The multidisciplinary scientific program "Immunity, Cancer, and Infectious Diseases" addresses some of the most relevant and complex pathologies for public health. It brings together 32 research groups specialized in areas such as oncology, immunology, infectious and rare diseases, as well as inflammatory and autoimmune pathologies. These health problems, characterized by their high incidence, morbidity, and mortality, represent a significant challenge due to the lack of effective treatments and their considerable socioeconomic impact.
The program focuses on two main objectives: improving diagnostic methods and developing more effective and personalized treatments. Immunotherapy and advanced therapies, such as those based on CAR-T and CAR-NK, are at the heart of this research, with promising results in oncological, infectious, and autoimmune diseases. Furthermore, the integration of basic and clinical research is encouraged to ensure the rapid translation of scientific advances into medical practice, maximizing their impact on the National Health System.
Thanks to its collaborative approach, this program not only promotes knowledge generation but also the creation of practical solutions through patents, biomarker development, and artificial intelligence tools. Active participation in national and international networks strengthens its capacity for innovation, while positioning Aragon as a benchmark in translational research and clinical innovation.
Ultimately, this program aims to consolidate a research ecosystem of excellence that integrates basic and clinical science, fosters interdisciplinary collaboration, and contributes significantly to improving global health.
The program coordinator is Dr. Alberto Jimenez Schuhmacher
Alberto Jiménez Schuhmacher is ARAID researcher. Leads the group of Molecular Oncology of the Aragón Health Research Institute, where he works searching for new diagnostic methods called virtual biopsy and treatments against the most lethal tumors and some rare diseases known as Rasopathies. He worked in the National Cancer Research Center, where he received his doctorate under the direction of Drs. Mariano Barbacid and Carmen Guerra, and in the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center de New York among other centers. Some of his discoveries are published in prestigious magazines in the world and being tested on patients. He is currently working on the development of new non-invasive imaging diagnostic tools based on nanoantibodies dubbed "virtual biopsy."
He is a person very committed to the scientific disclosureHe often writes articles in the press, participates in programs radio, TV and gives numerous talks in educational centers. He is Corresponding Academician of the Royal Academy of Medicine of Zaragoza (2020) and has been recognized with several awards including the Aragonese of the Year Award, Favorite Son of Zaragoza for his human values and contributions to Science.
After starting Veterinary, he graduated in Biochemistry awarded by the University of Zaragoza (1998-2003). During that period he gained experience in several laboratories including those of the Department of Toxicology at the UZ, Mercazaragoza and University of Geneva. He made his Doctoral Thesis at the National Cancer Research Center (CNIO, 2003-2009) under the direction of Drs. Mariano Barbacid and Carmen Guerra, world leaders in oncology, where he developed genetically modified mouse models for the study of cancer y rare diseases for which he has found possible treatments. His social commitment to these patients led him to collaborate in the development of a new genetic test for faster and more effective diagnosis.
He spent more than 3 years (2009-2012) at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center de NYC, USA with Dr. Johanna JoyceThere he studied the role of the tumor microenvironment in the genesis of glioblastoma, the most lethal brain tumor, and discovered a new drug that is currently being tested on patients. Upon his return to Spain, he worked in the laboratory of Brain tumors carried in Bolivia by Massimo Squatrito of the CNIO (2013-2017), in Madrid, where he investigated the identification of new genes responsible for resistance to chemotherapy.
He returned to Zaragoza in 2017 to establish the Molecular Oncology Group at the Aragon Health Research Institute and ARAID researcher since 2020. His laboratory is developing a new cancer diagnostic technique called virtual biopsy which will allow a more effective and less invasive diagnosis of glioblastoma, from the pancreatic cancer and of some childhood tumors. Currently his group has already developed several nanoantibodies with biomedical applications beyond diagnosis being explored.
During the pandemic it played an important role in raising awareness of aerosol transmission of COVID-2, the virus responsible for the Covid-19. Has promoted the air renewal and ventilation associated with the measurement of CO2 as a way to reduce the spread of this disease by promoting projects to make schools, transportation, and businesses safer. He is the co-founder of Great Air, the first spin-off of the IIS Aragón.
Alberto is also a person very committed to the scientific disclosure and the support of patient associationsHe often writes articles in the press, participates in programs radio, TV and gives numerous talks in educational centers. He wrote a book “You are so Cancer and I am so Virgo” along with Begoña Gold to talk about cancer to young people, for which they received the Jaén Prize for Young Adult Literature.
It declares Cajalist, Cajalian, cashier y little box. Presides over the Center for Cajalian StudiesHe was curator of the exhibition Santiago Ramón y Cajal: 150 years at the University of Zaragoza, And Cajal space permanent in the Auditorium of the University of ZaragozaHe is the editor of the book Santiago Ramón y Cajal: The Man, the Scientist, the Intellectual (University Presses). It is part of the Cajal Working Group coordinated by the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities of Spain.
He has been recognized with several Awards y scholarships among which stand out the Best Idea in Healthcare Award (2007) Extraordinary Doctorate Award (2010) Royal Academy of Doctors of Spain Award (2010) BBVA Foundation (2014) Favorite Son of Zaragoza (2017) FERO Foundation for Oncological Research (2017) ADEA Innovation Award 2017 Honorary Member of several Noonan Syndrome Associations (2015, 2017), Mercenary Soul Award (2018) Aragonese General of the Year Award (2018) Jaén Prize for Youth Fiction (2018) Third Millennium Research and Future Award (Herald of Aragon 2018), Valero Award (2019) CSZ-Project Man Award for Solidarity (2019) and Oscar Lou Award for Human Values (2020). It is Corresponding Academician of the Royal Academy of Medicine of Zaragoza.