2023/07/28

Arkaitz Carracedo and June Ereño-Orbea, from CIC bioGUNE, receive the Leonardo Grant for researchers and cultural creators

The Leonardo Grants, supported by the BBVA Foundation, have received 1,116 applications in their 2023 call, with only 58 being selected.

The evaluation of the candidates considered the excellence of the applicant's curriculum and the originality of the presented project.

Arkaitz Carracedo and June Ereño-Orbea, researchers at CIC bioGUNE – member of BRTA -, have been awarded the Leonardo Grants, sponsored by the BBVA Foundation, and aimed at supporting personal projects of researchers and cultural creators at intermediate stages of their careers, between 30 and 45 years of age, who are characterized by significant scientific, technological, or cultural production.

In this 2023 call, a total of 1,116 applications were received, and 58 were selected. The evaluation committee considered the excellence of the applicant's curriculum and the originality of the presented project.

In the case of Arkaitz Carracedo, Ikerbasque research professor in the Cancer Cell Signaling and Metabolism Laboratory at CIC bioGUNE, the translational research project "Elucidating the contribution of protein UFMylation to prostate cancer progression" was supported. This project is based on the study of specific molecular alterations that underlie the aggressiveness of prostate cancer. The knowledge and technological tools developed for this type of tumor could be applicable to other pathologies.

June Ereño-Orbea, Ikerbasque researcher at the Chemical Glycobiology Laboratory at CIC bioGNE, has received the grant for her basic research project "Antibody-mediated degradation of Siglec glycoinmune checkpoint receptors". The aim of this project is to develop a new class of molecules that can specifically degrade glyco-immune checkpoint inhibitors called Siglecs, which are located on the cell surface. The main objective for these innovative molecules is to contribute to reversing the immunosuppression caused by Siglecs in the tumor microenvironment.

About CIC bioGUNE

The Centre for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC bioGUNE), 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 the study of 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

The BRTA is an alliance made up of 4 collaborative research centres (CIC bioGUNE, CIC nanoGUNE, CIC biomaGUNE and CIC energiGUNE) and 12 technology centres (Azterlan, Azti, Ceit, Cidetec, Gaiker, Ideko, Ikerlan, Lortek, Neiker, Tecnalia, Tekniker and Vicometch), with the aim of developing advanced technological solutions for Basque companies.

With the support of the Basque Government, the SPRI Group and the Provincial Councils of the three regional provinces, the alliance seeks to promote collaboration among its centres, to strengthen the conditions to generate and transfer knowledge to companies, contributing to their competitiveness, and to spread Basque scientific and technological capacity outside of the Basque Country.

BRTA has a staff of 3,500 professionals, accounts for 22% of the Basque Country’s R&D investment, generates an annual turnover of over EUR 300 million and files 100 European and international patents per year.

Spanish version