Salzberg Chemistry Seminar Series

Dr. Maria Contel of Brooklyn College presents, "Unlocking The Potential of Gold-Based Compounds as
Anticancer Chemotherapeutic and Targeted Agents."

Abstract: Gold compounds are now well-recognized for their anticancer properties, and their interactions with the immune system—particularly their ability to enhance immunogenicity—are increasingly being elucidated [1]. In this talk, I will present an overview of research carried out in my laboratory over the past 14 years on the anticancer activity of gold(I) and gold(I)-based heterometallic compounds, investigated in vitro, in cellulo, and in mouse models, including recent and unpublished results. Our studies encompass pharmacokinetic and histopathological analyses, which have demonstrated remarkably low systemic toxicity for several of the compounds evaluated [2]. I will also highlight recent findings on the ability of selected gold-based agents to induce immunogenic cell death.

Biography: Maria Contel did her BS/MS/PhD studies in Spain at the Universities of Zaragoza and the Public University of Navarra. After postdoctoral fellowships at the Australian National University and at the University of Utrecht, she returned to the University of Zaragoza in Spain as a senior researcher (Ramón y Cajal Fellow, the most prestigious fellowship for young investigators in Spain). In 2006, she joined Brooklyn College and the Graduate Center as Assistant Professor (Inorganic Chemistry Sub-discipline). She became an Associate Professor in 2011, a Tow Professor in 2015 and in 2016 she was promoted to Full Professor. She joined the PhD Programs of Biology (2014) and Biochemistry (2018) as a faculty member. She served as Chair of the Chemistry Department at Brooklyn College (2017-2020) and as Founding Director of the Brooklyn College Cancer Center (2020-2025). Her research interests lie in the field of inorganic/organometallic/medicinal chemistry and biomaterials in cancer research. She has been consistently funded by NIH since 2010 and received
an institutional grant from the American Cancer Society (2023-2027) to build cancer research capacity at Brooklyn College. Maria has published 85 papers and reviews, has three US patents issued, and has been invited to speak in numerous universities and centers around the world and international meetings (including a Plenary Talk in 2025). Her mentoring activities focus on diversifying STEM and biomedical fields.