Prof. Raphaël Rodriguez | Molecular Mechanisms Signaling | Best Researcher Award

Prof. Raphaël Rodriguez , CNRS, Institut Curie, France

Raphaël Rodriguez, born October 27, 1978, in Avignon, France, is a pioneering chemical biologist and Research Director at CNRS, Principal Investigator at Institut Curie, and holder of the Skłodowska-Curie Chair of Chemical Biology. A French citizen with two children, Lucía del Mar and Aramis, Rodriguez is renowned for bridging chemistry and biology to unlock the molecular secrets of cancer and inflammation. Trained in the UK under legendary scientists Sir J. E. Baldwin, Sir S. Balasubramanian, and Sir S. P. Jackson, he returned to France to launch groundbreaking research on ferroptosis and metal regulation in cell adaptation. His entrepreneurial and academic excellence earned him numerous accolades, including the National Order of Merit. With more than 130 publications and several successful biotech ventures, Rodriguez continues to shape the future of medical science with bioactive molecules like Ironomycin and Pyridostatin. He is an editorial board member, reviewer, teacher, and a public voice on science.

Publication Profile:

Google Scholar

✅ Strengths for the Award:

1. Pioneering Scientific Impact:
   Dr. Rodriguez has contributed over 130 high-impact publications in top-tier journals like Nature, Science, JACS, Nature Chemistry, and Cell Metabolism. His work has helped define ferroptosis, a form of programmed cell death, and metal regulation in cancer—a game-changing area in molecular medicine.

2. Innovation & Translation:
   He discovered and commercialized small molecules such as Pyridostatin, Ironomycin, and Supformin, directly impacting both science and therapeutics. His work bridges fundamental science and drug discovery.

3. Leadership & Mentorship:
   From mentoring under renowned scientists to leading his own lab at Institut Curie, he has shaped France’s next generation of researchers in chemical biology.

4. Recognition & Awards:
   His extensive list of prestigious awards, including the CNRS Silver Medal, Liliane Bettencourt Prize, and Knight of the National Order of Merit, reflect peer recognition on national and international levels.

5. Entrepreneurship:
   As a co-founder of biotech companies (e.g., Adrestia Therapeutics, later acquired), he has demonstrated a rare capacity to translate discoveries into clinical and commercial value.

6. Scientific Influence:
   Editorial board memberships and frequent invitations to over 160 major conferences show his reputation as a global thought leader in his field.

🔧 Areas for Improvement:

1. Public Engagement Scaling:
   Although Dr. Rodriguez is active in media (radio, TV, print), expanding international science outreach (e.g., global science festivals, public lectures, social media presence) could help further democratize his scientific message.

2. Clinical Translation:
   While several molecules from his lab are commercialized, more direct clinical trials or FDA approvals tied to his molecules would elevate his impact from bench to bedside.

3. Collaborative Diversity:
   Encouraging more global South collaborations or mentorships could help broaden his lab’s international footprint and contribute to equitable science capacity building.

🎓 Education:

Raphaël Rodriguez’s academic journey is marked by elite training and impactful credentials across Europe. He earned his PhD in Chemistry (2002–2005) through a joint program between Marseille and Oxford. He then pursued postdoctoral research as a Senior Research Associate at Cambridge’s Department of Chemistry and Gurdon Institute (2005–2012), where he developed skills at the interface of chemistry and biology. In 2012, he obtained the prestigious Habilitation à Diriger des Recherches from the University of Paris-Saclay, enabling him to supervise PhD candidates and lead independent research. His rise through the academic ranks was rapid: he became a CNRS Group Leader in 2012, then Principal Investigator at Institut Curie in 2015. In 2017, he was promoted to Research Director (DR1) at CNRS. In 2020, he was awarded the Skłodowska-Curie Chair of Chemical Biology at Institut Curie. His interdisciplinary training under world-renowned mentors has uniquely positioned him at the forefront of chemical biology research.

