Dr Ester Boix is leading the research group on ‘Human host defense RNases’ at the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain. After five years of postdoctoral studies (one year at the National Institutes of Health and four years at the University of Bath) in 2002 she was called to the Ramon y Cajal program as a Senior Research Fellow. Over her career she has contributed to the structural-functional characterization of ribonucleases. She is a pioneer in the development of novel expression systems for RNases’ production, the first 3D crystal structures, identification of secondary substrate binding sites and design of novel RNase- based antimicrobial peptides. Dr Boix has published over 90 papers and her main research interest focuses on the mechanism of action of RNases, as lead proteins for the design of novel therapies.