2025/12/19

Recognition of excellence in oncology research at CIC bioGUNE with new grants from the Spanish Association Against Cancer

CIC bioGUNE has been recognized by the AECC with new grants for four of its researchers, as part of a total of seven new grants awarded in Bizkaia, bringing to 41 the number of supported projects in the province, with nearly 8 million euros in funding. This recognition reinforces the excellence of the center’s oncology research and its commitment to innovative projects that translate scientific results into clinical practice.

CIC bioGUNE is proud to announce that several of its researchers have been recognized this year with grants awarded by the Spanish Association Against Cancer (AECC). The awards ceremony took place on Thursday, December 18, at the 5th AECC Cancer Research Grants Presentation Event in Bizkaia, organized in collaboration with the Social Action of Rural Kutxa, and attended by over 130 participants, including representatives from the Basque Government, the Bilbao City Council, research centers, EHU, and Bioef, as well as healthcare professionals, patients, family members, and AECC volunteers.

In this edition, the AECC in Bizkaia presented seven new cancer research grants, bringing the total to 41 supported projects in the province, with an investment close to 8 million euros. At the national level, the Association promotes the largest oncology research network in Spain, with more than 3,000 researchers across 160 centers in 38 provinces. In 2025, the AECC awarded 40 million euros in 282 new grants, consolidating its position as the organization that allocates the most funding to cancer research in the country.

The CIC bioGUNE researchers recognized in this edition were

• Dr. Gabriel Ortega, emerging scientist in the Precision Medicine and Metabolism Lab, awarded an AECC Synergies Grant for his work on the side effects of immunotherapy.
• Dr. Amaia Navarro, postdoctoral researcher in the Liver Disease Lab, who received an AECC Talent Grant for her research on obesity-associated liver cancer.
• Uxue Armendariz, from the Cancer Therapy Resistance Lab, and Irati Aguirre, from the Cancer Cell Signaling and Metabolism Lab, who received AECC Predoctoral Fellowships for their projects on breast cancer and prostate, respectively.

In addition to the grant presentation, two panel discussions were held: one with the researchers awarded grants, focused on translating scientific results into clinical practice, and another titled “Cancer Research Translates into More Life if We Put the Patient at the Center”, featuring patients, oncologists, and healthcare research officials from the Basque Government. Both panels were moderated by AECC scientific volunteers. Patient and researcher Itziar Alkorta, participant in the AECC Scientific Foundation’s Patient Advocacy program, shared her testimony on the importance of patients’ voices in research processes. The event concluded with remarks from Ramón Reyes, President of the AECC.

During the event, AECC Bizkaia President Mila Gullón emphasized that “promoting cancer research must be a priority for all of society, actively involving citizens and bringing scientific advances to the population.” She also highlighted that behind the numbers “there are people with names and surnames, but they also reflect the magnitude of the challenge we face as a society”.

With these grants, CIC bioGUNE, member of BRTA, reinforces its commitment to excellence in oncology research, promoting innovative projects aimed at improving patients’ health and quality of life, and consolidates its participation in the country’s largest oncology research network.

To learn about all the projects funded by AECC grants in recent years, visit our YouTube channel.

About CIC bioGUNE

The Centre for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC bioGUNE), member of the Basque Research & Technology Alliance (BRTA), located in the Bizkaia Technology Park, is a biomedical research organisation conducting cutting-edge research at the interface between structural, molecular and cell biology, with a particular focus on generating knowledge on the molecular bases of disease, for use in the development of new diagnostic methods and advanced therapies.

About BRTA

BRTA is an alliance of 4 collaborative research centres (CIC bioGUNE, CIC nanoGUNE, CIC biomaGUNE y CIC energiGUNE) and 13 technology centres (Azterlan, Azti, Ceit, Cidetec, Gaiker, Ideko, Ikerlan, Leartiker, Lortek, Neiker, Tecnalia, Tekniker y Vicomtech) with the main objective of developing advanced technological solutions for the Basque corporate fabric.

With the support of the Basque Government, the SPRI Group and the Provincial Councils of the three territories, the alliance seeks to promote collaboration between the research centres, strengthen the conditions to generate and transfer knowledge to companies, contributing to their competitiveness and outspreading the Basque scientific-technological capacity abroad.

BRTA has a workforce of 3,500 professionals, executes 22 % of the Basque Country's R&D investment, registers an annual turnover of more than 300 million euros and generates 100 European and international patents per year. 

Spanish version