Natalia Santos

Dedicated, versatile, results oriented molecular biologist with 20+ years of research experience in biochemistry and biophysical chemistry, including developing methods for protein and RNA purification and characterization, and activity assays. Special expertise in ribosome structure and function, in vitro translation, enzyme kinetics, macromolecular X-ray crystallography and fluorescence spectroscopy assays. Industry experience 10+ years in both biotech start ups and big pharmaceutical company working on biologics, nucleic acid-based therapeutics and exosomes. Looking for new career opportunities with a progressive and reliable organization.

As a Staff Scientist at MantraBio I am leadingng analytical development in Process Sciences. Developing, implementing and qualifying exosome therapeutic characterization assays.
Ensuring Mantra Bio has in place a set of characterization assays and metrics to evaluate the production and purification process, as well as final product exosome preparations, in line with industry standards and tech-transfer ready.

As a Senior Scientist at Johnson and Johnson I was developing and conducting comprehensive cell-free biochemical and biophysical assays supporting discovery and development stage oligonucleotide-based therapeutics projects. Those included assays assessing the MOA and stability of ASOs and siRNAs in RNAseH, Ago2 and nuclease assays.
I have also participated in setting up and developing a SELEX based platform for aptamer selection and evolution,
developing and conducting functional assays to evaluate immune checkpoint protein inhibitors, and optimizing and performing RT-qPCR and ELISA assays to determine HBV viral load.

At Galen Biotechnologies as a Principal Investigator I was responsible for providing experienced organizational, technological and scientific leadership in the process of new drug lead generation. I was with the company since it's inception and was responsible for setting up a functional cell-free translation system for protein production as well as performing experiments in the areas of biochemistry, molecular biology, assay development and enzymology. 

Ph.D. in Molecular biology - Uppsala University, Sweden

M.Sc. in Environmental Biotechnology - Sofia University St. Kl. Ohridski, Sofia, Bulgaria / University Louis Pasteur, Strasbourg, France

M.Sc. in Molecular Biology - Sofia University St. Kl. Ohridski, Sofia, Bulgaria