A project to achieve a vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 led by CiQUS researcher José Martinez-Costas has been awarded at the II International Zendal Awards. This recognition, granted with 15.000 €, represents a new boost to the work developed by this group in fight against COVID-19.
Among the criteria applied by the scientific committee to select the beneficiaries, it highlights innovation and social transformation, the feasibility of the finding, contribution to social improvement and welfare as well as the scientific relevance of the research.
The vaccine project developed at CiQUS may reach the clinical trials phase and originates from a methodology developed the Martinez-Costa group. The methodology is based on microspheres and allows the hat allows the production of vaccine antigens quickly and at low cost. As remarked by Zendal corporation, “the aim of these awards is to promote biotechnological research”, so laureates must now “reinvest the funds in research projects”.