2025/12/04

Two CIC bioGUNE Alumni receive the Extraordinary Doctorate Prize from EHU

The University of the Basque Country (EHU) has awarded this year’s Extraordinary Doctorate Prize to a total of 70 researchers, selected from the 26 doctoral programs offered by the institution. Among the awardees are two CIC bioGUNE Alumni, standing out alongside other doctoral students whose research spans from science, engineering, and biomedicine to arts and social sciences, reflecting the excellence, rigor, and scientific impact of EHU’s doctoral programs.

The University of the Basque Country (EHU) has announced the recipients of its annual Extraordinary Doctorate Prizes, distinctions that recognize the most outstanding doctoral theses defended within the institution across its various academic programs. Among this year’s awardees are two former predoctoral researchers from CIC bioGUNE, member of BRTA, whose scientific contributions have been acknowledged for their excellence, rigor, and relevance.

Dña. Sofía Lachiondo Ortega has been awarded the Extraordinary Doctorate Prize for her thesis entitled “New insights into the realm of Hu antigen R (HuR) and its posttranslational control in liver physiology and cancer”. The work was supervised by Dr. Malu Martínez-Chantar and Dr. Marta María Valera Rey.

Her research provides significant advances in the understanding of HuR, a key RNA-binding protein involved in hepatic homeostasis and tumor development. By exploring the posttranslational regulation of HuR and its functional implications, the thesis offers valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying both physiological and pathological processes in the liver, opening avenues for the identification of potential therapeutic targets.

Dña. María Mercado Gómez has also been distinguished with the Extraordinary Doctorate Prize for her international thesis “Targeting metabolism in emerging liver diseases”, supervised by Dr. Malu Martínez-Chantar and Dr. Teresa Cardoso Delgado.

This work addresses the metabolic dysfunctions associated with emerging liver diseases, an area of increasing clinical and scientific importance. Through the identification of metabolic alterations and the exploration of targeted therapeutic strategies, the thesis contributes to the development of innovative approaches aimed at improving the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of these conditions.

CIC bioGUNE warmly congratulates Dr. Sofía Lachiondo Ortega and Dr. María Mercado Gómez on receiving this prestigious recognition. Their achievements reflect the high scientific quality, commitment, and impact of the research carried out at the center and highlight the excellence fostered within the EHU doctoral programs.

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 organization conducting cutting-edge research at the interface between structural, chemical, 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 over 4,000 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.

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