21/10/2010

Dr. Soledad Gallego and Dr. Simó Schwartz Navarro, VHIR researchers, have received two grants from the TV3 La Marató Foundation for research in rare diseases, which focused the 2009 edition. In a ceremony held Oct. 20 at the Auditorium of the Biomedical Research Park of Barcelona, and with the presence of the Catalonian Minister of Health, Marina Geli, were released the 20 biomedical research projects in rare diseases that will benefit from the thousands of donations -more than 7 million euros- contributed by citizens, organizations and companies in the TV3 La Marató 2009.The 20 winning entries were chosen from 287 proposals by 134 experts in rare diseases because of their relevance, quality and methodological rigor. Among the winners, a project of Dr. Soledad Gallego, from the Laboratory of Translational Research in Paediatric Cancer at VHIR, called 'Inhibition Way North as a therapeutic target in rhabdomyosarcoma', which won a prize of 179,720 euros. Another award winner of the evening was the joint project led by Dr Simó Schwartz Navarro, responsible of the CIBBIM, at VHIR. This aid, valued at 475.00 euros, has been given to the work 'Nanomedicine Development for enzyme replacement therapy in Fabry disease". Dr. Ibane Abasolo accepted the award on behalf of Dr. Schwartz. The TV3 La Marató made visible a large group of rare diseases, more than 7,000 -little known and often forgotten-, and will now help to make public on important scientific new treatments and drugs that allow better quality of life of those affected.