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- The IRB Barcelona researcher has been recognized for her innovative project on the role of mitochondria in cancer progression and immune response.
- The award, valued at €25,000, supports ground-breaking research in the field of cellular metabolism and cancer.
Dr. Ana Victoria Lechuga-Vieco, head of the Mitochondrial Biology and Tissue Regeneration lab at IRB Barcelona, is the recipient of the II Domingo Martínez Foundation - ASEICA Cancer Research Award. This recognition, which includes €25,000 of funding, aims to support highly innovative research in the field of cellular metabolism and cancer.
Dr. Lechuga-Vieco´s project explores how mitochondrial genetics influences tumour biology, specifically the communication between cancer cells and the immune system.
By developing cell and animal models that share the same DNA but differ in their mitochondrial DNA, her research seeks to:
- Determine how mitochondrial DNA of cancer cells affects the attraction and activation of lymphocytes that infiltrate the tumour.
- Study how distinct types of mitochondria of cancer cells induce specific signals that directly affect the cells of the immune system.
This integrative approach aims to unravel the mechanisms by which different mitochondrial genetics influence cancer progression and immune response, with the goal of identifying mitochondrial profiles that could serve as biomarkers for the prediction of patient responses to therapies and the development of more effective therapeutic strategies.
"This award is recognition of the transformative potential of integrating mitochondrial genetics into cancer research. We hope that our findings will contribute to the development of more effective and personalized therapies for patients", says Dr. Lechuga-Vieco.
The award ceremony was held on 14 November 2024 during the 19th International ASEICA Congress in Zaragoza, an event that brought together renowned cancer researchers.
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).
