Bienvenidos

A Ramírez Lab

We are a multidisciplinary group focused on the study of biomolecular systems by using theoretical and experimental approaches. We aim to use computational polypharmacology with wet lab analyses to strengthen the drug design and development processes. Our work involves collaboration with medicinal chemists, biochemists, and biologists, and we are part of the Pharmacology Department – Faculty of Biological Sciences at University of Concepción.

Active research areas

Our laboratory spearheads innovative research across three key areas:

Systems pharmacology

Computational biophysics

Multitarget drug design

Together, these research avenues underscore our commitment to transcending traditional drug discovery paradigms, employing a synergistic blend of computational and experimental methodologies to pursue new avenues in the treatment of complex diseases.

Latest publication

Identification of druggable binding sites and small molecules as modulators
of TMC1.

De-la-Torre, P.; Martínez-García, C.; Gratias, P.; Mun, M.; Santana, P.; Akyuz, N.; González, W.; Indzhykulian, A.; Ramírez, D

Communications Biology. 2025, 8:742. DOI: 10.1038/s42003-025-07943-x

 

Our ability to hear and maintain balance relies on the proper functioning of inner ear sensory hair cells, which translate mechanical stimuli into electrical signals via mechano-electrical transducer (MET) channels, composed of TMC1/2 proteins. However, the therapeutic use of ototoxic drugs, such as aminoglycosides and cisplatin, which can enter hair cells through MET channels, often leads to profound auditory and vestibular dysfunction. To date, our understanding of how small-molecule modulators interact with TMCs remains limited, hampering the discovery of novel drugs. Here, we propose a structure-based drug screening approach, integrating 3D-pharmacophore modeling, molecular dynamics simulations of the TMC1 + CIB2 + TMIE complex, and experimental validation. Our pipeline successfully identified three potential drug-binding sites within the TMC1 pore, phospholipids, and key amino acids involved in the binding of several compounds, as well as FDA- approved drugs that reduced dye uptake in cultured cochlear explants. Our pipeline offers a broad application for discovering modulators for mechanosensitive ion channels.

Funding

Principal Investigator

Optimización de las interacciones ligando-proteína en el complejo de mecanotransducción de células ciliadas para la prevención de ototoxicidad  2023 – 2024

Chile – ANID – Concurso de Fomento a la Vinculación Internacional para Instituciones de Investigación Regionales No. FOVI240021.

Open Chemoinformatics 2023 – 2024

Chile – Universidad de Concepción – Proyectos colabora.doc No. 2023014No. 2023014

Multidisplinary Center for Biotechnology and Molecular Biology for Climate Change Adaptation in Forest Resources (CeBioCliF). 2022 – 2025

Chile – ANID – Anillo regular de investigación en ciencia y/o tecnología No. ATE220043. 

Towards systems pharmacology to design multi-target directed ligands as therapeutic alternatives for Alzheimer’s disease. 2022 – 2025

Chile – ANID – Fondecyt Regular No. 1220656

Let’s talk pharmacology!!! 2022

Chile – Universidad de Concepción – Proyectos internacionalización del pregrado UCO1966

Identificación de moduladores del canal iónico TMC1 como alternativa terapéutica para el tratamiento de la sordera. 2022 – 2023

Chile – ANID – Concurso de Fomento a la Vinculación Internacional para Instituciones de Investigación Regionales No. FOVI210027

Reposicionamiento de medicamentos para tratamiento de la pandemia por coronavirus (COVID-19). 2021 – 2022

Chile – ANID – Concurso para la Asignación Rápida de Recursos para Proyectos de Investigación sobre el Coronavirus (Covid-19). No. COVID0199

Development of novel therapeutic alternatives for alcohol-use disorders: a multidisciplinary approach. 2022 – 2025

Chile – ANID – Anillo regular de investigación en ciencia y/o tecnología No. ACT210012

Multi-target drug design against neurodegenerative diseases. 2020 – 2021

Chile – Conicyt – Programa de Cooperación Internacional. Proyecto No. REDES190074.

Structural insights into the substrate specificity and transport mechanisms in the Nitrate/Peptide transporter (NPF) family. 2018 – 2021.

Chile – ANID – Fondecyt de iniciación No. 11180604.

Crown ethers for selective modulation of the mechanoelectrical transduction channel of hair cells: computational and experimental insights. 2025 – 2027.

Chile – ANID – Sponsor – Fondecyt de Postdoctorado No. 3250793.

Uso de un Escape Room como recurso docente en las asignaturas de Farmacología. 2023 – 2024

Chile – Universidad de Concepción – Proyectos colabora.doc No. 2023015.

Ori-tanpakushitsu: creación de modelos tridimensionales para la comprensión de las fuerzas intermoleculares involucradas en la acción farmacológica. 2023 – 2024

Chile – Universidad de Concepción – Proyectos colabora.doc No. 2023023.

Ligand and structure-based polypharmacology of K+ channels from the nociceptive primary sensory neurons: an alternative in pain treatment. 2023 – 2027

Chile – ANID – Fondecyt Regular No. 1230446

Development of an infectious process-activated protide with therapeutic potential for control of fish farming diseases. 2023 – 2027

Chile – ANID – Fondecyt Regular No. 1231088

Interdisciplinary generation of highly specific peptidic blockers of TASK-3 channel with antitumoral effect and targeting moiety for nanotherapeutics. 2023 – 2027

Chile – ANID – Fondecyt Regular No. 1230996

Coupling artificial intelligence and neurosciences to enhance the pharmacological effects of tibolone on neuroglobin signaling in traumatic brain injury. 2021 – 2024

Ireland – Science Foundation Ireland – 20/FFP-P/8649

Actualización de los servicios de ANSEP (Astrocyte-neuron simulation environment platform) bajo el estudio integrativo de enfermedades neurodegenerativas. 2021 – 2022.

Colombia – COLCIENCIAS

Target- and ligand-based drugs to control SARS-CoV-2 pandemic (CoV2Drugs). 2020 – 2021.

Spain – Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas. No. CSIC-COV19-015

Identificación de reacciones controladoras de lipotoxicidad inducida por ácido palmítico en un modelo computacional multiómico astrocitario. 2020 – 2022.

Colombia – COLCIENCIAS – Call for proposals for the generation of new knowledge through scientific research projects in medical and health sciences. No. 67270

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