Images
Participants
Contact
The IRB Barcelona group leader and ICREA Professor has been recognized in the category of preclinical research for his contributions to the understanding of colon cancer.
Since 2002, these awards have recognized excellence in biomedical research in Spain.
The Lilly Foundation has announced today the 2016 Biomedical Research Awards granted to Eduard Batlle and Luis Alberto Moreno Aznar, in the categories of preclinical and clinical research, respectively. These awards, which this year celebrate their 15th edition, recognize the scientific excellence of researchers in Spain who contribute to the development of biomedicine and health sciences.
ICREA professor at IRB Barcelona, Eduard Batlle, coordinator of the Oncology Programme and group leader of the Colorectal Cancer Laboratory, has been honoured for his scientific contributions to understanding the relationship between colon cancer and intestinal stem cells, and the metastatic stages of the disease. His work has led to the understanding of the origin of colon cancer and may have important applications in regenerative medicine and in the treatment of patients with colorectal cancer.
His group, international leaders in this field, described part of the process behind the formation of metastases in this type of cancer, and in particular the role of the tumour environment, called tumour stroma, during the tumour's colonization of other organs. "Dr. Batlle's contributions are outstanding, in quality, visibility and impact," stressed Dr. Jose Antonio Sacristan, director of the Lilly Foundation, while highlighting "his efforts to use the results in pre-clinical research to improve the clinical management of the illness".
Professor Luis Alberto Moreno Aznar, professor at the University of Zaragoza, has received the award in the category of clinical research for his contribution to the knowledge of the causes of childhood obesity and the design of strategies for prevention and control.
The Lilly Foundation's Biomedical Research Awards are among the most significant in their field, due to the prestige of the recipients of the awards over the 15 editions. A total of 30 Spanish scientists have been recognized for their contributions to the advancement of basic and applied knowledge.
More information: Fundación Lilly
About IRB Barcelona
The Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona) pursues a society free of disease. To this end, it conducts multidisciplinary research of excellence to cure cancer and other diseases linked to ageing. It establishes technology transfer agreements with the pharmaceutical industry and major hospitals to bring research results closer to society, and organises a range of science outreach activities to engage the public in an open dialogue. IRB Barcelona is an international centre that hosts 400 researchers and more than 30 nationalities. Recognised as a Severo Ochoa Centre of Excellence since 2011, IRB Barcelona is a CERCA centre and member of the Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST).
