Luis Alberto Anel Bernal: “A research career, and especially in this field, is a long-distance race that not everyone is suited to”

The IIS Aragón researcher talks in this interview about his work leading the 'Apoptosis, Immunity and Cancer' Group (GIIS090) and what his research is

Luis Alberto Anel Bernal, Doctor of Chemical Sciences, he wanted to dedicate himself to research since he was a child.

“I was fascinated by books that featured photographs of cells”

During his secondary education he had good natural science teachers, who motivated him to pursue this long-distance career in the field of research.

Being totally vocational, Luis Alberto Anel has been researching since 1986. 38 years of his life dedicated to chemical research, of which 17 have been a member of the IIS Aragón.

“I consider myself one of the researchers who initially pushed for it to exist, given the lack of research institutes in this area in Aragon”

What lines of research are being worked on in your group?

In my group we investigate the NK cell cancer immunotherapy and with granulysin immunotoxins. We also focus on the immunogenic chemotherapy in the treatment of multiple myeloma. And we studied the mitochondria and metabolic drugs in the treatment of cancer.

What is the main challenge your research group is currently facing?

It's always the same challenge, obtain sufficient financing to be able to develop the projects and above all commitment hired who can carry them out.

Any ongoing projects that you would like to highlight?

The granulysin-based immunotoxins It is a technology Developed and patented by our group, whose patent has been acquired by a Spanish biotechnology company. One of these immunotoxins, directed against the carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), has already passed all the stages of preclinical experimentation and the process of industrial scaling of its production is beginning with the aim of obtaining approval for clinical trials by the AEMPS.

What profiles make up your research team?

Our group is led by graduates in Organic Chemistry which we later specialized in Biochemistry and Cellular Biology, such as Isabel Marzo and Javier Naval, or in Immunology, like myself.

Trainees usually come from the degree in Biotechnology of our University, although we have also had and have biologists or doctors from other Spanish universities or from other countries (United States, Cuba, Bolivia, Ecuador, Yemen).

Particularly important is the inclusion in the group and the long-standing collaboration with the departments of Hematology and Immunology from the hospitals of Zaragoza. Thanks to these collaborations we can have samples from patients with various leukemias or multiple myeloma, which gives much greater validity to our experimental results.

Why should companies bet on research, and specifically, on your group?

This has already been happening in recent times, I would say since the pandemic. It is possible that biotech companies, or rather the investors who support them, have seen that This field is not only of social and health interest, but can also generate significant economic benefits.

Advice for someone starting out in healthcare research?

Especially, a lot of passion for research, and also a lot of tenacity and patience, the research career, and more so in this field, It is a long-distance race that not everyone is suited to..