Scientists from the research center Aplicada (CIMA), from the Clínica Universidad de Navarra and of the business biotechnology company Digna Biotech have participated in the meeting of the network European Immunotherapy IMMUNONET, which has been held at the CIMA.

This network is part of the Territorial Cooperation Program of the Southwest European Space (SUDOE), which aims to establish a team of research leading immunotherapy in this region. It will receive a financial aid from the European Regional Fund development of 1,032,815.57 euros for three years.

The project is structured within a virtual support center where different research groups can share resources and equipment and exchange information with universities, public administrations and private initiatives.

According to Dr. Ignacio Melero, director of the laboratory of Immunology of the CIMA goal According to Dr. Ignacio Melero, "the final goal of this network is to develop and patent immunotherapeutic drugs, i.e. treatments that use the body's own defense system to stop or cure infectious diseases, autoimmune diseases, cancer and allergies, and to initiate preclinical and clinical trials".

The network IMMUNONET is attended by specialists of the CIMAthe Clínica Universidad de Navarra and Digna Biotech, coordinated by Dr. Ignacio Melero, Dr. José Luis Pérez Gracia and Dr. Pablo Ortiz, respectively. The team is completed by three other Spanish groups(University of Vigo, Hospital Universitario La Princesa and Hospital Universitario Puerta del Hierro), three Portuguese groups(University of Lisbon, University of Porto and Biotecnol) and two French groups(Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Medicale and Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique de Montpellier).