From Phenotypic Hit to an Orally Active Zika Antiviral

Dr. Esther Torrente is a Research Investigator and Scientific Leader at IRBM with more than 20 years of experience in medicinal chemistry and drug discovery. She has led multidisciplinary programs from hit identification through preclinical candidate selection across antiviral, oncology, and CNS research. Her work integrates medicinal chemistry with biology, structural biology, DMPK, and in vivo pharmacology, to advance in drug-discovery programs addressing areas of high unmet medical needs. She has authored more than 27 peer-reviewed publications and is an inventor on 7 patents.

Lauren got her undergraduate degree from Northwestern University in Biomedical Engineering, and went on to the University of Pittsburgh for her PhD.  She joined AstraZeneca in the UK as a postdoc and progressed through a series of positions including Associate Principal Scientist and Project Leader during her time with AstraZeneca in Sweden.  Lauren joined UCB in 2017 and became Head of U.S. Research in Patient Solutions in 2025. Since joining the company, she has held several leadership roles across research, including leading global teams and critical projects, overseeing the integration of Element Genomics following its acquisition, and building new biology focus areas to strengthen UCB’s innovation engine. She now also leads the digital strategy for Patient Solutions, helping position UCB’s research and early development organizations for long-term success in an increasingly data- and technology-driven environment.

In her current role, Lauren is responsible for leading all groups within U.S. Research across four research sites, including neuromuscular biology, in vitro pharmacology, data science and bioinformatics, protein sciences, structural biology, translational biology, macrocycles, the gene therapy vector core, genomics, and research operations. She drives a portfolio of drug discovery programs while shaping a long-term vision for UCB’s geographic research footprint in the United States. As a member of the research and early development leadership team, Lauren contributes to the development and sustainability of UCB’s internal portfolio strategy, including organic and inorganic growth opportunities and asset maximization. She also helps guide strategic investments in platform capabilities and plays a central role in evolving the organization and its talent to deliver long-term growth in a rapidly changing external environment.