Elisa Espinet has been awarded one of the 32nd FERO Grants for young researchers, given by FERO Foundation with the support of the Bosch Aymerich Foundation (FBA), to carry out a project focused on understanding the mechanisms that determine response to and resistance against new therapies for pancreatic cancer. Espinet is a professor at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at the University of Barcelona - Bellvitge Campus and head of the pancreatic cancer research group at the Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL).
The project, entitled "Stromal determinants of response and resistance to pan-KRAS inhibition in PDAC", will study how the tumour stroma - the network of cells and structures surrounding the tumour - influences the efficacy of pan-KRAS inhibitors in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), the most common and aggressive form of pancreatic cancer.
Mutations in the KRAS gene are present in the vast majority of pancreatic tumours and represent one of the main therapeutic targets in cancer research. However, not all patients respond in the same way to treatments targeting this pathway. The study led by Elisa Espinet will aim to identify the factors in the tumour microenvironment that promote or limit the efficacy of these therapies, with the aim of contributing to the development of more precise and effective treatments.
"Understanding why some tumours respond to KRAS-targeted therapies, while others develop resistance, is crucial to improving treatment options for patients with pancreatic cancer. This study will enable us to gain a deeper understanding of the role played by the tumour microenvironment in these processes," explains Elisa Espinet.
The University of Barcelona and IDIBELL highlight that the award of this grant recognizes the innovative nature of research addressing one of the main challenges facing modern oncology. "The young lecturer and researcher has demonstrated that cutting-edge, collaborative research is key to tackling the challenges of biomedicine and advanced therapies," says the UB's vice-rector for Research, Jordi Garcia.
"The project led by Elisa Espinet represents an innovative approach to one of the tumours with the poorest prognosis and the greatest need for new therapeutic options. This recognition highlights the excellence of our researchers and the importance of continuing to promote cutting-edge research to drive advances that have a real impact on patients," says Gabriel Capellá, director of IDIBELL.
The FERO Grants for young researchers aim to foster the development of new generations of scientists and support projects with high transformative potential in oncology. Through this programme, FERO Foundation helps to strengthen the biomedical research ecosystem and accelerate the transfer of knowledge from the laboratory to clinical practice.
