Rita Cruz

Dr. Rita Cruz joined Ingenza in 2016 and leads collaborations with organisations ranging from innovative start-ups to multinational pharmaceutical companies, advancing innovations in biologics and beyond, from discovery through to commercial manufacturing. She is an expert in developing and optimising recombinant protein expression systems, with applications spanning platform vaccine development, probiotics, and biocatalysts for pharmaceutical synthesis, alongside broader applications in biofuels, animal health and consumer products. Her track record includes supporting the advancement of biologics and other technologies from early concept through to scalable and GMP-ready manufacturing, enabling partners to accelerate product development, regulatory approval and market impact.

Rita earned her Ph.D through the prestigious Marie Curie Industrial European Doctorate programme at the Centre for Bacterial Cell Biology, Newcastle University, in partnership with DSM, a world leader in enzyme manufacturing. A committed advocate for diversity and inclusion in STEM, she also plays a key role in shaping Ingenza’s business development strategy and forging lasting partnerships.