SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, Aug. 11 (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Research Unit of the Nuestra Señora de Candelaria University Hospital, on the island of Tenerife, has received recognition from the National Cancer Research Center (CNIO) for the study it is conducting on the relationship of a new protein in the regeneration of damaged DNA .
This recognition came after the unit brought this novelty to the ‘Genomic Organization and Stability’ conference, organized by the CNIO, where researchers from hospitals and research centers around the world shared their studies related to the human genome.
Specifically, it was the researcher Sara Medina who won an award for her communication in poster format on the progress of her research within the Genomic Instability and Cancer group, led by Dr. Félix Machín, as reported by the hospital in a press release. .
The study focuses on the damage suffered by the DNA of cells and the importance of adequately repairing this damage, since without proper repair, mutations can be produced that lead to the appearance of cancer. The team has discovered a new protein located in the cell nucleus membrane that is directly involved in the repair of damaged DNA, in such a way that the regeneration capacity is reduced by up to 30 percent when this protein is missing.
The genome is the set of DNA found in the nucleus of the cells of living beings and contains all the information necessary for a person to grow and develop. For this reason, the study of the genome helps researchers to understand how these cells are formed and how they respond to different types of stimuli.
The investigation of its breakage and repair allows the creation of new treatments for diseases such as cancer.
This study is funded by the Ministry of Science and Innovation of the Government of Spain within the framework of its ‘Knowledge Generation Projects’ program, which is intended to finance research projects aimed at both promoting the generation and advancement of scientific knowledge such as research of proven quality, as well as moving towards the search for solutions to the challenges of society.
The unit was accredited by the Ministry of Health as a Research Unit in 1995 and is a multidisciplinary structure whose mission is to increase scientific knowledge, as well as encourage its application in health promotion.
It has different laboratories, including cell and molecular biology or cell culture. It also has a room for optical and fluorescence microscopy, confocal microscopy and laser microdissection, as well as a deep-freezer room, offices for researchers and a classroom, among others.
It also applies new molecular, cellular, biotechnological, big data technologies, including approaches oriented towards personalized medicine to generate new knowledge about the mechanisms involved in diseases. It also offers methodological advice and is a place for training in research and rotation of residents.
