The theses of Dr. Eva Coll, from the Biomedical Research in Gynecology group at Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR); and Dr. Carlos Jiménez, from the Neuronal Tumors Laboratory of the Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders group at VHIR, have been distinguished with the Pioneer 2022 award. Both groups are part of the collaborative space of cancer research at the same center: eCORE-Cancer. CERCA created this initiative to reward PhD research with a high potential for transference to the market.

A promising starting point for neuroblastoma treatment

Dr. Jiménez's research has shown that destabilizing the structure of the BAF chromatin remodelling complex paralyzes the tumoral growth and metastasis of neuroblastoma, a highly aggressive type of childhood cancer. The results of the study were published this year in Molecular Cancer.

The award jury highlighted that "the results obtained have generated a new and promising line of research that will allow the development of a new class of commercially exploitable pharmacological inhibitors". To date, it has already been identified which subunits within this multiprotein complex are key to its conservation and, therefore, if they are disabled, it loses its structure. Since the BAF complex is key for the expansion of cancer cells, finding a way to disable it will halt the progression of this pathology and reduce its mortality. It should be remembered that neuroblastoma is one of the most lethal pediatric cancers. The great potential of this line of research has led the Generalitat de Catalunya to award it a €20,000 grant in the Seed category of the Industry of Knowledge program.

A non-invasive diagnostic procedure for endometrial cancer.

Dr. Coll's thesis has been directed by the Drs. Antonio Gil, Silvia Cabrera and Eva Colás. The research is the result of a close collaboration between the Gynecology Service of the Women's Hospital of Vall d'Hebron, and the Biomedical Research Group in Gynecology of VHIR. The ultimate goal of the relationship between the two entities is to perform translational research projects to solve real clinical problems.

Dr. Coll's thesis has developed panels of protein biomarkers found in the patient's cervical fluids that will allow the diagnosis of endometrial cancer. A much simpler, faster and painless screening test than those currently used to detect this pathology, which is the most common gynaecological cancer in our country.

The jury valued "well-defined objectives, market needs (...), competition study and commercialization roadmap". The great potential of this line of research has led the Department of Research and Universities to recently award it a €100,000 grant in the Product category of the Knowledge Industry program.