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  3. Salvador Aznar Benitah
Salvador Aznar BenitahSA

Salvador Aznar Benitah

scientific co-founder · OOna Therapeutics
About Salvador

Salvador Aznar Benitah is an ICREA Professor at IRB Barcelona, where he leads the Stem Cells and Cancer Laboratory. His research focuses on stem cells, physiology, aging, and metastasis. He co-founded Ona Therapeutics in 2019, a biotechnology company that develops antibody-drug conjugates and antibody-based therapies for advanced cancers. His work has been recognized with awards such as the VI National 'Doctores Diz Pintado' Cancer Research Prize.

Strengths: founder archetype

ResearcherTechnical builder
Researcher 2
Technical builder 2
Young outlier –
Capital allocator –
Quant / trader –
Domain operator –
Repeat founder –
Community builder –

one sourced signal · hover a cell for it, click for the source

Why researcher

Salvador Aznar Benitah's career is deeply rooted in scientific research, particularly in stem cells and cancer. He transitioned his research findings into a biotechnology company, Ona Therapeutics, to develop new cancer treatments, demonstrating a strong technical building aspect by translating scientific discoveries into therapeutic pipelines.

The signals behind it 4
  • ICREA Professor IRB Barcelona. Stem cells, physiology, aging, metastasis. ONA TherapeuticsResearcher
    X
  • ICREA researcher and group leader of the Stem Cells and Cancer Laboratory at IRB Barcelona, Salvador Aznar Benitah, has been awarded the VI National 'Doctores Diz Pintado' Cancer Research Prize.Researcher
    I
  • Ona Therapeutics is a spin‑off from IRB Barcelona and ICREA founded in 2019 by Dr. Salvador Aznar Benitah.Technical builder
    I
  • Ona was established to translate insights from metastasis biology into therapies aimed at preventing or treating cancer spread, which remains the leading cause of cancer-related death.Technical builder
    E
PATH · 3 MILESTONES

Salvador Aznar Benitah | Researcher to Cancer Therapeutics Founder

2020 → 2026·0phases·now
2020202120222023202420252026Jun 16, 2020: Ona Therapeutics raised $34M (Series A). $34M SERIES A · JUN '20 Jun 4, 2026: Ona Therapeutics raised $87M (Series B+), led by Columbus Venture Partners and Mérieux Equity Partners. $87M SERIES B+ · JUN '26 Oct 5, 2026: Ona Therapeutics raised $87M (Series B+). $87M SERIES B+ · OCT '26

Every tag links its source.

Network

Background

2
  • Role ICREA Professor
    X
  • Role Group Leader, Stem Cells and Cancer Laboratory
    I
Timeline, line by line 3

In their words

3
  • “it is one of the most prestigious in our country”. And he added, “this award brings me and my group great happiness. I am very grateful to the members of the jury for having placed their trust in us and for acknowledging our research”.”On receiving the VI National 'Doctores Diz Pintado' Cancer Research Prize. · Jan 30, 2017
    I
  • “The group leader feels proud to have succeeded in building a group that encourages people to strive, to take their work seriously, to be passionate about it, and to work as a team.”On building his research group. · Jan 30, 2017
    I
  • “Most people in the lab don’t stay in it for more than four or five years, but the philosophy of the lab is always the same”On the philosophy of his lab. · Jan 30, 2017
    I

Team at Ona Therapeutics

Interviews and coverage

5
How this is researched

Researched from public pages: press, interviews, the company's site and the founder's own posts. Each source logo links the page that states the row; anything we couldn't source is left out. The archetype is our reading of that record, from a fixed set so founders can be compared. Updated Oct 12, 2026.

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