💼 Experience:

Raphaël Rodriguez’s professional experience is a blend of high-level research, leadership, and innovation. He began his postdoctoral career at the University of Cambridge (2005–2012), working in the Department of Chemistry and the Gurdon Institute. In 2012, he became a CNRS Group Leader at ICSN, Gif-sur-Yvette, launching his independent research career. In 2015, he transitioned to Institut Curie as a Principal Investigator, where he deepened his focus on cancer and inflammation. His promotion to Research Director (DR1) at CNRS in 2017 reflects his impact and leadership. Awarded the Skłodowska-Curie Chair of Chemical Biology in 2020, Rodriguez oversees a productive lab that investigates ferroptosis, DNA structure, and metal ion regulation in disease. He is also an entrepreneur, co-founding Adrestia Therapeutics and OrbiThera. He teaches at PSL University, organizes international conferences, and contributes to editorial boards and scientific advisory boards worldwide, maintaining a strong presence in both academia and biotech.

🏆 Awards and Honors:

Raphaël Rodriguez has received an impressive array of honors, showcasing his impact on science and innovation. In 2024 alone, he won the CNRS Silver Medal and the Ligue Contre le Cancer Duquesne Prize. His earlier recognition includes the prestigious Liliane Bettencourt Prize for Life Sciences (2023), the Knight of the National Order of Merit (2022, presented by Nobel Laureate Jean-Marie Lehn), and the Klaus Grohe Prize (2022). He has also been awarded the Antoine Lacassagne Prize (Collège de France, 2019), the Sunrise Cancer Stem Cell Award (2019), the Charles Defforey–Institut de France Prize (2019), and the Tetrahedron Young Investigator Award (2019). Rodriguez is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (2018) and won the Pierre Fabre Award for Therapeutic Innovation (2015). These accolades affirm his contributions across cancer research, chemical biology, and molecular therapeutics, as well as his success in translating science into societal benefit through entrepreneurship.

🔍 Research Focus:

Raphaël Rodriguez’s research lies at the cutting edge of chemical biology, with a focus on understanding how cells adapt to stress, particularly in the contexts of cancer and inflammation. His laboratory explores the role of metal ions—especially iron—as regulators of cellular plasticity and fate. Notably, his team discovered mechanisms underlying ferroptosis, a form of regulated cell death linked to iron metabolism, and how this can be exploited for anti-cancer therapies. He also investigates non-canonical DNA structures like G-quadruplexes, using small molecules to study and manipulate gene regulation. His lab has developed and commercialized several potent bioactive compounds, including Pyridostatin, Remodelin, Ironomycin, and Supformin, which are used both as research tools and potential therapeutics. Rodriguez combines molecular design, cell biology, and translational strategies, making his work a blueprint for chemical biology-driven precision medicine. He continues to raise significant research funding and actively collaborates across academia and biotech.

📚 Publications Top Notes:

1. 🧬 Small-molecule–induced DNA damage identifies alternative DNA structures in human genes – Nature Chemical Biology

2. ⚙️ Salinomycin kills cancer stem cells by sequestering iron in lysosomes – Nature Chemistry

3. 🛡️ A novel small molecule that alters shelterin integrity and triggers a DNA-damage response at telomeres – JACS

4. 🧫 Chemical inhibition of NAT10 corrects defects of laminopathic cells – Science

5. 🧠 The transcription factor FOXM1 is a cellular target of the natural product thiostrepton – Nature Chemistry

6. 🧪 Trisubstituted isoalloxazines as a new class of G-quadruplex binding ligands – JACS

7. 🔥 PML-regulated mitochondrial metabolism enhances chemosensitivity in human ovarian cancers – Cell Metabolism

8. 🔬 A single-molecule platform for investigation of G-quadruplex interactions with small-molecule ligands – Nature Chemistry

9. 🧲 Small-molecule-mediated G-quadruplex isolation from human cells – Nature Chemistry

10. 🧬 CD44 regulates epigenetic plasticity by mediating iron endocytosis – Nature Chemistry

11. 🧷 Selective RNA vs DNA G-Quadruplex Targeting by In Situ Click Chemistry – Angewandte Chemie

12. 🧬 G-Quadruplex-Binding Benzo[a]phenoxazines Down-Regulate c-KIT Expression in Gastric Carcinoma Cells – Journal of Medicinal Chemistry

🧾 Conclusion:

Dr. Raphaël Rodriguez exhibits exceptional merit and impact across the entire research ecosystem—fundamental science, innovation, mentorship, and commercialization. His trailblazing work in chemical biology, coupled with a record of scientific leadership and entrepreneurship, makes him highly deserving of the Best Researcher Award. His career reflects a rare blend of depth, vision, and cross-disciplinary innovation. Minor enhancements in global public engagement and clinical integration could further elevate his already stellar profile.