Dr. Carmen Hurtado is the Director of European Research at Breakthrough T1D with extensive experience accelerating health innovation through strategic public–private partnerships (PPPs) across Europe. She has led high-impact collaborations involving pharmaceutical companies, biotech firms, academic institutions, SMEs, patient organizations, and the European Commission, with a strong focus on advancing translational research and funding alignment. With a solid scientific background in diabetes research, Dr. Hurtado combines scientific excellence, demonstrated through competitive grants, high-impact publications, and international presentations, with deep expertise in European funding mechanisms and innovation frameworks. She has significant experience navigating and leveraging European incentives to fast-track biotech development from discovery to clinical application. A strong advocate for patient-centered innovation, she ensures that patient perspectives are integrated into research and funding strategies, aligning scientific advancement with meaningful health outcomes.