Dr. Ignacio Melero receives the XX Burdinola Research Award

Dr. Ignacio Melero, co-director of the Immunology and Immunotherapy Program at the Cima University of Navarra, part of the Cancer Center Clínica Universidad de Navarra, has received the 20th Burdinola Research Award. The award honors Dr. Melero's work in the field of biomedical research, especially in cancer immunotherapy. 

The presentation of the XX Burdinola Research Award, held at the Cima University of Navarra, was presided over by the Vice-Rector for Research and Sustainability of the University of Navarra, Paloma Grau, accompanied by José Andrés Gómez Cantero, General Director of the Cima, Joseba Campos, General Director of the Clínica Universidad de Navarra and Mikel Martínez, General Director of Burdinola S.Coop, who presented the diploma and the €15,000 prize money. 

Dr. Jesús San Miguel, senior consultant at the Clínica Universidad de Navarra and former director of Translational Medicine at Cima, presented the award winner as "one of the pioneers in cancer immunotherapy research, always with an eye on the patient".

The ceremony was attended by Ana Burusco, Director General of Universities of the Government of Navarra, and Joseba Pineda, President of the Burdinola Awards and Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Nursing UPV- EHU, who read the jury's minutes. 

Pioneer in immunotherapy

Dr. Melero leads since 1998 a multidisciplinary team at the Cima University of Navarra working in immunotherapy with cell therapy techniques, gene therapy and monoclonal antibodies at the Cancer Center Clínica Universidad Navarra. He has recently been appointed Professor (Kidani Chair of Oncology) at the University of Oxford. He combines his activity at the University of Navarra with research at OXCIO, the Oxford Center of Immuno-oncology, a nascent center dependent on the departments of Medicine and Oncology of the English university.

Throughout his career he has been principal investigator in more than 44 immunotherapy clinical trials. His work has mainly focused on translational research in cancer immunotherapy. His most notable contributions focus on immunotherapy strategies based on the 4-1BB (CD137) receptor and his pioneering work on liver cancer immunotherapy that has transformed medical practice. 

Burdinola Research Award

Burdinola is a Biscayan cooperative specialized in the planning and integration of laboratories present in many countries around the world.

Since 1993 it has been awarding a research prize to recognize, value and stimulate the work of the scientific community, as part of its commitment to promote science in Spain.