The biochemist, Juan Carlos Izpisúa,director of the Genetic Expression Laboratory of the Salk Institute in La Jolla, California, has, today, in the University of Castilla-La Mancha(UCLM) called on politicians and institutions in authority to bring into fruition the breakthroughs, that have now been achieved in the laboratory, in treating diseases that up to now have been deemed incurable. From blindness to arthritis through to Alzheimer´s or cancer: as demonstrated by the team of Izpisúa, all these illnesses may be improved or cured by “rewriting” the genome or by modifying the epigenetic marks of an individual, that is, the result of the interaction of this individual with life and which also conditions his or her health or the ageing process, regardless of his or her genetic inheritance.

Born in Hellin in 1960, Izpisúa has been invested as an “honorary “doctor by the UCLM in a ceremony held on the Albacete Campus and which the scientist has taken advantage of to give a preview of some of the latest findings of his team, which are based on the possibility of “editing” genes, that is, copying, sticking or removing them. In the case of the latter, this would be used for pre-birth treatment of Down´s Syndrome, a modification which disappears after the extra copy of chromosome 21 is removed, which is just what the Ispizua team have achieved by in vitro fertilization and in laboratory mice at the Salk Institute, which is considered to be the most prestigious biological studies centre in the world. The biochemist has insisted that this great breakthrough, which may be used to cure ten thousand monogenic diseases, could be transferred to hospitals in the medium-term”if backing from the government” is received.

Izpisúa also went over breakthroughs related to an extremely new technique, Homology Independent Targeted Integration (HITI) which enables researchers to act on epigenetics to hold back the ageing process and extend life.
“We are at the end of a bridge-he said in his speech-, in basic research; now, we just need to cross the bridge and reach the hospital, the clinic; but to do so, we need the help of our government, they must make a move, lend basic research, education and the university a hand”.

Curiosity and constancy
“ To be a scientist, one must be curious and constant” qualities shown in the professional experience of the new doctor, just as indicated by the dean of the Albacete Faculty of Pharmacy, María del Mar Arroyo, responsible for giving the laudatory. In her speech, the dean went over “the impressive personal and professional “history” of doctor Izpisúa from his “difficult childhood” to his latest scientific achievements for which he is considered to be one of the most important researchers world-wide in development biology and regenerative medicine, since, as stated by him, “the researcher is not born in a place in La Mancha, but is made with effort, consistency, work and imagination to think outside the box, and with a good support group behind him or her”.

Sponsored by the Vice-chancellor for Research and Scientific Policy, Julián Garde, and the dean of the Ciudad Real Faculty of Medicine, the new doctor has received the biretta, the Book of Science and Wisdom, the ring, the White gloves and the Degree Medal, symbols that represent him joining the UCLM staff.

The UCLM chancellor, Miguel Ángel Collado- who presided over the act, referred to the new doctor as “an example of talent combined with effort, consistency and eagerness for self-improvement” and as a man “has triumphed over adversity and difficulties in life”.

Miguel Ángel Collado referred to the different statements made by doctor Izpisúa, in which he emphasized the importance of research as progress, equality and social justice, “in short, the democratization of science”. On this point, the chancellor reminded us that in the last decade research has become a “victim of the recession”, and said there is always more room to make more effort in recovering research activities at the university and to better equip its institutes, laboratories, seminaries and workshops.

Still on the topic of research, the chancellor quoted the UCLM as an example of a university with the most outstanding position as regards having its own resources for research, according to the report Las Universidades Españolas (The Spanish Universities), and as an institution which is maintaining research levels just as revealed by the position it has obtained “in the most valued academic guides and rankings”.

Lastly, the chancellor addressed the current academic programme, with reference to the agreement made with the regional government, by which seven of the nine degrees included in the New Degrees Map associated with Estrategia UCLM (UCLM Strategy) 2020 will be offered. The aim of this is to complete higher educational opportunities for young pre-university year students in Castilla-La Mancha.

Both institutions have thereby decided to continue studying the set up of the remaining degrees for the following academic years, including those proposed in 2008, all of which are within the framework of the funding agreement for 2018-2021, for which work is at an advanced stage.

In this way, Miguel Ángel Collado, in reference to the Albacete Campus, has confirmed that next academic year the Biotechnology and Criminology degrees will be taught in Albacete.

Likewise, the chancellor indicated that demands on the university will be two-fold: to comply with legislation in force and professional ethics. On this point he reminded us that the UCLM is among the 200 best universities in the world “thanks to the effort and commitment shown by society, governments and the university community”, and stated that the university “complies with the law and ethics, and we carry out rigorous training in compliance with all requirements”.

During the investiture ceremony, the general manager of universities, Ricardo Cuevas, also made a speech as did the Albacete mayor, Manuel Serrano, who congratulated the new doctor and the UCLM for designating the scientist as an honorary doctor. Likewise, also present at the ceremony was the president of the Castilla-La Mancha Parliament, Gregorio Jesús Fernández Vaquero, and the General Secretary for Science and Innovation from the Ministry of Finance and Competiveness, Juan María Vázquez, apart from other civil and military authorities.

Music at the ceremony was provided by the band, Granados, directed by Gloria Doñate Alcantud.

UCLM Communication Office, Albacete, 13th of April 2018