Presentation of the APSATUR Aragón Research Grants

Alberto J. Schuhmacher, IP of the Molecular Oncology group from the IIS Aragón, and Nadia Hindi, responsible for the Oncohealth Sarcoma Unit of the Jiménez Díaz Foundation Oncology Institute, were awarded grants that allow them to research less common types of cancer

Last Wednesday, May 14, at 17,30:XNUMX p.m., the award ceremony took place. APSATUR Aragón Research Grants in the Goya Room of the Aljafería Palace, corresponding to the funds raised in 2024. It is a vitally important event as it reflects the effort to raise funds for research into this type of cancer, which, although less common, has a high incidence.

APSATUR Aragón (Association of Patients with Sarcomas and Rare Tumors of Aragón) It is a non-profit organization, unique in Aragon, dedicated to addressing the needs of people with these diseases. It brings together patients, family members, and other individuals concerned with and/or interested in promoting and improving the situation of those affected and their communities. Dr. Nadia Hindi and Dr. Alberto J. Schuhmacher were the awardees. with scholarships that allow research into this less common type of cancer.

The scholarship awarded to Nadia Hindi, who co-leads the Oncohealth Sarcoma Unit of the Jiménez Díaz Foundation Oncology Institute, allows to boost IMMUNOSARC translational projects, a comprehensive study that aims to identify the mechanisms involved in immunotherapy response and thus develop a translational approach for clinical trials. Nadia Hindi has extensive experience in comprehensive sarcoma patient care, leadership and development of innovative therapeutic options, clinical and translational research on sarcomas, and training oncology specialists.

The help you receive Alberto J. Schuhmacher, Graduate in Biochemistry, PhD in Molecular Biology, ARAID researcher and IP of the Molecular Oncology group at the Aragón Health Research Institute (IIS Aragón), gives continuity to the Translational projects in osteosarcoma with the aim of identifying the mechanisms involved in its development and generating new diagnostic and therapeutic tools for future clinical trials.

Rare tumors are defined as those with an incidence of less than 6 per 100.000 people per year. This is the case, for example, with Hodgkin's lymphoma, cholagiocarcinoma, glioblastoma, and childhood tumors, to name a few. Rare tumors account for 22 to 24% of new cancer cases each year. One of the main disadvantages of these rare tumors is that they have a lower average survival rate than other tumors. Research is a fundamental task to confront this type of cancer.r.

For example, sarcoma is a rare type of cancer that encompasses more than 150 types of tumors, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). It can occur in both bones and soft tissues, such as muscles or nerves. Its incidence is only 1% in adults and 13-15% in children of all diagnosed malignant tumors. Sarcomas are the third most common type of tumor diagnosed in children and adolescents. In Spain, they account for approximately 2.600 new cases per year, although they are responsible for 2% of cancer-related mortality.

The work of the association, in addition to raising funds for research, is Inform, raise awareness, and educate about this type of cancer, its causes, risk factors, symptoms, warning signs, and possible treatments.