Navarre scientists Marta Alonso and Iker Ausejo receive the award de research Fundación Dr. Antoni Esteve

Iker Ausejo and Marta Alonso, researchers of the Cima and the Clínica Universidad de Navarrahave received the award de research 2024 from the Dr. Antoni Esteve Foundation. Their group of research published in 2023 a article in the journal Cancer Cell in which they confirmed a possible therapeutic target against the most aggressive childhood cancer. 

This research, integrated in the Cancer Center Clínica Universidad de Navarra, demonstrates that inhibition of TIM-3 promotes a proinflammatory tumor microenvironment that favors a potent antitumor immune response. "As a consequence, long-term survival of experimental models is increased. Therefore, TIM-3 is presented as a therapeutic target that can guide the development of clinical trials for these patients," explained Dr. Marta Alonso, co-director of the Solid Tumors Program at Cima and director of the study. 

The award recognizes the best article in pharmacology published by a Spanish author in the last three years. "The research awarded today represents an important contribution in the therapy against a childhood cancer subject characterized by its special aggressiveness. We are therefore proud that the award of research Dr. Antoni Esteve Foundation will be awarded this year 2024 to a work that perfectly exemplifies the mission statement and the values of this institution in favor of innovation and quality in the research", said Pol Morales, manager of communication of the Dr. Antoni Esteve Foundation. 

The group of research of Advanced Therapies for Pediatric Solid Tumors at Cima has demonstrated that TIM-3 may be a target for the treatment of diffuse intrinsic pontine pontine glioma (DIPG), an aggressive brain stem tumor and the leading cause of pediatric cancer-related death. Due to the location of the tumor, therapeutic options for GPID are limited, making it critical to study effective treatments. "In recent years, immunotherapy has proven to be an alternative for many types of cancer. However, due to the unique tumor microenvironment of GPIDs, classical inhibitors have not been effective in these pediatric patients," explained Dr. Iker Ausejo.

The act of submission was attended by the President of the Reial Acadèmia de Farmàcia de Catalunya, Joan Permanyer, and the Deputy Director General of research and Innovation in Health of the Generalitat de Catalunya, Montserrat Llavayol. Marta Esteve, Trustee of the Dr. Antoni Esteve Foundation, was in charge of submit the award to Iker Ausejo, first author of the award-winning article .