2024/07/16

Two CIC bioGUNE Alumni awarded the Extraordinary Doctorate Prize by UPV/EHU

The University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) annually awards the Extraordinary Doctorate Prize in various academic fields, recognizing the excellence and outstanding work of the doctoral students at this institution.

The University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) has awarded the Extraordinary Doctorate Prizes to two former CIC bioGUNE researchers, member of BRTA, for their outstanding doctoral theses carried out during their predoctoral period at the center.

Dr. Chiara Bruzzone was honored for her research titled "NMR-based metabolomics in precision medicine. Application to metabolic syndrome and COVID-19," supervised by Dr.Óscar Millet, leader of the Precision Medicine and Metabolism group at CIC bioGUNE, within the Molecular Biology and Biomedicine Doctoral Program.

Her work has significantly contributed to the field of precision medicine, exploring metabolism using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and applying this knowledge to both metabolic syndrome and the global SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. This research focuses on personalized treatments tailored to the individual characteristics of patients, based on the detailed study of underlying molecular mechanisms and the identification of key biomarkers to improve diagnosis and therapeutic effectiveness. NMR, due to its speed and precision without the need for derivatization, provides a comprehensive view of specific metabolic changes, driving significant advances in clinical research and the development of advanced therapeutic strategies.

On the other hand, Dr. Rubén Rodríguez Agudo received the same recognition for his doctoral thesis titled "Biomarker Discovery and Novel Therapies Using Micro-RNAs: deeper insights into liver physiopathology." This research was supervised by Dr. Malu Martínez-Chantar, leader of the Liver Diseases group at CIC bioGUNE, and Dr. Jon Mabe Álvarez at Tekniker, also within the Molecular Biology and Biomedicine Doctoral Program.

The thesis addresses the complex issue of chronic liver disease, which includes various slowly progressing but potentially deadly liver pathologies. Despite advances in diagnosis and treatment, factors such as sedentary lifestyles, unhealthy diets, alcohol consumption, and drug abuse, like paracetamol, remain significant challenges. The research focuses on hepatic metabolic imbalances related to alcohol abuse and paracetamol toxicity, highlighting the enzyme Glycine N-methyltransferase (GNMT) as crucial in the development of these diseases. Additionally, the role of non-coding micro-RNAs, especially miR-873-5p, whose dysregulation is associated with liver disease progression, was explored. Dr. Rodríguez Agudo's work emphasizes the therapeutic potential of miR-873-5p inhibition and promotes the development of non-invasive biomarkers to improve the diagnosis and treatment of these emerging liver conditions, significantly enhancing our understanding of liver physiopathology.

Both doctors have demonstrated exceptional commitment to scientific research and have left an indelible mark on their respective fields of study. At CIC bioGUNE, we are extremely proud to congratulate Dr. Bruzzone and Dr. Rodríguez Agudo on this well-deserved recognition, which underscores the quality and relevance of the research conducted at our center.

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

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

With the support of the Basque Government, the SPRI Group, and the Provincial Councils of the three territories, the alliance seeks to promote collaboration among research centers, strengthen the conditions for generating and transferring knowledge to companies, contributing to their competitiveness, and disseminating the Basque scientific-technological capacity abroad. BRTA has a workforce of 3,500 professionals, executes 22% of the R&D investment in the Basque Country, registers an annual turnover of more than 300 million euros, and generates 100 European and international patents per year.

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