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Credit: UC3M
This news release is available in Spanish.
The new Chair springs from the desire to boost biomedical research in pathologies that do not have adequate treatment, above all, in the area of genodermatosis and other skin diseases, in addition to developing innovative therapies that could the subject of clinical trials with patients.
As reflected in the agreement, the Chair's goal is to constitute a research team that is able to generate innovative therapeutic technologies at the national and international level, develop products with a biotechnological base that can benefit patients, foment doctoral theses focusing on this field, and also carry out the dissemination of information at scientific conferences and among the general public. The Chair will be headed by Professor Marcela del Río Nechaevsky, from the Bioengineering Department at UC3M and the CIEMAT-CIBER Unit of Regenerative Medicine for Rare Diseases.
Among the activities to be carried out under the Chair's support are clinical characterization, physiopathology, cellular and genetic genodermatosis (genetic skin diseases); use of adult stem cells (mesenchymal and epitheial) for cutaneous skin regeneration; and use of 3D matrix carriers of adult stem cells to develop humanized research models and their application in pre-clinical trials
Use of adult stem cells
The Chair, which at the moment also encompasses some twenty researchers, will also carry out work in the area of gene therapy through the use genetically modified stem cells along two lines: its use as bioreactors for factors with biological activity and for pathological phenotype correction in genodermatosis. According to the Chair's Head, Marcela del Río Nechaevsky, this iniciative will allow "quality research to be carried out and foment its transfer to benefit patients." The aim is to achieve pre-clinical results that in the middle term allow effective transfer to medical practice.
After signing the agreement, the president of the Fundación Jiménez Díaz Health Research Institute (IISFJD), Juan Antonio Álvaro de la Parra, reflected that "this Chair will allow us to transfer all the knowledge generated by this research team to society."
UC3M president Daniel Peña Sánchez de Rivera, on his part, pointed out that "this Chair has all the elements of what we strive for every day at UC3M and for which we wish to be recognized: the most advanced and innovative research; outstanding world class human teams; and service to society in this case, through care of these particular patients and patients with other diseases."
Lastly, CIEMAT's general director, Cayetano López Martínez, acknowledged his "satisfaction with the signing of this agreement, thanks to which, the work carried out with so much dedication and soundness in our laboratories could be of great use in clinical practice. Society expects returns from research efforts, in this case useful tools for the health care of its citizens suffering from hard to treat pathologies, without the baggage of previously accumulated knowledge from pre-clinical research."
Signing of the document
IDCsalud Fundación Jiménez Díaz, founded more than 70 years ago by Dr. Carlos Jiménez Díaz, has had an agreement with public health services since 1953, by which it offers public health care to Spanish society. In line with the commitment of this group to which it belongs, idcsalud, its professionals undertake health care assistance, teaching and research work. Accordingly, it holds agreements with Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, among other entities and has its own Nursing School.
The Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria (The Health Care Institute) of IDCsalud Fundación Jiménez Díaz (IIS-FJD) is an entity with a long history of commitment to research and teaching in addition to its clinical and health care assistance activity. It bases its activities on these pillars, with the aim of inspiring, encouraging and promoting excellence in research, scientific and technological knowledge, and hospital teaching and training as a strategy to facilitate the advances and research transfer to clinical and practical care in the most efficient way possible.
The Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas (Spanish National Research Center for Energy, Environment and Technology) (CIEMAT) is a Public Research Organization ascribed to the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness through the Secretary of State of Research, Development and Innovation, primarily focused on the ambits of energy and environment and their related technological areas. CIEMAT's mission is to contribute to sustainable development in Spain and the quality of life of its citizens through generation and application of scientific and technological knowledge, and strives to maintain its position as a center of excellence in the scientific-technical areas in which it undertakes its activity.
Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M) is an innovative public university, committed to the betterment of society through its quality teaching and cutting edge research in accordance with the most rigorous international guidelines. UC3M has three centers for undergraduate study in addition to its Center of Postgraduate Studies, which administers and coordinates the University Master's programs, as well as a Doctoral School. The University, created in 1989, has four campuses, and a student body of 18,000, 18% of which are international. Furthermore, it is the first university in Spain and the third in Europe in the number of students participating in the Erasmus program. At the same time, UC3M is among QS ranking of the top 50 universities that are less than 50 years old.
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