VIII Spanish influencers in science - The science of Cancer

25 June 2024 · ·

The Spanish Influencers in Science series, organized by the Association of Spanish Scientists in Belgium (CEBE) and supported by the Spanish Embassy in Belgium, the Ramón Areces Foundation, and the Cervantes Institute, returns for its eighth edition on September 26, 2024, at 18:30 at the Cervantes Institute in Brussels. This year, the event will feature a Spanish researcher and a Belgian counterpart who will each deliver a 20-minute popular science talk in English, followed by a conversation with the audience on the latest advancements in cancer science.

On one hand, we will have Dr. María Blasco, the Scientific Director of the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO) and Head of the Telomeres and Telomerase Group. Dr. Blasco is a molecular biologist devoted to the study of telomeres and telomerase and their role in cancer and aging. Her work has been published in high-impact journals such as Cell, Nature, Science, and Cell Stem Cell. Dr. Blasco has received numerous prestigious awards, including the EMBO Gold Medal, the European Association of Cancer Research Young Investigator Award, the Joseph Steiner Award, and the Rey Jaime I Prize for Basic Research. She has also been honored with four Doctorate Honoris Causa in Spain and serves on various national and international scientific committees.

On the other hand, we will have Professor Sarah-Maria Fendt, a Principal Investigator at the VIB Center for Cancer Biology and Professor of Oncology at KU Leuven, Belgium. Prof. Fendt holds a Master’s degree in Biochemistry from TU Munich and a PhD in Molecular Systems Biology from ETH Zurich. She conducted postdoctoral research at MIT before starting her independent research program in 2013. Prof. Fendt’s lab focuses on understanding the role of metabolism in metastasis formation and the principles of metabolic regulation that enable cancer cells to interact with their environment. Her groundbreaking research has been published in high-impact journals like Nature and is supported by numerous international grants, including an ERC consolidator grant. Prof. Fendt has been awarded the EMBO Gold Medal, the Beug Prize for Metastasis Research, the Leopold Griffuel Award, and the Francqui-Collen Prize.

This edition of the series promises to offer fascinating insights into the science of cancer, presenting cutting-edge research and fostering a dialogue between two leading experts in the field. Join us for an evening of scientific discovery and engaging discussion on the advancements shaping the future of cancer research.

Get your tickets in this link.