The project Nanocore Biotech, from the University of Navarra, carried out by Yolanda González and Edurne Imbuluzqueta has won the Navarra phase of the Yuzz contest for young entrepreneurs of Banco Santander. The project proposes an improvement in the therapy to treat bone cancer in children.

Yolanda González, a graduate in Pharmacy and Master in design Galenic and Biopharmacy from the University of Navarra, PhD student and entrepreneur, defended the potential of her business model from the United Kingdom, where she is doing a pre-doctoral stay at the department of Metabolism and Bone Oncology at the University of Sheffield.

The project focuses on increasing effectiveness and reducing sequelae. This proposal is of great value for currently used active ingredients and for those molecules that are in the development phase and are at risk of failure due to toxicity or insufficient efficacy. In addition, nanoparticles can make it possible to change the intravenous route of administration of drugs to the oral route. These aspects, so valuable when dealing with pediatric patients, have led the court to award it the first award.

The jury was formed by 5 members representing the institutions involved: two people from Banco Santander and one from CISE (Santander International Center for Entrepreneurship), SECOT (Spanish Seniors for Technical Cooperation) and the University of Navarra. The association Española Contra el Cáncer already valued the scientific relevance of project and now the business potential and the value of the entrepreneurial team are recognized.

A total of 14 projects were presented, including an i-Medims application to search for and facilitate the purchase of medicines in pharmacies, avoiding unnecessary trips, supported by a group of pharmacists from Navarre. Or a system to facilitate tests with cellular material called Scratchaid, promoted by young researchers from the CIMA.

Second place went to project i+Help, by María Salsamendi, Industrial Engineer from the UPNA. The author presented her work of special social scope, since it focuses on the provision of services of consultancy service for people with some Degree of dependence.

Finally, the third winner was awarded to an enterprising project for the improvement of allergy diagnosis. This device, developed entirely at the Biomedical Engineering Center of the University of Navarra, was presented by a young CUN allergist, Carmen Damelio, who conveyed the innovation and proposal value of her project. The team of specialists in allergology of the Clinic formed by Carmen Damelio and Amalia Bernard, resident physician of the specialization program of allergology, has already received the support of private investors.

The final phase is scheduled to take place in Madrid in October. Almost a hundred projects from Yuzz centers throughout Spain will compete.