The research center Médica Aplicada (CIMA) of the University of Navarra has received a donation from BNP Paribas bank to develop a study on liver cancer. As it did in 2009, the Corporate & Investment Banking area has decided to dedicate to medical research the budget it used to allocate to more than 2,000 corporate gifts, a policy the bank follows in twenty countries around the world.

BNP Paribas is going to collaborate with the laboratory of Viral Hepatitis of the CIMA which, together with the high school Pasteur in Paris, will carry out a study to prevent liver cancer in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection. According to Dr. Jesús Prieto, director of area of Gene Therapy and Hepatology of the center, "when a pathogenic virus invades an organism, its cells are capable of recognizing the DNA of the virus and activating the immune system by producing molecules with antiviral activity. However, some viruses such as hepatitis C have developed strategies to avoid this recognition and the antiviral activity of these immune system molecules, particularly interferon, which favors the persistence of the infection".

The laboratory of Dr. Eliane Meurs of high school Pasteur de Paris has identified a cellular protein activated by the hepatitis C virus that controls interferon production and that average these inhibitory functions. "Now, with the financial aid offered by BNP Paribas, and as a continuation of the project started two years ago, we are going to develop inhibitory peptides that could interfere with this process and restore interferon synthesis. In this joint work , researchers at CIMA will try to develop possible inhibitory peptides," explains Dr. Prieto.

Hepatitis C virus is the main cause of hepatocarcinoma. The development of strategies that interfere with viral activity will also represent a breakthrough in the prevention of liver cancer in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection.

"We share the international scope and the values of excellence, innovation and quality of the projects supported by high school Pasteur around the world; and, in particular, we are pleased to support the research carried out by such a prestigious center as CIMA of the University of Navarra," says Ramiro Mato, Country Head of BNP Paribas in Spain. "We are proud to be able to promote this subject of projects and contribute to the progress of medical research , which is one of the pillars of our commitment to social responsibility, also in Spain."

About CIMA

With the main goal of curing patients, the CIMA of the University of Navarra dedicates its activity to basic biomedical research and development diagnostic and treatment products. The business Digna Biotech facilitates the progress of its more than 40 patents for clinical application. The center is funded through a technology transfer contract with 15 national institutions and companies.

About BNP Paribas

BNP Paribas is one of the six strongest banks in the world* and the largest bank in the euro zone by deposits. With a presence in more than 80 countries and more than 200,000 employees, including 160,000 in Europe, BNP Paribas is a world-class European leader in financial services. It holds positions core topic in three main areas of activity: Retail Banking, Investment Solutions and Corporate & Investment Banking. In Retail Banking, group is present in four domestic markets in Europe: Belgium, France, Italy and Luxembourg. BNP Paribas develops its integrated model in the Mediterranean Europe area and has an important presence in the United States. BNP Paribas staff Finance is issue one in retail lending in Europe. In its Corporate and Investment Banking and Investment Solutions businesses, BNP Paribas also has strong leadership positions in Europe, as well as strong growth in Asia.

* Rated AA by Standard & Poor's, it is the third highest grade out of a scale of 22.