FUNDACION UNIVERSITARIA SAN PABLO-CEU

Their core work

CEU San Pablo is a private Spanish university foundation based in Madrid with a growing research profile in medicinal chemistry and drug discovery. Their H2020 work centers on designing and synthesizing targeted therapeutic compounds — particularly enzyme inhibitors and PROTAC molecules for cancer treatment. They also contribute to doctoral training in biomedical research and have expanded into energy materials (sodium-ion batteries) and transport policy. Their strength lies in computational drug design paired with experimental synthesis and biological evaluation.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

CEU San Pablo's early H2020 involvement (2016–2018) focused on building research capacity — doctoral training in biomedical sciences (ImPRESS) and ICT networking (NEWTON). From 2018 onward, they shifted sharply toward hands-on experimental research, particularly in medicinal chemistry with projects targeting specific enzymes (MMP, CK2, HDAC) and cancer therapeutics (PROTACs). Their most recent projects (2021–2024) show diversification into materials science for energy storage and transport policy, suggesting a university broadening its competitive research portfolio beyond its pharmaceutical chemistry core.

Moving from capacity-building toward independent research leadership in medicinal chemistry, with emerging diversification into energy materials and policy — expect continued growth in drug discovery and possible new lines in sustainable energy.

How they like to work

CEU San Pablo overwhelmingly leads its own projects — 5 of 7 H2020 projects as coordinator, mostly individual MSCA fellowships they host. This means they attract and supervise international researchers rather than joining large consortia. With 23 unique partners across 12 countries, their network is broad but shallow — typical of a university hosting incoming fellows from diverse origins rather than building deep repeat partnerships.

They have collaborated with 23 partners across 12 countries, reflecting the international nature of MSCA fellowship programs rather than deep consortium relationships. Their network is pan-European with no single dominant partner country.

What sets them apart

CEU San Pablo stands out as a private Spanish university that punches above its weight in competitive EU research funding, particularly in medicinal chemistry. Their combination of computational drug design with hands-on synthesis and biological evaluation — demonstrated across multiple MSCA fellowships — makes them a credible partner for pharmaceutical and biotech collaborations. For consortium builders, they offer a Madrid-based host institution that has proven ability to attract and coordinate international researchers.

Highlights from their portfolio

• PROTACs
  Targets one of the hottest areas in drug discovery — PROTAC molecules for cancer — positioning CEU at the frontier of targeted protein degradation research.
• NEWTON
  Their largest funded project (EUR 441,959) and only non-coordinator role, a networked training lab in ICT — showing capacity for larger-scale consortium participation.
• Mixed Anion Cathodes
  A surprising pivot from pharmaceutical chemistry into sodium-ion battery materials, signaling the university's ambition to diversify its research portfolio into energy storage.