2024/11/05

CIC bioGUNE receives a FERO grant to boost breast cancer research

Dr. Ana Ruiz-Sáenz, group leader in the Cancer Therapy Resistance Lab at CIC bioGUNE, has been awarded the VI FERO-ghd Project in breast cancer.

This recognition will enable her group to investigate how altered glycosylation in tumor cells may influence the effectiveness of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) in the treatment of HER2-positive breast cancer.

The FERO Scholarship provides each researcher with €80,000 to carry out their translational research project over two years.

The FERO Foundation celebrated its annual gala at the Rosewood Villa Magna Hotel in Madrid, where €160,000 in scholarships were awarded to two prominent researchers to advance their projects in the field of colorectal and breast cancer. The event brought together over 250 personalities from the scientific and social spheres, led by Roberto Brasero and presided over by Silvia Garriga, president of the FERO Foundation.

Among the awardees is Dr. Ana Ruiz-Sáenz, Ikerbasque and Ramón y Cajal group leader in Cancer Therapy Resistance at CIC bioGUNE, member of BRTA. She has been recognized with the VI FERO-ghd Project in breast cancer. Her research will focus on analyzing how altered glycosylation in tumor cells affects the effectiveness of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) used in the treatment of HER2-positive breast cancer.

“ADCs are revolutionizing cancer treatment by combining antibodies that target tumor cells with drugs that destroy them. In the case of HER2-positive breast cancer, these treatments are designed to specifically attack the HER2 protein on the surface of cancer cells, which is highly glycosylated,” explains Dr. Ruiz-Sáenz. “Our project aims to understand how changes in glycosylation of tumor cells impact the effectiveness of these therapies. We will alter the tumor glycosylation profile and analyze its impact on the efficacy of ADCs using molecular techniques, 3D co-culture systems, and animal models,” she adds.

Dr. Ruiz-Sáenz emphasizes the importance of this research, stating, “We hope our results will demonstrate for the first time how tumor glycosylation influences the response to one of the most widely used ADCs, T-DM1. Additionally, this study could identify new ways to predict which patients will respond better to these treatments, enabling us to maximize the use of these powerful drugs in the future.”

The gala also awarded the XXVIII FERO Scholarship to Dr. Mate Maus from the Vall d’Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO) for his project addressing early-onset colorectal cancer (EO-CRC). This type of neoplasia is increasingly concerning people under 50, a group often overlooked in screening programs.

The official presentation of the FERO Scholarships took place during a charity dinner sponsored by KETTAL and AstraZeneca. Silvia Garriga, president of the Foundation, highlighted FERO's commitment to translational research: “These events are essential for continuing to fund projects that improve cancer diagnosis and treatment. The funds raised will be directed to support the Cancer Center at the Hospital 12 de Octubre.”

Rubén Ventura, general director of the FERO Foundation, also expressed enthusiasm about the caliber of projects presented this year. “There is increasing competition, and the quality of candidates is higher. The jury's discussion was particularly tight this year, reflecting the growing talent of researchers in the oncology field,” he stated.

This year, a total of 32 projects were submitted: 22 for the FERO Scholarship and 10 for the FERO-ghd Project. Since its inception 15 years ago, these scholarships have aimed to promote the development of translational oncology research in Spain, with the goal of ensuring scientific advancements reach patients more rapidly.

Dr. Ana Ruiz-Sáenz and Dr. Mate Maus exemplify the emerging talent in oncology research that FERO supports, contributing to advancements in cancer treatment and diagnosis, with the ultimate goal of improving patients' quality of life.

About FERO Foundation
Founded in 2001 by Dr. Josep Baselga, the FERO Foundation is a private entity dedicated to advancing cancer research, promoting translational research so that patients can benefit from scientific advancements more rapidly. The foundation collaborates with major research centers and leading hospitals in Spain and has funded numerous projects and programs that are transforming the way cancer is addressed.

About CIC bioGUNE
The Centre for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC bioGUNE), member of the Basque Research & Technology Alliance (BRTA), located in the Bizkaia Technology Park, is a biomedical research organisation conducting cutting-edge research at the interface between structural, molecular and cell biology, with a particular focus on generating knowledge on the molecular bases of disease, for use in the development of new diagnostic methods and advanced therapies.

About Ikerbasque
Ikerbasque - Basque Foundation for Science - is the result of an initiative of the Department of Education of the Basque Government that aims to reinforce the commitment to scientific research by attracting, recovering and consolidating excellent researchers from all over the world. Currently, it is a consolidated organization that has 290 researchers/s, who develop their work in all fields of knowledge.

About BRTA
BRTA is an alliance of 4 collaborative research centres (CIC bioGUNE, CIC nanoGUNE, CIC biomaGUNE y CIC energiGUNE) and 13 technology centres (Azterlan, Azti, Ceit, Cidetec, Gaiker, Ideko, Ikerlan, Leartiker, Lortek, Neiker, Tecnalia, Tekniker y Vicomtech) with the main objective of developing advanced technological solutions for the Basque corporate fabric.

With the support of the Basque Government, the SPRI Group and the Provincial Councils of the three territories, the alliance seeks to promote collaboration between the research centres, strengthen the conditions to generate and transfer knowledge to companies, contributing to their competitiveness and outspreading the Basque scientific-technological capacity abroad.

BRTA has a workforce of 3,500 professionals, executes 22% of the Basque Country's R&D investment, registers an annual turnover of more than 300 million euros and generates 100 European and international patents per year.

Spanish version