Yesterday, the ProCanAid project received further recognition at the Triple Helix Awards held by the University of Zaragoza, with María Ángeles Pérez Ansón, a researcher from the I3A's M2BE group, receiving the award. The project aims to develop a digital twin for the assisted detection and diagnosis of prostate cancer and to simulate the effects and efficacy of different cancer treatments.
The Triple Helix Awards recognise the work of researchers and entrepreneurs at the University of Zaragoza, as well as companies and organisations that, thanks to knowledge transfer, drive innovation in the Aragon region.
The second of the three prizes awarded went to María Ángeles Pérez for her ProCanAid project with the company Quibim and the collaboration of La Fe Hospital in Valencia. ‘This prostate cancer project is a tool that helps save lives. Our goal is to change the fate of one million men,’ he said in his speech.
As part of this tool, in silico computational models are being developed to predict the evolution of the patient's tumour based on its specific characteristics. To do this, the behaviour of healthy cells, tumour cells and prostate tissue is taken into account. This model will also make it possible to predict the effects of different cancer treatments on the patient.
The awards ceremony was presided over by the rector of the University of Zaragoza, Rosa Bolea, and was also attended by the Minister for Employment, Science and Universities, Claudia Pérez; the Vice-Chancellor for Innovation, Transfer and Continuing Education, Manuel González Bedia; and the President of the Association of Women Entrepreneurs, Olga Pinilla.
The Triple Helix Awards ceremony began with an Elevator Pitch, in which nine finalists presented their projects with companies and three other finalists presented their artificial intelligence projects in an impressive and agile four-minute presentation designed to generate interest and try to win the awards in this category.
Ignacio Álvarez has won first prize in this competition with the project ‘New technologies for the inactivation of the zoonotic food parasite Anisakis’ with Scandfisk. A project that already received in 2024 the Innovation Award of the SAMCA Chair of Technological Development of Aragon.
Third prize went to Helena García for Protposer, which helps stabilise proteins to extend shelf life and reduces waste produced by antigen and drug testing.
In addition, the TransferIA and Institutional and Social Action awards were presented at the ceremony held in the auditorium of the University of Zaragoza.
Triple Helix Awards: more information
