The Cima University of Navarra and the high school Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel have signed a agreement agreement research against cancer. The goal of this agreement is the launch of three pioneering biomedical projects that combine artificial intelligence, cutting-edge technology Genetics and advanced therapies. These projects are aimed at improving the treatment of lung and pancreatic cancer, two of the most lethal tumors; and multiple myeloma, the second most common blood cancer.

The agreement has been made possible thanks to the initiative and contribution of the Alberto Palatchi Foundation, a philanthropic organization with multiple purposes, including the promotion of biomedical research and technological innovation.

Spanish-Israeli alliance in precision cancer medicine

Through this agreement alliances will be established between three groups of research from both institutions. On the one hand, the teams of Dr. Felipe Prósper, co-director of the Hemato-Oncology Program at Cima and director of the area Cell Therapy Program at the University of Navarra, and of Prof. Nir Yosef, head of the Systems Immunology Program at the Weizencology Center. Clínica Universidad de Navarraand of Prof. Nir Yosef, researcher head of the Systems Immunology department at high school Weizmann, will promote the development of new CAR-T therapies for the treatment of multiple myeloma.

On the other hand, the groups of Dr. Juan Dubrot, researcher principal investigator of the Solid Tumors Program at Cima, and Dr. Efrat Shema, principal investigator of department Immunology and Regenerative Biology at high school Weizmann, will focus on identifying the mechanisms that lead to treatment resistance in pancreatic cancer patients.

Finally, the groups of Dr. Rubén Pío, director of the Cancer Division of Cima, and Dr. Leeat Keren, principal investigator of laboratory Tissue Pathology at high school Weizmann, will apply advanced imaging and artificial intelligence techniques to improve the results of immunotherapy in lung cancer.

The event at presentation of agreement was attended by María Iraburu and Paloma Grau, president and Vice President of research and Sustainability of the University of Navarra, respectively; José Andrés Gómez Cantero, director general of Cima; Prof. Alon Chen and Ziv Reich, president and vice-president of the Weizmann Institute of Science, respectively, and Alberto Palatchi, president of the Alberto Palatchi Foundation.

During the meeting, Prof. Alon Chen commented: "We are delighted to sign this agreement (MoU) with the Cima University of Navarra. Through this partnership, we are bringing together brilliant minds in the field of cancer research from both institutions, with the ambition to push the boundaries for the future of humanity."

"For the University of Navarra it is an honor to initiate this partnership with the high school Weizmann, one of the most prestigious institutions in the world research , home to several Nobel Prize winners and whose laboratories have made some of the most important advances in the field of oncology. The research in cancer is one of our strategic lines, which we promote at the Cancer Center Clínica Universidad de Navarra through Cima", said Paloma Grau, Vice President of research and Sustainability of the University of Navarra.