Pura Muñoz-Cànovas has received the Pfizer Foundation award for Basic Research

Pura Muñoz-Cànovas, ICREA Research Professor at the Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF) and head of the Cell Biology group of the Department of Experimental and Health Sciences (DCEXS), received the award for Basic Research granted each year by the Pfizer Foundation for her article http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v506/n7488/full/nature13013.html published in Nature in February 2014.

For the first time a physiological mechanism that is involved in the irreversible ageing process of muscular stem cells in very old organisms has been identified. Through experiments on mice Prof. Muñoz-Cànoves has demonstrated that geriatric satellite cells undergo intrinsic changes that are irreversible and which cause these cells to switch from a latent, quiescent state to a state in which growth and expansion are no longer possible.

Experts from the Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL) and the National Cardiovascular Research Centre also participated in this research project.