Menkes International · About Us
Copper(less) Committee
MIA's scientific advisory body, established March 2021. A multidisciplinary team of scientists, physicians, pharmacists and families working pro bono.
Mission
The Copperless Committee is the scientific advisory board (SAB) of Menkes International (MICu). It was created in March 2021 to develop the first human dosing plan for the exceptional treatment with elesclomol-copper (Es-Cu) for Marco, the first Menkes patient to receive this new drug.
The Committee brings together scientists, researchers, medical doctors, biochemists, pharmacometricians, pharmacologists, chemists, biologists, therapists and patient families — all recognised experts serving pro bono, in their individual capacity. It advances research, provides clinical guidance, and fosters international collaboration to improve treatment outcomes for Menkes disease and other rare copper-related disorders, including:
- Named-Patient Programs (NPP-Menkes), such as elesclomol-copper for duly authorised patients;
- Early diagnosis protocols and related instruments;
- Ongoing research initiatives on Menkes disease and other rare copper disorders;
- New collaborative projects;
- Advocacy for awareness and treatment accessibility;
- Training and education for families, clinicians and the wider community.
Committee Members — Census 2026
Francesc Palau
Chair
Pediatrician & Medical Geneticist, CSIC Research Professor · SJD Distinguished Investigator, Sant Joan de Déu Hospital and Research Institute
Barcelona, Spain
Vishal Gohil
Vice-Chair
Professor, Biochemistry & Biophysics
Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
Denis Broun
Rapporteur
Medical Director, Menkes International · Former WHO and World Bank Director · CEO, Givopax
Aurora Mateos
Secretary
Founder & President, Menkes International – Copper Rare Foundation
Málaga, Spain
Flor Rolleri
Technical Secretary
Medical Doctor, Servicio Valenciano de Salud · Menkes International – Copper Rare Foundation
Zeynep Asuman
Clinical Professor, Kennedy Center, Dept. of Clinical Genetics, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet
Copenhagen, Denmark
Mercè Capdevila
Professor of Inorganic Chemistry, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
Kay Double
Professor, Brain and Mind Centre, School of Medical Sciences
Sydney, Australia
Elena Godoy
Coordinator
Attending Pediatrician, Complex Chronic Children and Palliative Care Unit, Regional University Hospital
Málaga, Spain
Janet Hoenicka
Senior Investigator, Sant Joan de Déu Research Institute
Nina Horn
Professor (rtd), Menkes researcher · Pharmacist Director (rtd), Kennedy Center–Copenhagen University Hospital
Svetlana Lutsenko
Professor, Associate Director for Basic Science and Clinical Relations, Institute for Basic Biomedical Sciences, Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, USA
Victor Mangas
Assistant Professor, University of Valencia · Specialist in Pharmacometrics, Pharmacokinetics, Bioequivalence
Valencia, Spain
Michael Petris
Professor of Biochemistry, Menkes researcher, University of Missouri – School of Medicine
Columbia, MO, USA
Jim Sacchettini
Rodger J. Wolfe-Welch Foundation Chair, Professor of Biochemistry & Biophysics, Chemistry, Texas A&M University
College Station, TX, USA
Natalia Serrano
Medical Director, Engrail Therapeutics
Barcelona, Spain
Joseph Standing
Professor of Pharmacometrics, UCL Institute of Child Health · Honorary Research Pharmacist, Great Ormond Street Hospital
London, UK
Steffen Syrbe
Senior Physician, Director, Section of Neuropediatrics and Metabolic Medicine, Heidelberg University Clinic
Heidelberg, Germany
Prachi Trivedi
Associate Research Scientist, Dept. of Biochemistry & Biophysics, Texas A&M University
College Station, TX, USA
Yusuf Hamied
Chemist & Philanthropist, CEO, CIPLA Therapeutics
Elisabeth de Lange
Professor in Predictive Pharmacology, Division of Systems Biomedicine and Pharmacology, LACDR, Leiden University · President, Dutch Pharmacological Society
Leiden, The Netherlands
Diego Martinelli
Head of the Metabolic Section, Bambino Gesù Hospital
Julian Mercer
Professor Emeritus, Deakin University · Director, Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology
Melbourne, Australia
Federico Mingozzi
Chief Science & Technology Officer, Nava Therapeutics
Victoriano Mulero
Professor, Coordinator of the research group on immunity, inflammation and cancer, University of Murcia
Francisco Javier Otero Espinar
Professor, Dept. of Pharmacy and Technology, University of Santiago de Compostela
Santiago de Compostela, Spain
Christos Papageorgiou
Medical Doctor, Associate Professor, Hematology and Medical Oncology, University of Missouri
Bibudhendra Sarkar
Senior Scientist Emeritus, Menkes researcher, SickKids Hospital
Toronto, Canada
Karin Tuschl
MRC Clinician Scientist Fellow and Group Leader, UCL Great Ormond Street
London, UK
José Miguel Ramos Fernández
Chief, Dept. of Pediatric Neurology, Hospital Materno Infantil de Málaga
Málaga, Spain
Cristiano Rizzo
Principal Biologist, Metabolic Diseases and Drug Biology Laboratory, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital
Rome, Italy
Raphael Rodriguez
Research Director, CNRS · Institut Curie
Paris, France
Giuseppe Ronzitti
Team Leader, Inserm researcher, Généthon
Paris, France
Josep Suñé
Professor, University of Barcelona, Department of Pharmacy and Technology
Raquel Yahyaoui
Head, Dept. of Clinical Biochemistry · Clinical Laboratory Geneticist (EBMG), Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga, IBIMA-Plataforma BIONAND
Francesc Palau
Coordinator (ad interim)
Pediatrician & Clinical Geneticist, SJD Distinguished Research Fellow · Director, Institut de Recerca Hospital Sant Joan de Déu
Marta Duero
Chief Pharmacist, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu
Elena Godoy
Attending Pediatrician, Complex Chronic Children and Palliative Care Unit, Regional University Hospital
Málaga, Spain
Aquilina Jiménez
Pediatrician, Dept. of Pediatric Neurology, Complejo Hospitalario de León
Rosa Marqués
Neurological Physiotherapist, Dulce Nombre de María Psychopedagogic Institute
Málaga, Spain
Ángela Pieras
Hospital Pharmacist (Consultant), Hospital Sant Joan de Déu
Barcelona, Spain
Flor Rolleri
Core Secretary, Menkes International – Copper Rare Foundation
Mónica Sáez
Hospital Pharmacist, Complejo Hospitalario de León
Rubén Varela
Hospital Pharmacist, Complejo Hospitalario de León
Miquel Villaronga
Hospital Pharmacist (Consultant, retired), Hospital Sant Joan de Déu
Barcelona, Spain
CopperClinic
Reference physicians and clinicians, reporting to the Copper(less) Committee