BIFI Institute researcher Nunilo Cremades receives support from the Ibercaja Foundation for her research project on Parkinson’s disease

The University of Zaragoza and the Ibercaja Foundation have signed a collaboration agreement focused on strengthening the R&D&I ecosystem, promoting employability in rural areas and encouraging girls to pursue scientific careers.

Within the framework of this agreement, researcher Nunilo Cremades will further her research focused on the early detection of Parkinson’s disease, the second most common neurodegenerative disease, through the validation of biomarkers that detect alpha-synuclein protein oligomers in human biofluids, preferably nasal swabs obtained non-invasively. It is hoped that these biomarkers can be implemented in the medium term in commercial platforms for early diagnosis in hospital settings.

In the words of the researcher, ‘there is an urgent need to improve early diagnosis of Parkinson’s because by the time the first symptoms appear, the damage to the patient is already irreversible.’ This agreement is a sign of the commitment of the University of Zaragoza, the BIFI Institute and the Ibercaja Foundation to the most relevant and current health and social challenges.

Nunilo Cremades is developing this project in collaboration with the Neurology Department at Miguel Servet Hospital in Zaragoza, the Aragón Health System Biobank, the Aragón Parkinson’s Association, and the Aragón-based company Kampal Data Solutions.