The award distinguishes the work of Dr. Manel Esteller, Doctor in Medicine and Surgery from the University of Barcelona, and recognized by the jury of the XXI Burdinola Research Award as deserving of this award, which in this edition wanted to distinguish the most outstanding work in the field of research in “New therapeutic strategies, active ingredients and molecular targets in medicine”. Professor Manel Esteller is a world leader in cancer epigenetics and in the emerging field of epitranscriptomics.
The ceremony of the XXI Burdinola Research Award, held in the auditorium of the Josep Carreras Leukemia Research Institute in Badalona, was chaired by Dr. Evarist Feliu, President of the Delegate Commission of the Josep Carreras Leukemia Research Institute, accompanied by Mr. Joseba Pineda, President of the Burdinola Awards and Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Nursing UPV- EHU, Mr. Alfonso Hernandez, Secretary of the Burdinola Awards and Director of the University-EHU Foundation. Joseba Pineda, President of the Burdinola Awards and Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Nursing UPV- EHU, Mr. Alfonso Hernández, Secretary of the Burdinola Awards and Director of the Euskoiker University-Business Foundation and Mr. Mikel Martínez, General Manager of Burdinola S.Coop, who presented the diploma and the €15,000 prize money.
World leading figure in cancer epigenetics
Dr. Esteller explained in his lecture how epigenetic defects in tumors can be used for more personalized drug therapies of tumors. In his talk, the researcher also highlighted how alterations in DNA methylation and chemical modifications of proteins called histones have generated a new superfamily of anticancer drugs, which are already being used effectively in subtypes of leukemias, lymphomas and sarcomas.
Burdinola and the award
Burdinola is a company specialized in the planning and integration of laboratories, whose mission is the following; “We carry out the safest and most efficient laboratory projects in the world where researchers enjoy improving society”. It is precisely this last point, that of “improving society” that moves and inspires Burdinola to continue organizing year after year a new edition of the award with the same enthusiasm and repercussion of the first day in 1993. Since then,
Burdinola maintains its commitment to the scientific community to promote and strengthen the development of science in Spain. The list of award winners continues to grow with illustrious names in Spanish scientific activity.
The jury's decision for this edition was announced on July 9 at a meeting held at Burdinola's facilities in Amoroto (Bizkaia), where seven experts were in charge of evaluating the different candidatures, highlighting the excellent participation and the very high level of all of them, and among which Dr. Esteller's candidature was the one chosen for the XXI Burdinola Research Award.
