Dr. Gloria González-Aseguinolaza, recipient of the award Rosalind Franklin Society's Special Award in Sciences

Dr. Gloria González-Aseguinolaza, Director of the Gene Therapy Program for Rare Diseases at Cima University of Navarra, has been awarded the award Rosalind Franklin Society Special Science Award by Mary Ann Liebert Inc. and the Rosalind Franklin Society. This distinction recognizes her outstanding contributions to the field of gene therapy in addition to her constant dedication to scientific innovation and the advancement of knowledge, always with the goal goal of providing therapeutic solutions to patients with rare diseases.

"I am very honored and excited that the Rosalind Franklin Society recognizes our dedication and work in the field of gene therapy, I want to extend this recognition to all the people who share with me the day to day and to those who have been part of our group, who with their excellent work have contributed to be worthy of this award. Rosalind Franklin is an inspiration for women scientists all over the world, so this recognition is very special for me", said Dr. Gloria González-Aseguinolaza.

Throughout her research career, Dr. González-Aseguinolaza has published more than 150 articles in international journals and has co-invented 20 biotechnology patents. She has also coordinated the group of research manager ofthe first clinical gene therapy essay in Europe using adeno-associated virus (AAV) as a vector for the treatment of acute intermittent porphyria, an inherited metabolic liver disease. She is also co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer of Vivet Therapeutics, a biotech business developing gene therapies with the potential to transform the lives of patients with inherited metabolic disorders affecting the liver, such as Wilson's disease.

Dr. González-Aseguinolaza studied Biology at the University of the Basque Country and obtained her doctorate in Sciences from the Autonomous University of Madrid. degree program She began her professional career at development working on gene vaccines against parasitic infections such as leishmaniasis and malaria at the Center for Biological Research (CIB) of the CISC, work which she later continued at New York University. In 2001 she joined the University of Navarra as a Ramón y Cajal researcher and during the last two decades she has worked on the development of advanced therapies for rare liver diseases.

Since 2014, Dr. Gonzalez-Aseguinolaza has been the director of the Gene Therapy in Rare Diseases Program of the at Cima University of Navarra. In addition, from 2019 to 2023 she was president of the Spanish Society for Gene and Cell Therapy (SETGyC) and is currently the administrative assistant General of the European Society for Gene and Cell Therapy (ESGCT).

About recognition

The Rosalind Franklin Society's award Special Award in Science is awarded annually to support the contribution of women in science. Specifically, it recognizes the work of outstanding women scientists, encourages greater opportunities for women in science and motivates younger generations.

The Rosalind Franklin Society is an international non-profit honorary body that recognizes, encourages and promotes the important contributions of women to science. Rosalind Franklin (1920-1958) was a British biophysicist and X-ray crystallographer whose work from research was essential to the finding of the structure of DNA.