Since September 2018 the VHIR has two doctoral students who have obtained the Incoming INPhINIT scholarship from La Caixa. Joan Compte and Kevin Arias are two students who this year have started their doctorate with the VHIR thanks to this grant.Kevin Arias is part of the http://en.vhir.org/portal1/grup-equip.asp?t=cibbim-nanomedicine-diagnostic-nanotools&s=recerca&contentid=187668 CIBBIM-Nanomedicine Diagnostic Nanotools group led by Dr. Eva Baldrich. "My goal was to find a group of applied and transversal chemistry and preferably of an emerging group, since I value a lot the effort they need to carry out their projects," says Kevin. In addition, in this group my project is focused on being able to give a solution to a real problem, reason that made me decide to stay in the VHIR.Kevin's PhD project is divided into two parts. The first is to develop electrochemical biosensors to detect malaria rapidly and to be used, for example, in rural areas of South America where it is difficult to make the standard diagnosis. The second part is focused on being able to perform a multiplex analysis to detect the 5 pathogens of malaria, identify them at a quantitative level and achieve an earlier detection, since it is a disease with poor prognosis if it is not detected quickly.Joan Compte is part of the http://en.vhir.org/web_vhir/portal1/grup-equip.asp?t=malalties-neurodegeneratives&s=recerca&contentid=186912 Neurodegenerative Diseases group led by Dr. Miquel Vila. "I was about to go to Switzerland when the VHIR contacted me with a project led by Dr. Miquel Vila." He adds "I was interested because the geographical proximity with my family, but, above all, what made me decide to stay at the VHIR was the potential of the project he offered and the prestige of the institution and of Dr. Vila himself ".Juan's doctorate is also divided into two parts. The first is to study the mechanisms that neurons have to cause the own cell death when there is accumulation of neuromelanin. The second part of his project focuses on the study of the neuroinflammatory potential of neuromelanin and the use of ultrasound or by encapsulating dopamine, the precursor of neuromelanin, to achieve therapeutic modulation.INPhINIT doctorate scholarship program "La Caixa"The INPhINIT doctorate scholarship program "La Caixa" is aimed to attract young research talent of any nationality seeking to pursue a doctorate in the State or in Portugal. This program is not only the financial envelope itself, but offers other activities to enhance the talent of doctoral students. For example, with complementary training programs, stays in other research centers or industry, public participation activities or the Association of Scholars of "la Caixa".In the 2018 edition, in which both Juan and Kevin participated, initially there were approximately 450 applicants and as the phases progressed (pre-selection for curriculum, review by external experts and finally, the interview) they were reduced to finally being 57 scholars. Both one and another comment that they were impressed by the requirements that was requested from "la Caixa" especially by the review by experts that is rare.From the Association of Scholars, both Kevin and Joan are very grateful. "It allows us to be in contact with other doctoral students and create a very important network". "We are very grateful to have this scholarship and it is an honor to be part of this reference center that is the VHIR"