UAB researcher Aura Muntasell wins the Vanguardia de la Ciència Award
Aura Muntasell, researcher at the Department of Cellular Biology, Physiology and Immunology of the UAB and at the Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute received the Vanguardia de la Ciència Award, a recognition that highlights the most outstanding contributions of research led by institutions in Spain. Her candidacy stands out for the development of an innovative immunotherapy strategy against cancer, with the potential to improve the effectiveness of current treatments. The research received 25% of the votes.
Aura Muntasell has developed a new immunotherapy strategy for the treatment of cancer. Her work focuses on enhancing the activity of natural killer (NK) cells, responsible for eliminating infected or tumour cells. The research has identified the SMAD4 gene as a key piece in the response of these cells to certain inhibitory molecules produced by tumours, such as TGF-beta. Using genetic engineering techniques, the team has managed to eliminate this gene in NK cells, which allows them to overcome the tumour inhibition mechanism and increase their destructive capacity.
The results, published in the journal Nature Immunology, show that these modified cells are more efficient at destroying tumours in breast and colon cancer models. Furthermore, they can work both independently and in combination with other treatments, such as therapeutic antibodies.
The team is currently working on developing a phase 1 clinical trial in patients with metastatic colon cancer, in collaboration with oncologists. This new approach could offer more accessible treatments, as the NK cells can come from healthy donors and be prepared in advance for clinical use.
The Vanguardia de la Ciència Award is a joint initiative of La Vanguardia and the Fundació Catalunya La Pedrera to give visibility, through an honorary award, to research excellence and promote the recognition of the contribution of women to science.
With this recognition, Aura Muntasell’s research stands out as the year’s most notable scientific initiative for the newspaper’s readers, highlighting the potential of NK cell-based immunotherapy as a new avenue for advancing cancer treatment. This transformative impact for patients can also help raise the profile of biomedical research and secure the resources needed to continue making progress, turning today’s discoveries into the treatments of the future.