She acknowledges that the arrival of Donald Trump has taken a toll on American science: "We have gone from fear to action." With these words, Ana Fernández-Sesma concludes the interview she had with this newspaper before receiving the award that recognizes her career in the VI edition of the Zendal International Award, promoted by the Galician biopharmaceutical group. "For me, it is refreshing to come to Spain given the situation we have in the US."
Alongside her, the Galician biopharmaceutical group has awarded a project on triple-negative breast cancer and research on the development of a vaccine against Rift Valley fever. In the human health category, the award went to the CellCOM group at CINBIO (University of Vigo), led by María Mayán, for work focused on triple-negative breast cancer, one of the most aggressive variants of this disease with limited therapeutic options currently available. In animal health, the prize was awarded to Alejandro Brun, a researcher at the Center for Animal Health Research (CISA-INIA), for the development of a vaccine against Rift Valley fever, an emerging zoonotic disease with a high impact on animal health and public health.
The virologist, who received the tribute for her career, has been working for three decades at the Mount Sinai Hospital complex in New York, where she leads the Department of Microbiology at the Icahn School of Medicine with a team of over 20 people working on emerging infectious diseases, -"or not so much, because we have even detected autochthonous chikungunya in New York."- Her research on dengue and her contributions as a female role model who has opened doors for new generations have earned her recognition. "It is crucial that women are given visibility. We are an example that a scientific career and a family are compatible. It should be valued."
"All trials for a universal flu vaccine have been halted. It represents more loss than savings"