The pharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences has awarded the 11th and 12th editions of the Gilead Biomedical Research Grants at the Instituto de Salud Carlos III, recognizing projects in HIV, hematologic oncology and medical oncology, as well as COVID-19 and hepatitis D. This funding programme was created to support research activity and promote the expertise and talent of Spanish scientists in areas where significant unmet medical needs remain.

In the 2024 edition, three grants were awarded to researchers from the Vall d’Hebron Campus, and one additional grant in the 2025 edition.

Gilead Grants 2024

Dr. María José Buzón, co-leader of the Infectious Diseases group at the Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), leads one of the projects awarded in the 11th edition of this call. The project focuses on the development of novel NK cell (natural killer cell)-based immunotherapies to combat HIV persistence in the body. NK cells have mechanisms capable of eliminating the virus, but infection alters their functionality.

The research will study a subpopulation of NK cells with characteristics similar to those observed in individuals capable of controlling HIV without treatment (elite controllers), who show high immune activity. Using cell expansion protocols, large quantities of these cells will be generated to assess their ability to reduce viral replication, decrease HIV reservoirs, and limit infection-associated inflammation.

On the other hand, Dr. María Buti, senior consultant at the Hepatology Service of Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, principal investigator of the Liver Diseases group at VHIR, professor at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), and researcher in the Liver and Digestive Diseases area of CIBER (CIBERehd), has received a grant to advance research in hepatitis D, which can rapidly progress to liver cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma. Romania is one of the countries with the highest prevalence of hepatitis D, B, and C in Eastern Europe.

In Catalonia, implementing screening programmes among the Romanian population is challenging. Therefore, the project led by Dr. Buti aims to design a programme to educate, test, and improve healthcare access for Romanian people living in Catalonia who are affected by hepatitis D.

Finally, Dr. Elena Élez, head of the Digestive Tumours Unit at Vall d’Hebron University Hospital and of the Gastrointestinal Cancer Group at the Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), has also received a grant. Her work aims to better understand why colorectal cancer has a strong tendency to metastasise to the liver, one of the major clinical challenges of this disease.

The research team will analyse patient samples using advanced single-cell sequencing technologies that allow the behaviour of thousands of cells to be studied individually. The goal is to identify new biological regulators involved in liver metastasis and generate knowledge that may, in the future, contribute to more precise and effective treatments for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.

Gilead Grants 2025

In the 12th edition of the Gilead Grants, funding was awarded to Dr. María Vieito, medical oncologist at Vall d’Hebron University Hospital and researcher in the Genitourinary Tumours Group (excluding prostate cancer), the Central Nervous System, sarcoma and tumours of unknown origin group, as well as in the Cancer Molecular Therapy Research Unit (UITM-CaixaResearch) at VHIO. The aim of this project, conducted in collaboration with Dr. Paolo Nuciforo, head of the Molecular Oncology Group at VHIO, is to study how microorganisms living in the human body—particularly in the gut and within tumours themselves—may influence the development and progression of brain tumours.

The team aims to analyse and compare the gut and tumour microbiota of patients with brain tumours with that of healthy individuals, in order to identify microorganisms associated with the disease and determine whether specific bacterial profiles are linked to better or worse responses to treatments such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or immunotherapy.

Recognition of Dr. María Buti as a reference in hepatology

During the awards ceremony, Gilead also recognised Dr. María Buti for her outstanding career and contribution to biomedical research, particularly in the field of viral hepatitis. Her work has had a direct impact on improving the health of patients with these conditions.