008) where two of her research projects reached clinical trials as disease-modifying agents for Alzheimer’s disease. In 2008, she returned to her academic laboratory where several projects have been developed in a private-public environment. Author of more than 300 scientific publications, more than 30 active patents in the field, supervisor of dozens of students (national and international), and editor of several books. She acts as a scientific advisory board member for several SMEs in the biotech field and she is the founder of the spin-off ANKAR PHARMA, which goal is to fill the gap between basic drug discovery research and clinical trials for neurodegenerative diseases.