Nanobots to treat cancer, sustainable management of electric vehicle batteries, a new gene therapy for ALS, and an innovative approach to democratising access to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were the projects recognised this year.</h3)

Today’s ceremony brought together award winners, institutions, and collaborating companies. Laia Pellejà, Director of CERCA, highlighted the quality of the works and the importance of ensuring that science transcends the laboratory to generate economic, social, and industrial value.

This year, in a special feature, the event included a talk by Damià Viana, a systems architect at INBRAIN Neuroelectronics, a spin-off from the Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2) and a 2020 Pioner Award winner. Viana spoke about the impact of science on innovation.

This edition’s awarded works:

• Dr Meritxell Serra for her thesis “Design and Evaluation of Enzyme-Powered Nanobots for Crossing Biological Barriers and Treating Cancer.” The thesis develops the concept of enzyme-powered nanobots: self-propelled nanoparticles for treating bladder cancer and mucinous tumours. The jury praised the innovation and high commercial potential of these results, which have industrial relevance as new agents for radiopharmaceuticals and advanced drug delivery systems. Dr Serra’s thesis was supervised by Dr Samuel Sánchez Ordóñez at the Smart Nano-Bio-Device research group at the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC).
• Dr Maite Etxandi Santolaya for her thesis “A new approach for End of Life Estimations in Electric Vehicle Batteries: Maximizing Battery Usage.” The thesis proposes a novel method for estimating battery lifespan, incorporating historical driving requirements to define tailored end-of-life thresholds. This approach offers more informed decisions on maintenance, replacement, or reuse, contributing to sustainable mobility models. Dr Etxandi’s work was supervised by Dr Cristina Corchero Garcia at the Energy Systems Analytics group at the Catalonia Institute for Energy Research (IREC).
• Dr Sergi Verdés Franquesa for his thesis “Gene therapy overexpressing Klotho for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.” The thesis introduces a therapeutic approach for ALS using the multifunctional protein α-Klotho, opening pathways for improving neuromuscular function and quality of life for patients. This advancement has been patented and licensed, paving the way for innovative treatments. Dr Verdés’s thesis was co-supervised by Dr Assumpció Bosch and conducted within the Gene Therapy in the Nervous System group led by Dr Miguel Chillón at Vall d’Hebron Research Institute (VHIR).
• Dr Sven Bodenstedt for his thesis “Optically Detected Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Above and Far Below Earth’s Magnetic Field.” The thesis develops an innovative approach to nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and MRI applications, aiming to democratise access by reducing costs and infrastructure needs. Dr Bodenstedt’s thesis was co-supervised by Dr Morgan W. Mitchell and Dr Michael Tayler at the Atomic Quantum Optics group at the Institute of Photonic Sciences (ICFO).

The jury included professionals from various fields: Núria Martí (Biocat), Marta Portalés, Rita Salabert (Mobile World Capital Barcelona), Jordi Alba (Government of Catalonia), Stefano Lacaita (Spin-Off Partners), Manuel Palacín (TECNIO), and Roger Cabezas (I-CERCA).

This year’s edition was supported by private sector entities, exemplifying a successful public-private initiative to promote innovation. The collaborators were Caixa d’Enginyers and the Catalan Foundation for Research and Innovation (FCRI).