The summer of 2010 has seen how the research developed at the PEBC has been recognized by the prestigious journals “Journal of Clinical Oncology”, and “Proc Natl Acad Sci USA” and “Journal of Pathology” For further information: -Veeck J, Ropero S, Setien F, Gonzalez-Suarez E, Osorio A, Benitez J, Herman JG, Esteller M. BRCA1 CpG island hypermethylation predicts sensitivity to poly(adenosine diphosphate)-ribose polymerase inhibitors. Journal of Clinical Oncology, August 2, 2010. -Calvanese V, Lara E, Suarez-Álvarez B, Dawud RA, Vázquez-Chantada M, Martinez-Chantar ML, Lopez-Nieva, Horrillo A, Hmadcha A, Soria B, Mato JM, Andrews PW, Lopez-Larrea C, Esteller M, Fraga, M.F. HuR-dependent SirT1 regulation of embryonic stem cell differentiation. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, July 14, 2010. -Castillo SD, Angulo B, Suarez-Gauthier A, Melchor L, Medina PP, Sanchez-Verde L, Torres-Lanzas J, Pita G, Benitez J, Sanchez-Cespedes M. Gene amplification of the transcription factor DP1 and CTNND1 in human lung cancer. J Pathol. 222, 89-98, 2010.

Dr. Manel Esteller has been bestowed with the Deichmann Award by the International Union of Toxicology (IUTOX). The Deichmann family donated the grant for the Deichmann Award lecture, which has been given by a distinguished scientist at each ICT (International Congress of Toxicology) since Bo Holmstedt of Sweden gave the first lecture in 1983 in San Diego, California, in remembrance and acknowledgment of the first person to officially suggest the formation of an International Union of Toxicology. The Award Lecture was given in the ICT meeting in Barcelona with 1,500 attendees and was entitled ““Epigenetics: The Last Frontier Beyond Genetics”.

The jury of the Research Award in Health Sciences from the Foundation Caja Rural de Granada has granted the prize to Dr. Manel Esteller, director of Cancer Epigenetics and Biology Program (PEBC) of the Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL). The award was presented during a gala held on June 11 in the auditorium of Central Services Caja Rural de Granada. The event was attended by the Minister of Health of the Junta de Andalucía, María Jesús Montero, among other representatives of institutions and administrations. In this award collaborate and are part of the jury, in addition to the organizing institutions, the College of Physicians of Granada, the College of Pharmacists of Granada, the Provincial Delegation of Health of Andalusia, the University of Granada and the Ministry of Health and Social Policy. The winning project uncovers a connection between overgrowth and cancer that opens many doors for new treatments against various diseases caused by mutations in genes regulating the size of tissues and cell proliferation.

Dr. David Monk, Leader of the Imprinting Group at the PEBC, has received a research grant from the Barcelona section of the Spanish Association Against Cancer (AECC) to study the role of a histone demethylase in human cancer. Montse Sanchez-Cespedes, Ph.D., Leader of the Genes and Cancer Group, has been bestowed with a research grant by the Fundacion Sandra Ibarra de Solidaridad frente el Cancer to study the disruption of the LKB1 and BRG1 genes in breast cancer. Dr Manel Esteller, PEBC Director, will direct a project to study the epigenetic disregulation of non-coding RNAs in human tumors awarded by the Ramon Areces Foundation in a ceremony chaired by Cristina Garmendia, Head of Science and Innovation of the Spanish Government.

The Carmen y Severo Ochoa Foundation, established to remember the accomplishments of the Spaniard Nobel, has bestowed its Molecular Research Award 2009 to Dr. Manel esteller, director of the Cancer Epigenetics and Biology Program (PEBC). The jury mentions how “the work by the awardee has complemented the principles of classic mendelian genetics and the double DNA helix and it has contributed to the approval of new anticancer drugs”. The jury of the Carmen y Severo Ochoa Foudation was constituted by César Nombela (president of the foundation), Santiago Grisolía, Julio Rodríguez Villanueva, Margarita Salas and César de Haro, being Marín Gómez-Santos the jury secretary. The award is sponsored by the Grupo Santander-Universidades.