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The design of antimicrobial biopolymers and nanotechnological biosensors are two of COPAL SCIENTIFIC’s main activities. It is currently working on a patent for an antifungal bio-product that has shown successful results and that contributes, with its application, to a healthy and wholesome diet.
The company COPAL SCIENTIFIC, recently incorporated into the Madrid Science Park, is developing an aflatoxin sensor in the air. This challenge has come from the Royal Botanical Garden-CSIC and the team of Dr. Javier Diéguez Uribeondo, for the European project K-HEALTHinAIR. This project funds research to improve indoor environmental conditions in order to achieve high quality breathable air.
Aflatoxins are harmful substances for human and animal health and are produced by some fungi of the genus Aspergillus, associated with consumer products such as nuts, cereals or seeds, among others. The spores generated by these fungi, aflatoxins, are very dangerous when inhaled as they are associated with an increased incidence of liver cancer. The detection of aflatoxins in enclosed spaces such as hospitals, underground stations, or public buildings can be of vital importance to improve the health of the population.
COPAL SCIENTIFIC is a very young company, founded in 2022, and led by Mercedes Iriarte Cela, whose objective is basic research applied in the field of biotechnology.
Chief Operating Officer
José Miguel is an accomplished aeronautical engineer with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Engineering Technology from the University of New York and a degree in Aeronautical Engineering from the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid. He has held several key positions in Airbus, including Head of Production in Seville, Spain and General Manager of MRO in Mobile, Alabama, USA. José Miguel has also been awarded a merit badge in Aeronautical R.D. and has worked as a Flight Test Engineer.
José Miguel’s career in aeronautical engineering began with his studies at the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, where he earned his degree in Aeronautical Engineering. He then went on to obtain a Bachelor of Science Degree in Engineering Technology from the University of New York. After completing his education, José Miguel joined Airbus, where he held several key positions, including Head of Production in Seville, Spain and General Manager of MRO in Mobile, Alabama, USA. He has also been awarded a merit badge in Aeronautical R.D. and has worked as a Flight Test Engineer.
José Miguel’s contributions to the field of aeronautical engineering have been significant, and his work has helped shape the industry in many ways. His expertise in technological company strategies and production is a priceless value for COPAL Scientific.
Chief Operating Officer
Javier is a lawyer with more than 25 years of experience in the professional practice of Technology Law and Intellectual and Industrial Property as chief auditor in compliance audits and professor at the Instituto de Empresa and ICAM.
As an expert in regulatory and forensic risk management of the digital environment, he has a different way of understanding support and accompaniment to clients, always aiming to find solutions that add value by optimizing their business and their time.
His professional career allowed him to dedicate himself to what he enjoys most, supporting new projects, new ideas and their launch to the market.
He has an extraordinary ease of getting involved in each project and a high capacity to work as a team member, always contributing with his strategic vision and knowledge in favor of future economic and social development.
Chief Operating Officer
For 12 years, she has worked at the National University of Distance Education (UNED) in Madrid, as a teacher-tutor in different Chemistry Degree subjects, such as Physical Chemistry I: Atomic Molecular Structure (Principles of Quantum Mechanics), Physicochemical Instrumental Techniques o Physical Chemistry II: Spectroscopy and molecular statistics, among others. There, she was co-director of the course “Chemistry to Teach” within the platform of the University of Continuous Training Courses and continues to collaborate on the subject of Biospectroscopy within the Master of Chemical Science and Technology.
She has carried out studies on the absorption of polluting molecules in the environment, in collaboration with the Environmental Biology and Toxicology Group of the UNED Faculty of Sciences, using UV spectroscopy of 4-methylbenzyliden camphor (4-MBC) and 2 -Hydroxy-4-methoxy-benzophenone (BP-3) in biological saline culture.
She has worked as a scientific researcher for the University of Alcalá de Henares and carried out the analysis of pigments and substrates using Raman micro-spectroscopy in the project “Contextual study of the paleolithic graphic manifestations of the Los Casares cave” (reference number: SBPLY/18/180801/000080).
Mercedes Iriarte has carried out numerous research projects at the Higher Scientific Research Council (CSIC), where she has also managed to synthesize metal nanoparticles for their application in molecular detection and has developed different types of nano-sensors for the detection of organic pollutants at low concentrations. persistent (POP), as well as a liquid nano-sensor for the detection of potentially carcinogenic solvents.