XXIII FERO Grant – Dr. Alicia González Martín

Not all patients with lung cancer, the cancer responsible for the highest number of deaths worldwide, respond to immunotherapy in the same way; moreover, most do not respond or show only a very slight response. Thanks to the XXII FERO Grant, the research group led by Dr. Alicia González Martín at the Alberto Sols Biomedical Research Institute of the CSIC and the UAM will be able to carry out this research project aimed at identifying molecular targets to boost the efficacy of immunotherapy in patients with weaker responses. They have identified a microRNA whose abundance influences the immune system’s ability to recognize and attack tumors. With the FERO Grant funding, they will study the modulation mechanisms of this microRNA and conduct the first preclinical trials in mice to determine whether increasing its abundance with a drug currently under development can improve the efficacy of immunotherapy.