Researcher Maite Solas has been awarded a scholarship the Pasqual Maragall Foundation to advance our understanding of Alzheimer's disease
The submission place at an event held at the Médicos de Navarra high school , attended by 300 people
Photo courtesy of/ From left to right: Cristina Maragall, president of the FPM; Maite Solas, researcher at the University of Navarra and recipient of the scholarship ; and Glòria Oliver, executive director of the FPM.
26 | 03 | 2026
Maite Solas, a researcher at the University of Navarra from the School of Pharmacy and Nutrition, has been awarded the scholarship Maragall Researchers Programme (PMRP)scholarship . The submission ceremony submission place at the high school and was attended by 300 people.
His project how the metabolism of astrocytes—cells that support and protect neurons—can be altered as Alzheimer's disease progresses and how this may influence the disease. The study was selected for the third edition of this research grant program, research to promote programs of study on Alzheimer's disease and other age-related neurodegenerative diseases.
The research, conducted in partnership Dr. Jordi Durán of Ramon Llull University – IQS, could pave the way for new strategies to slow the progression of the disease or reverse it to its initial state, thereby helping to protect brain health.
"This scholarship will allow scholarship to deepen our understanding of the mechanisms involved in Alzheimer's disease and to explore new avenues for its prevention—a scientific priority given the impact this disease has on patients and their families. At the same time, this support highlights the strength of researcher ecosystem, positioning our community as a leader in research neurodegeneration and brain metabolism," explained Dr. Solas.
During the scholarship submission , Cristina Maragall, president of the Pasqual Maragall Foundation, stated: “At the Pasqual Maragall Foundation, we are convinced that we will only achieve a future without Alzheimer’s by promoting more and better research . That is why we support the best Alzheimer’s researchers in Spain, whether at our own center, the Barcelonaβeta Brain Research Center (BBRC), or by promoting research other centers.”
In addition to the project presentation , the event featured an informative session on healthy lifestyle habits for the prevention of Alzheimer’s, titled“Alzheimer’s Without Myths”and led by Dr. Nina Gramunt Fombuena, a neuropsychologist and expert in training knowledge dissemination the Foundation. Dr. Gramunt debunked some of the most widespread beliefs about Alzheimer’s and addressed questions regarding the prevention of cognitive decline and the lifestyle habits that improve brain health.
In this third edition, co-funded by the Adey Foundation, the PMRP grant program has allocated a total of 1.6 million euros to support research or translational research projects focused on Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative diseases associated with aging. Each winning applicant will receive up to 800,000 euros to fund their research project research a maximum of five years. Since its inception, the program has funded seven projects across five autonomous communities with the potential to generate significant advances in the coming years.