Mexico City, October 20, 2025.— In the laboratories of the School of Engineering at the Universidad Panamericana, cutting-edge research is laying the groundwork for a new generation of treatments for melanoma and skin hyperpigmentation.
The project, led by Dr. Yovani Marrero-Ponce, a professor and researcher at Panamericana University and a Level III member of the National System of Researchers (SNII), has received funding from SECIHTI’s “Ciencia de Frontera” program.
Also contributing is Dr. Félix Orlando Martínez Ríos, a professor and researcher at the School of Engineering at the National Autonomous University of Mexico ( Universidad Panamericana ), and Dr. Luis Antonio Garcia González, from the Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology at UNAM.
Biomedical Innovation for the Treatment of Melanoma
The project titled Discovery of Multitarget Inhibitors of Melanogenesis, has as its primary objective the identification of compounds—both natural and synthetic— capable of simultaneously inhibiting four key proteins involved in melanin production: the enzymes TYR, TRP-1, TRP-2, and the transcription factor MITF, the latter of which is considered a master regulator in the progression of melanoma.
Beyond Current Treatments
Most of the inhibitors available today target only the enzyme tyrosinase (TYR), which limits their long-term effectiveness. Dr. Marrero-Ponce explains the need for a multi-pronged approach: “Melanogenesis is a complex biological process. Targeting a single pathway allows other pathways to compensate for the inhibition.”
He also adds: “Our multi-targeted strategy aims to comprehensively block the process, which results in greater efficacy and reduces the risk of resistance developing, both in therapeutic applications against cancer and in depigmentation treatments.”
A Hybrid Strategy: From the Digital World to the Lab
The project's methodological innovation lies in the integration of computational methods (known as theDRY approach) with experimental validation (theWET approach).
On the one hand, the team uses artificial intelligence algorithms, molecular modeling, and virtual screening to analyze millions of compounds and predict how they interact with target proteins. On the other hand, the most promising compounds are synthesized and evaluated in the laboratory through enzymatic and cellular assays to verify their actual effectiveness.
“This integration allows us to be faster and more accurate. We drastically reduce the time and costs associated with traditional drug discovery,”, the researcher notes.
Products with Scientific and Social Impact
In addition to the candidate molecules, the project will generate valuable resources for the scientific community:
- A specialized databasecontaining structural information and biological activity dataon the compounds, which will be available to other researchers.
- Software open-access softwarefor virtual screening and molecular design, which can be downloaded from thehttp://mobiosd-hub.com/ platform.
The most promising molecules will be protected by patents, with the goal of developing prototypes of anticancer drugs or depigmenting agents for the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries.
Training the Next Generation of Scientists
The project also serves as a training platform for young researchers who are still students, such as Ricardo H. Guerrero Lara, a doctoral student in artificial intelligence at the Universidad Panamericana; and Greneter Cordoves Delgado, a doctoral student in the Department of Computer Science at the Ensenada Center for Scientific Research and Higher Education. Both are actively participating in the project, gaining skills in bioinformatics, medicinal chemistry, and molecular biology.
“For our students, this is an opportunity to get involved in a comprehensive project that spans from theory to application, fostering a translational approach to science,”, says Dr. Marrero-Ponce.
With this research, the National Institute of Health ( Universidad Panamericana ) reaffirms its commitment to cutting-edge science and the search for innovative solutions that positively impact health and society.
Learn more about the work of researchers at the National Institute of Health ( Universidad Panamericana ) at: https://www.up.edu.mx/tema/noticias/investigacion/
Researcher's data:
- Dr. Yovani Marrero-Ponce, professor and researcher at the School of Engineering of the Universidad Panamericana. SNII Level III.
- Dr. Félix Orlando Martínez Ríos, professor and researcher at the School of Engineering of the Universidad Panamericana, SNII Level I.
- Dr. Luis Antonio Garcia González, Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, UNAM.
Students:
- Greneter Cordoves Delgado, Ph.D. student, Department of Computer Science, Ensenada Center for Scientific Research and Higher Education (CICESE).
Ricardo H. Guerrero Lara, Ph.D. student in Artificial Intelligence, Academy of Information Technology and Analysis, Universidad Panamericana.
