Lucía Hipólito (Valencia, 1982) holds a PhD in Pharmacy from the University of Valencia, where she is a tenured associate professor and principal investigator at the DOREAL lab, University Institute of Biotechnology and Biomedicine (BIOTECMED). Since 2005, her research has focused on the neuropharmacology of addiction, particularly alcohol addiction, with training and collaborations at institutions such as the University of Cambridge, Rutgers University, and Columbia University.

Dr. Hipólito’s work has been recognized with awards including the Young Investigator Award from ESBRA, the INIP, Talent Jove, the Fundolor Award, and the Young Investigator Award from the INRC. Her research has uncovered key mechanisms, such as the role of salsolinol in alcohol addiction and the impact of pain on opioid receptor function, contributing to new pharmacological strategies and understanding of opioid misuse vulnerability.

Currently, Dr. Hipólito leads research on the comorbidity of chronic pain, addiction, and mental health disorders, aiming to define neural mechanisms and develop more effective therapies. She also advances pharmaceutical technology by designing novel drug delivery systems to improve brain-targeted treatments, bridging basic neuroscience and translational medicine.