The Banco Sabadell Foundation Award for Biomedical Research reaches its XVII edition with the aim of recognizing the excellence of young individuals with a significant trajectory in the field of biomedical research and health sciences, who stand out in their specialty for their capacity for innovation.
On this occasion, the jury – chaired by Dr. Oscar Marín – has recognized Dr. María Mittelbrunn for her research on the key role of the immune system in controlling organ and tissue aging. Specifically, for demonstrating premature aging throughout the organism caused by an alteration in cellular immunity.
María Mittelbrunn, PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the Autonomous University of Madrid, is a scientific researcher at the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and the principal investigator of the “Immunometabolism and Inflammation” laboratory at the Severo Ochoa Molecular Biology Center (CSIC-UAM).
Dr. Mittelbrunn is investigating the molecular mechanisms by which aged immune cells contribute to chronic inflammation and age-related diseases, as well as the importance of vascular metabolism in the development of aortic aneurysms. Recent data from the laboratory suggests that vascular metabolism may also be relevant in autoimmune-origin neurodegenerative diseases, such as multiple sclerosis.