Events
On Friday 21st April last a fundraising event was held on behalf of the MENCÍA Foundation at the Gabinete Literario in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
As has become usual with all the fundraisers held by the Foundation, the event consisted of a scientific talk presented and moderated by Valero Soler (Secretary and Patron of the MENCÍA Foundation). The first presentation was given by Dr Alfredo Santana Rodríguez of the CIBER-ER U-740 Clinical Genetic Unit and Associate Professor in Pediatrics at the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. He was followed by Dr Julio Montoya Villarroya, Head of the CIBER-ER U-727 Research Group and Professor of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry at the University of Zaragoza. Dr Montoya also belongs to the MENCÍA Foundation’s Scientific Committee.
Both scientists spoke of the need for investment in research in order to continue making progress, emphasizing the relationship that exists between the benefits of research results into rare diseases and the rest of the more prevalent diseases that affect us all. They also highlighted several successful cases, in which treatment has recently been obtained for various “rare” diseases through research.
The President of the Foundation, Isabel Lavín, explained the reasons that had led her and her husband, Valero Soler, to embark on this project. She underlined just how important it is for the Foundation to have the backing of the most important scientific research bodies in Spain, despite its short existence.
She also pointed out that the MENCÍA Foundation is not just a family initiative for a specific genetic disorder, but rather a Foundation that concerns and benefits us all, since through its research projects, based fundamentally on Gene and Cell Therapies, it aims to make its contribution to science and help find treatment one day for these terrible diseases.
After the talk, all the guests enjoyed a cocktail dinner and a fantastic raffle of exclusive gifts that had been specially donated for the occasion.
The total amount raised was 13,716€.