Yesterday, November 28th, the ‘Best ideas 2016’ award ceremony, yearly organized by Diario Médico, took place in the National Theater of Catalonia (TNC). Researchers from the Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL) have been awarded a prize in this year’s edition, which aims to be a recognition of the work of professionals, institutions and companies that have contributed to improve medicine and healthcare during 2016.

Within the category of Research and Pharmacology, the award-winning project was the “Epicup” test, the result of a public-private partnership between the Epigenetics and Cancer Biology Program of IDIBELL, led by Dr. Manel Esteller, and the innovation and business development area of Grupo Ferrer. EPICUP is also an ERC Proof of Concept project awarded by the European Union within the H2020 framework.This test is potentially able to identify the primary tumor that has metastasized in cancers of unknown origin (CUP), which may accelerate the diagnostic process and allow physicians to select specific treatments for each type of tumor.

The event was chaired by H.Sr. Antoni Comin, health adviser of the Generalitat of Catalonia, and was attended by the deputy general director, Àngel Vidal.