Manuel Lopez-Figueroa: “DocTIS can reduce the time to effective treatment, minimize side effects, and improve long-term disease management”
DocTIS is a groundbreaking international collaboration aimed at transforming treatment for six major immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs): Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, psoriasis, and psoriatic arthritis. Uniting leading institutions across Europe and the US, the project combines clinical, molecular, and computational insights to develop more effective and personalised therapies.
A key industry partner in this effort is IMIDomics Inc., a biotechnology company dedicated to discovering and developing first-in-class medicines for IMIDs, particularly for patients lacking treatment options or unresponsive to current therapies. Leveraging its proprietary Clinical Discovery Engine*, IMIDomics integrates comprehensive longitudinal clinical, epidemiological, and biomolecular data from IMID patients, enabling the identification of disease mechanisms and the development of precision medicines with an increased probability of success (PoS).
In DocTIS, IMIDomics leads the integration of high-throughput clinical and molecular data, the development of predictive biomarkers, and the translation of discoveries into real-world therapeutic tools. Partnering with the Spanish IMID Clinical Consortium and the Vall d’Hebron Institute of Research (VHIR), the company is uniquely positioned to deliver the next generation of IMID therapies.
At the centre of these efforts is Manuel Lopez-Figueroa, Chief Operating Officer of IMIDomics. With over two decades of experience in translational medicine, investment, and biotech innovation, Lopez-Figueroa plays a strategic role in driving IMIDomics’ contributions to DocTIS.
We spoke with Manuel Lopez-Figueroa about IMIDomics’ role in the project, the power of data-driven innovation, and how DocTIS could shape the future of precision medicine for IMID patients.
Hola, Manuel! Please, tell us about yourself.
Hola! I’m based in San Francisco, where I oversee IMIDomics’ day-to-day operations and strategic initiatives. I bring over 25 years of experience across neuroscience, translational medicine, and biotech, with a strong focus on company creation, investment, and scientific collaboration. I hold a Ph.D. in Medicine and Surgery from the University of Las Palmas and an MS in Molecular and Cell Biology from the University of La Laguna in Spain, with postdoctoral training at the University of Michigan and the University of Copenhagen.
Before joining IMIDomics, I was Managing Director at Bay City Capital, where I helped launch several biotech companies and contributed to successful investments like Ion Torrent Systems and NextWave Pharmaceuticals. I also serve as Scientific Liaison for the Pritzker Neuropsychiatric Disorders Research Consortium, where I drive business development, strategic partnerships, and intellectual property efforts. Additionally, I sit on the boards of Oryzon Genomics and Cantero Therapeutics—originally founded as Orfan Biotech and rooted in the EU-funded IMBRAIN project, which aimed to strengthen research, innovation, and IP capacity.
Overall, I’m passionate about advancing scientific innovation and translating it into impactful therapies and solutions.
What initially drew you to the DocTIS project?
What drew me to DocTIS was the bold vision of Dr Sara Marsal to personalize combinatorial therapies for IMIDs using a systems biology approach. The project’s integration of clinical, molecular, and computational data aligns perfectly with IMIDomics’ mission. I became involved through our co-founder and CMO, Dr. Sara Marsal, and her collaborations with European research partners. I was inspired by the opportunity to contribute to a project that could transform how we treat complex diseases.
What role does your organization play in the DocTIS project?
IMIDomics plays a central role in integrating multi-omic and clinical data to support patient stratification and therapeutic decision-making. We contribute our expertise in data science, translational research, and IMID biology. Our team collaborates closely with clinical and academic partners to ensure that the insights we generate are both scientifically rigorous and clinically actionable.
What is the key innovation you are contributing to?
Our key innovation is the development of predictive models that identify patient subgroups based on molecular and clinical signatures. These models help guide the selection of optimal drug combinations, reducing trial-and-error in treatment and improving patient outcomes.
Regarding your initial expectations, how has the project developed?
The project has exceeded expectations in terms of collaboration and data integration. One pleasant surprise has been the speed at which we’ve been able to generate actionable hypotheses, thanks to the synergy between computational and clinical teams.
What has been the biggest challenge for you and your team?
One of the biggest challenges has been harmonizing data from diverse sources and ensuring interoperability across institutions. This required significant coordination and technical effort, but overcoming it has strengthened our collaborative framework and data infrastructure.
What results from the DocTIS project have been most satisfying for you?
The ability of our predictive models to be validated in real-world clinical settings has been incredibly rewarding. One highlight was identifying a patient subgroup that could potentially respond exceptionally well to a specific drug combination, an insight that could directly influence treatment guidelines.
The clinical trials have started, what are your expectations?
With the trial now underway, we expect it to demonstrate the efficacy of our combination therapies in rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis. While other IMIDs such as lupus and Crohn’s disease are not yet included, we are hopeful that future phases will expand to these areas. Our focus is on ensuring we select the right patient populations, apply robust stratification, and validate biomarkers to maximize clinical impact.
How do you think DocTIS could help improve the quality of life for IMID patients in Europe?
By tailoring therapies to individual patient profiles, DocTIS can reduce the time to effective treatment, minimize side effects, and improve long-term disease management. This not only benefits patients and their families but also reduces the burden on healthcare systems through more efficient resource use.
What key learnings do you take from the DocTIS collaboration?
The project has reinforced the value of interdisciplinary collaboration. Working with clinicians, data scientists, and patient advocates has broadened our perspective and improved our ability to translate science into impact. It’s also highlighted the importance of transparency and communication in large-scale research.
Is there anything about your team you would like to highlight?
I’m incredibly proud of the IMIDomics team’s dedication and creativity. Special thanks to our data science group, whose work has been instrumental in generating insights that drive the project forward. Their commitment to scientific rigor and patient impact is truly inspiring.
What are your hopes for the future of DocTIS and IMID therapies?
I hope DocTIS will help establish a more data-driven and personalized approach to IMID treatment. The collaborative framework and infrastructure we’ve built are valuable assets that can support future research and clinical applications. I’d like to see our models adopted in broader clinical practice and expanded to other IMIDs not yet covered.
Has the DocTIS project achieved any results that we can see in the short or medium term in the market?
While it is too early to speak about market availability, the project has produced validated data and models that are being used internally and shared with partners. However, we are actively engaging with diagnostic and therapeutic partners to explore clinical translation pathways.
I am optimistic that DocTIS will set a new standard in IMID precision medicine, paving the way for future EU-backed innovations.
As Manuel Lopez-Figueroa’s perspective makes clear, DocTIS represents a powerful convergence of science, data, and patient-centred innovation. By harnessing the strengths of each partner, from clinical insight to computational modelling and translational research, the consortium is laying the groundwork for a new era of precision medicine in IMIDs. Coordinated by the Vall d’Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), DocTIS brings together Cardiff University, the University of Verona, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, the Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), the National Center for Genomic Analysis (CNAG), IMIDomics Inc., HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, and Zabala Innovation, each playing a vital role in reshaping how these complex diseases are understood and treated.
* Clinical Discovery Engine is a trademark of IMIDomics Inc.
