Pilar Monforte PHOTO: Manuel Castells

Pilar Monforte, a fifth-year Pharmacy student at the University of Navarra, obtained an internship scholarship to learn about the field of oncology research , at position from the association Española contra el Cáncer (AECC). The submission of his scholarship, along with the annual awards that submission this association, took place in Zaragoza and was attended by Princess Doña Letizia.

The future Pharmacy graduate has collaborated as a researcher for two months at the laboratory on Adhesion and Metastasis directed by Dr. Fernando Lecanda, at the research center Applied Medicine (CIMA) of the University of Navarra. There Pilar has worked, using in vivo and in vitro techniques, on the processes of cell metastasis. "Our research consisted of inoculating intercardiac tumor cells to observe how they spread in our body, as well as intertibial tumor cells, which allowed us to observe how they colonize the bone," explains the Pharmacy student.

For Pilar, this has been the first contact with the research at laboratory, from which she highlights the fact that she has become familiar with basic techniques that she will be able to use in any other field. "In addition, it has allowed me to get a close look at a possible professional outlet, that of research, which has excited me. That is why I would encourage all students to apply for this subject aid, which greatly facilitates the contact with work fields that await us at the end of the degree program, and of which the University itself provides a lot of information through its Scholarship and Financial Aid Office, its Careers Office, etc. ".

The scholarship, granted annually by the AECC, includes 500 € per month, as well as an additional amount for travel expenses when the student comes from another province.