The predoctoral researcher from Genes and Cancer Research group at IDIBELL, Manuel Torres, has been awarded the Cooperative Research Award in Oncology of the Thematic Network of Cooperative Research on Cancer (RTICC) 2014 for a paper published by his group, led by Montse Sanchez-Cespedes, in the journal Cancer Discovery.

The paper describes the genetic inactivation of the MAX gene in lung cancer, small cell and how their return reduces very significantly the cell growth. The finding shows that MAX acts as a tumor suppressor gene in one of the most aggressive types of lung cancer and of worse prognosis. [Romero et al. Cancer Discover. 2014 Mar; 4 (3): 292-303]

The award ceremony took place on the sidelines of the annual meeting of the RTICC 2014, held on September 24 at the Hospice Fonseca, Salamanca.

The first thematic network of cooperative cancer research began in 2003 with the first call for RETICs the Instituto de Salud Carlos III within the ‘National Plan for Scientific Research, Development and Innovation’ in order to drive cancer research excellence based on development, enhancement and consolidation of stable structures of cooperative research in the National Health System.