The Biomedicine International Training Research Programme for Excellent Clinician-Scientists (BITRECS) is an IDIBAPS fellowship programme allowing postdoctoral researchers with a ‘clinical-scientist’ profile to dedicate themselves intensively to biomedical research through a project actively led by an IDIBAPS group. The programme also provides high-level professional training so the beneficiary will eventually become a leader in their area of specialisation.
This is the third edition of the programme and it is part of the Program of Excellence AECC - IDIBAPS: Immunotherapy Against Cancer, financially supported by the “Fundación Científica Asociación Española Contra el Cáncer” (AECC).
Alberto Orta studied medicine at Universidad de Zaragoza, Spain; specializing in medical oncology. After finishing his degree, he did his doctorate in Molecular & Cellular Biology, Cancer genomics at the University of Navarra, where he was focused in cellular and Molecular Biology focused on the identification of genomic markers with prognostic value in early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
Now, at IDIBAPS he will form part of the Translational Genomics and Targeted Therapies in Solid Tumors group led by Aleix Prat as a postdoctoral researcher, where he will carry out his project entitled, “Discovery and validation of therapeutic targets for the development of an antibody drug conjugate to overcome resistance to current treatments in metastatic breast cancer”.
Juan José Rodríguez studied medicine at Universidad de Granada, Spain; specializing in Hematology and Hemotherapy at Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, Spain. After finishing his degree, he did his doctorate in Hematology (Leukemia) at the University of Barcelona.
Now, at IDIBAPS he will form part of the Lymphoid Neoplasms Program led by Iñaki Martín-Subero and Armando López Guillermo with the collaboration of Sonia Guedan and Cristina Fillat, as a postdoctoral researcher, where he will carry out his project entitled, “Uncovering the Role of Clonal Haematopoiesis of Indeterminate Potential in Immunotherapy Resistance and Toxicity in Lymphoid Malignancies.”
Ezequiel Mauro studied medicine at University of Buenos Aires, Argentina; specializing in Internal Medicine and Hepatology. After finishing his degree, he did his doctorate in Liver Diseases and Liver Transplantation at the University of Barcelona.
Now, at IDIBAPS he will form part of the Translational Research in Hepatic oncology group led by Josep M. Llovet as a postdoctoral researcher, where he will carry out his project entitled, “Identification of determinants of neoadjuvant immunotherapy response in hepatocellular carcinoma and discovery of candidate biomarkers to maximize treatment efficacy”.
The first edition of the BITRECS programme began in 2017 and received funding from the European Commission and the "la Caixa" Foundation. In 2024, a new call for the BITRECS programme was opened, funded by the "la Caixa" Foundation, and 1 clinician-scient was hired.
