
JOB OFFER: Data manager
4 January 2024National Research Awards in Sports Medicine Cajastur Foundation
8 January 2024The company's workers receive points for participating in health and safety programs, which are converted into money and which they then decide to donate to social entities.
This line of the public institute, led by researcher Alberto J. Schuhmacher, works on the design of new tumor detection methods
The Saica Group workers support the work of the Molecular Oncology Group of the Health Research Institute of Aragon (IIS Aragón), through a financial donation. A support that has recently become visible, during a visit made by company representatives to the headquarters of this public body. As part of its commitment to create safe and healthy work environments, the Saica Group rewards the participation of its workers in health and safety programs and initiatives with points. These points are converted into money, which is donated to organizations chosen by the workers themselves, through the Safety, Health and Environment Management Committee.
This year, the employees of the headquarters in Zaragoza have chosen to collaborate, among other entities, with the IISS Aragón and specifically with its Molecular Oncology line, led by the ARAID researcher Alberto J. Schuhmacher and who works on the design of new methods diagnostic tools to detect tumors, collectively baptized as “virtual biopsy.”
A biopsy consists of removing a sample of a tumor for analysis under a microscope and in the laboratory. In some cases, such as brain tumors, it can be complicated and carries many risks. Several biopsies are often needed to reflect the complexity of a tumor. In the Molecular Oncology group they have discovered a series of molecules on the surface of tumor cells, which can help to better understand the biology of pediatric brain tumors and know if they could respond to experimental treatments.
In a second stage of the project, they have developed nanoantibodies, which stick very specifically to these molecules. These nanoantibodies have been modified to be detected by a positron emission tomography scanner. Thus, in the future, when introduced into a patient if they are detected with the scanner, they could help identify patients who can benefit from this therapy as if it were a “virtual biopsy.”
The support of the Saica Group will help reinforce this line of research by expanding its use to other types of cancer and will allow us to search for new uses for these nanoantibodies, such as support in fluorescence-guided surgery, drug transport or the development of immunotherapies based on these nanoantibodies.
The IIS Aragón is made up of the 'Lozano Blesa' and 'Miguel Servet' University Hospitals, Primary Health Care, the University of Zaragoza and the Aragonese Institute of Health Sciences. The objectives of the IIS Aragón are to bring together basic and applied, clinical and health services research; create a quality research, care and teaching environment for the integration of health professionals, training specialists and postgraduate and undergraduate students, as well as constitute the ideal place for attracting talent and the location of the large scientific-technological facilities of the Community.
Source: saica