Ferran Guedea, professor of Radiology and Physical Medicine at the University of Barcelona, director of Radiation Oncology at the Catalan Institute of Oncology and full academician of the Royal European Academy of Doctors-Barcelona 1914 (RAED), promoted together with Gabriel Capellá, director of the Institute of Biomedical Research of Bellvitge (Idibell), the charity gala “Salvem vides” (Let’s save lives), which was held on March 27 at the Masia de Can Ribas in Gavà with the aim of raising funds for the Oncobell program, developed by Idibell to study experimental therapies and the molecular mechanisms of cancer.
Among other personalities, the appointment was attended by Alba Vergés, minister of Health of the Catalan Government; Raül Blanco, general secretary of Industry and SMEs of the Spanish Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism; Albert Barberà, general director of Research and Innovation in Health of the Catalan Government; Joan Elias, rector of the University of Barcelona; Josep Maria Ustrell, director of the School of Dentistry of the University of Barcelona and full academician of the RAED; Laureano Molins, president of the Spanish Association Against Cancer (AECC)-Catalonia Against Cancer and also academician of the RAED; Dirk Kremer, consul of the Netherlands in Barcelona, and Naohito Watanabe, consul of Japan in Barcelona and academician of honour of the RAED. The latter pronounced a few words to close the act.
The gala was presented by the actor Fermí Fernández and featured a live musical performance by Saphie Wells & the Swing Cats. During the event, interviews, raffles, improvisations and special interventions were held, such as that of chef Nandu Jubany, who explained the preparations for this occasion to the nearly 250 attendees.
“The event was an opportunity to inform and raise awareness about the current challenges of cancer research. We still have a long way to go, but we are very hopeful and grateful to the sponsoring companies, institutions and citizens for the great support our campaign is receiving, more support, more lives saved”, Capellá and Guedea said during his speech.
“With the collection of ‘Salvem Vides’ we want to achieve three objectives: to develop therapies in the field of personalised medicine, to promote research in the field of immunotherapy in cancer following a global approach and to promote the young researcher talent”, explained Ramon Salazar, coordinator of the Oncobell program.
