On November 21, 2025, La Caixa Foundation announced the awarding of a grant close to one million euros for an ambitious project led by Dr. Alexandre Calon. This researcher, head of the Translational Research Group in Tumor Microenvironment at the Hospital del Mar Research Institute, focuses on research in colorectal cancer, with the goal of deepening the understanding of the tumor environment and developing new therapeutic strategies to combat this disease.
The project was selected from over 700 proposals in the latest Health Research call from the Foundation, standing out for its relevance and potential impact. The funding will allow the researchers to address the critical challenge of treatment resistance in colorectal tumors, a key area in contemporary oncology.
The research will focus on the role of fibroblasts, known for protecting cancer cells. To do so, the team plans to elaborate a detailed map of the tumors before and after treatment, combining advanced imaging with genetic studies to analyze tumor behavior and its response to therapies. Small tumors will also be cultured in the laboratory using patient samples, allowing for a more personalized approach in the research.
This project involves the collaboration of several institutions, including the University of Oviedo, the Consortium for the Exploitation of the National Center for Genomic Analysis (CNAG) in Barcelona, and the University of Granada. The ultimate goal is to provide doctors with tools that help them choose the most suitable treatments for each patient and design new therapies with fewer side effects.
La Caixa Foundation’s Health Research call has allocated a total of 26 million euros to various research projects. In addition to Dr. Calon’s project, other important studies will be funded, such as the optimization of beta cell maturation for diabetes treatment and the development of non-animal experimental methods for drug testing in spinal cord injuries. This joint effort represents a significant advance in medical science and the search for solutions to complex diseases.
Referrer: MiMub in Spanish