Elena Covato has always been curious about how science can be turned into real treatments for patients and address unmet medical needs—an interest that has consistently shaped her academic and professional journey.
She earned her Bachelor’s in Biotechnology and, in October 2022, her Master’s in Pharmaceutical Biotechnologies with honors, both from the University of Padova. During her master’s, she developed expertise in molecular biology and drug development, completing her thesis at EPFL (École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne) on macrocycle-based ligands for challenging disease targets.
After graduation, she joined Hoffmann-La Roche in Basel, where she spent nearly three years working in the oligonucleotide field. Her contributions included the chemo-enzymatic synthesis of oligonucleotides for neurodegenerative diseases, co-authoring a publication, and being named as a co-inventor on patent applications. She also optimized large-scale oligonucleotide workflows under GMP conditions, gaining valuable experience in innovation and process development.
On September 1, 2025, Elena began a new chapter as a Marie Curie PhD fellow at Biobizkaia in Bilbao, within the EFFecT consortium (DC4). Her research focuses on developing novel oligonucleotide-based methods to advance therapies for neuromuscular diseases.
Outside the lab, she enjoys cooking pasta, experimenting with new recipes, and hiking. A fun fact: although Sicilian, she doesn’t drink coffee and can’t stand the smell of mandarins!