Dr. Marta Alonso receives the XIV National Cancer research award Doctores Diz Pintado

Dr. Marta Alonso (Lodosa, 1974), director of the Advanced Therapiesgroup for Pediatric Solid Tumors at the Cima University of Navarra, has received the XIV National award for research in Cancer Doctores Diz Pintado, granted by the University of Salamanca.

The scientist from Navarra has been awarded for her innovative and disruptive contributions in the field of oncology. Her line of research, integrated in the Cancer Center Clínica Universidad de Navarra, focuses on the study of pediatric brain tumors and their treatment with oncolytic viruses. Specifically, his group promoted the first phase I clinical essay with the adenovirus DNX-2401 for a lethal pediatric brain tumor, the average lineage diffuse glioma. Another of his projects is based on improving the quality of life of long survivors who face various sequelae due to prolonged treatment exhibition .

"I am very excited to receive this prestigious award that recognizes my work and that of my entire team and, above all, puts the focus on childhood tumors, which are the great forgotten ones," explains Dr. Alonso.

Promoting young research groups

Endowed with 15,000 euros, the Doctores Diz Pintado National Cancer research award aims to promote young leaders of Spanish research groups in the oncology field.

In the assessment the applications, the jury valued novel programs of study focused on molecular mechanisms that mediate cancer development and progression, translational research in oncology, clinical oncology and molecular diagnostics, as well as cutting-edge technological developments.

From Houston to Pamplona

With a degree in Biological Sciences from the University of Navarra, Dr. Alonso completed her doctorate at the Public University of Navarra. She then moved to the USA to develop her postdoctoral stage in the Neuro-Oncology department of the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, under the direction of Juan Fueyo and Candela López-Manzano.

In 2010, the researcher returned to Spain to establish her own laboratory at the Cima University of Navarra, thanks to the award of a Ramón y Cajal scholarship and a Marie Curie IRG (Initial Reintegration Grants). During her career she has obtained a "Consolidator Grant", one of the most prestigious grants of the European research committee and, more recently, the Dr. Baselga scholarship from the FERO Foundation.