Turning Biomedical Innovation into Patient-centred Solutions
Expert consulting in biomedical and translational science, oncology, genetics, multi-omics and RNA therapeutics — helping research groups and biotech/pharma teams leverage innovation to turn complex biological data into real-world impact.
Dr Carlos Aya-Bonilla BSc/Ed., MSc., PhD
My research intersects the fields of cellular, molecular and computational biology, genetics, NGS and multi-omics (bulk and single-cell resolution), biomechanical engineering. liquid biopsy and translational science to discover clinically-relevant drug targets and biomarkers that improve patient outcomes through effective and safer precision medicine strategies.
Industry Partnerships: Novartis-Colombia, Bristol Myers Squibb-Colombia. ClearBridge Biomedics, Angle plc, 10X Genomics, Millenium Science and Illumina.
MTP Entrepreneurial and Innovation training:
Centre for Entrepreneurial Research and Innovation (CERI), 2019 Concept to Creation Alumni.
Perth BioDesign Flagship Program, UWA, 2025 Alumni (Current).
The Bridge Program, QUT, 2025 Alumni (Current).
Creator and Host of
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I have been awarded 2 post-doctoral fellowships, 3 PhD scholarships, 2 travel grants, 1 best and 2 runner-up oral presentations and third place as best research study on haematological malignancies.
Mos recent awards include:
European Post-Doctoral fellowship Sisley-d’Ornano Foundation and Jerome Lejeune Foundation (2021-2022)
Single cell Fellowship Program (10X Genomics and Millennium)
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I have devised, written, secured and executed research grants for a total of $1’178.000 -as Chief Investigator- and >$8 M -as Associate Investigator-, of research funding through national and international competitive research funding schemes and successful industry partnerships with pharma and biotech companies.
Of the total of 25 grants awarded, I have served as CIA on 13 (52%), CIB on 7 (28%) and CIC on 2(8%) grants.
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Publications:
I have authored a total of 14 publications, including 12 original research papers, one review article and one book chapter. Of these, seven as first-author, three as second-author, and one as senior-author.
Presentations in Scientific Meetings:
I have presented outcomes from my research at numerous national and international scientific meetings, acting as a first author in 40 out of a total of 65 abstracts (61%), 25 of which were oral presentations.
I have been invited to speak at 5 scientific meetings. Based on my strong collaboration with world-leading biotech companies, I was invited to speak at:
The 2022 TAGx Talk Series (10X Genomics and Millenium Science)
2021 MORE symposium (Illumina, USA & Canada)
Webinars organised by Illumina and Miltenyi (2021).
Science Outreach:
Speaker at community events, including consumer groups for leukaemia and melanoma (MelanomaWA), research foundations (Friends of Cancer Council, Child Cancer Research Foundation, Claremont Rotary Club, and Probus Club-Attadale).
Driven by a mission to improve the lives of patients, I bring over 20 years of experience leading translational research across academia and industry (biotech and pharma). My work focuses on leveraging cutting-edge tools to identify drug targets and biomarkers that enable the development of novel therapeutic strategies and reliable monitoring tools—empowering clinicians to deliver more effective diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment.
With a strong translational focus, my research has contributed to major advances—from discovering drug targets and biomarkers that prevent metastasis and treatment resistance in lymphoma, melanoma, and leukaemia, to deploying molecular assays in clinical settings and developing RNA drugs addressing pathogenic inflammation in a pharmaceutical context.
With an unique combination of cross-disciplinary expertise, an innovative and strategic mindset, and a systems-level perspective, I aim to help scientists and biotech/pharma teams accelerate the translation of complex biological data into actionable, patient-centred solutions.
Research and Industry Programs:
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Key contributions:
Led the the development of an RNA-based drug for modulating inflammatory pathways in genetic diseases.
Advanced RNA drug candidates towards clinical trials under ODD pathway.
Ascertained efficacy and cellular uptake of TMO and MOE oligos, developing molecular (ddPCR), immunofluorescence and flow cytometry assays.
Determined clinical relevance in a rare neuromuscular disease.
Mapped PD and biodistribution studies in animal models.
Period: 2024
Patent under progress
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Key Contributions:
Developed a preclinical framework for single cell multi-omic profiling for rare TRCs.
Identified differential patterns of treatment response across leukaemia cells in paediatric leukaemia.
Unravelled resistance-linked genetic signatures within treatment-resistant cells.
Found actionable drug targets and tested novel therapeutic strategies in in vivo studies
Devised low-cost monitoring tools (ddPCR and flow cytometry) for preclinical tracking of TRC subpopulations.
Impact: This will ultimately enable front-line oncologists to make effective biology-informed therapeutic decisions to maximise treatment efficacy while minimising toxicity.
Period: 2019 - 2023
Institution: The Kids Research Institute
Publications:
Aya-Bonilla et al., Manuscript in progress.
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Key contributions:
Unveiled the phenotypic and molecular heterogeneity of Circulating Tumour Cells (CTCs).
Determined the prognostic utility of molecular signatures within CTCs in metastatic melanoma, by unbiased isolation of extremely rare CTCs using microfluidic devices, and their phenotypic, genetic and transcriptomic profiling.
Impact:This work established, for the first time, the clinical potential of CTC signatures for melanoma prognostication and for real-time monitoring of treatment response, regardless of mutation status.
Period: 2015 - 2018
Institution: Edith Cowan University, Perth - Australia
Publications:
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Key contribution: Unravelled shared pathogenic mechanisms and unveiled novel drug targets across different forms of Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, by integrating functional, genetic, genomics and bioinformatics tools.
Impact: This work opened a novel avenue for the development of treatments that address multiple NHL subtypes, moving beyond subtype-specific drugs to broader, potentially more effective therapies.
Period: 2009 - 2013
Institute: Griffith University
Publications:
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Key contribution: Established molecular workflows for detection of BCR-ABL and PML-RARA fusion transcripts and surveillance of Imatinib-resistant mutations in leukaemia (Funded by Novartis and BMS Colombia).
Impact: This work revolutionised the clinical management of patients receiving bone marrow transplantation or Imatinib in Colombia and is currently being used in clinical practice.
Period: 2005 - 2008
Institution: Universiad de Antioquia (Medellin - Colombia).
Publications:
Bridging the Gap in Early Drug and Biomarker Discovery
The Vertical and Horizontal Mindsets in Research
With 20 years in academia and life sciences industry, I’ve identified two key scientific mindsets: the vertical — focused deeply on discovery and curiosity — and the horizontal — aimed at translating findings into clinical impact, navigating the path to regulatory approval with purpose and precision. Both are essential, but the early stage of drug development is when a strategic shift from vertical to horizontal mindset matters most. Unfortunately, many promising breakthroughs often fail to reach patients because this transition happened at the wrong time.
Where I Add Value
From discovery to preclinical validation, early-stage development demands deep biological insight, robust experimental design and clear translational vision to turn discoveries into therapeutic value.
With comprehensive experience across the drug development pipeline, I specialise in the discovery and early preclinical stages, helping research groups, startups and biotech teams bridge the gap between fundamental biology and clinical translation.
Despite major scientific advances, early drug development still faces key challenges:
Limited awareness of the critical studies needed to progress drug candidates to later stages.
Fragmented experimental approaches that overlook disease complexity and lack translational focus.
Limited integration between wet-lab and computational data for identifying clinically relevant targets.
Insufficient validation of molecular targets, drugs and biomarkers before clinical progression.
A persistent >80% failure rate of drugs entering clinical trials
I address these challenges by combining biomedical depth, multi-omics integration and translational strategy to turn complex data into clinically relevant insight.
Goals:
My main goal is to partner with you to help:
Devise a clear and realistic translational strategy
Design and optimise preclinical models that better reflect human disease.
Identify and validate drug targets and biomarkers driving treatment response and resistance as well as tumour sprwading (metastasis).
Integrate multi-omics and single-cell data to unveil actionable mechanisms.
Translate complex datasets into clinically relevant insights ready for preclinical or clinical advancement.
By bridging the gap between discovery and translation, my goal is to help teams de-risk early development, accelerate decision-making and advance the most clinically-relevant drug candidates toward patient benefit.
My Portfolio
I offer strategic and scientific consulting to bridge discovery and translation in biomedical research.
From designing multi-omics and preclinical studies to developing translational roadmaps, I help research groups, startups and biotech companies in Australia, Latin America and globally turn complex biological data into actionable insights to accelerate discovery and translate science into meaningful impact to vulnerable communities.
Scientific & Translational Strategy
Goal: Align scientific innovation with well-defined clinical needs and strategic outcomes.
I help teams develop clear, evidence-based strategies that guide discoveries from concept to preclinical validation.
Services include:
Translational research strategy and roadmap development
Target and biomarker discovery planning and execution
Preclinical study design and optimisation
Therapeutic development strategy (oncology, genetic diseases)
Scientific due diligence and innovation review for biotech investors/startups
Multi-omics & Data-Driven Insights
Goal: Transform complex biological data into actionable discoveries.
I provide expert design, integration and interpretation of multi-omics data to unravel mechanisms of disease with therapeutic potential and clinical relevance, by merging innovation with cutting-edge technologies.
Services include:
Multi-omics (bulk and single-cell) study design, troubleshooting and analysis
Experimental strategies to study rare cell populations with clinical relevance (i.e. Circulating Tumour Cells, stem cells, treatment-resistant cells) for biomarker and drug target discovery
Integration of cellular and molecular biology, functional, genomic, transcriptomic and proteomic data
Single-cell CITE-seq profiling support, including troubleshooting of wet-lab workflows
Computational biology interpretation
Data visualisation and biological interpretation for decision-making
Assay development, validation and troubleshooting
Research Support & Communication
Goal: Strengthen research outcomes and communicate science with clarity and impact.
I provide scientific writing, communication and mentoring support to help researchers and teams raise funds and engage effectively with their stakeholders.
Services include:
Grant and funding strategy for translational programs
Scientific and technical writing (grant proposals, papers, reports, white papers etc…)
Strategic science communication — investor decks, white papers and scientific storytelling
Educational workshops
Research partnership development (academia–industry–startup)
Mentoring for early-career researchers and startup scientists
International collaboration (Australia, Latin America and worldwide)
Pricing:
I provide project-based and advisory consulting for research, biotech, and translational programs. Pricing is tailored to project scope and complexity, with casual and flexible ongoing support options available upon request.
Ready to Turn Your Research Into Impact?
Partner with me to transform your discovery into solutions that improve the lives of patients globally.
Looking forward to discussing how I can support your project — in Australia, Latin America, or anywhere in the world.
Get in touch to schedule an introductory call.
Contact:
Email: carlosayabonilla@gmail.com
Phone: (+61) 04 3359 6038