The Barcelona Biomedical Research Park (PRBB) and the Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences of Pompeu Fabra University (UPF) are jointly organising the Premi PRBB. This award is given to the best research work in biological sciences by high school students.
In its nineteenth edition, a total of 232 works were submitted by nearly 270 students. For their selection, the prize-winning works have gone through different phases with the participation of several researchers from the Park’s centres as juries. The last round of selection was done by Francesc Calafell from the Department of Medicine and Life Sciences of the UPF (MELIS-UPF), Joaquim Frigola from the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL Barcelona) and Pol Jiménez from the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) as members of the jury.
The prize-giving ceremony took place on 19 April, where the winning entries were announced.
Deciphering Leigh syndrome
In her work, Laia Plans from the Daina-Isard Educational Cooperative in Olesa de Montserrat used bioinformatics tools to delve into the world of mutations and Leigh syndrome. Her work has earned her the first prize.
Dancing with the heart
Clara Puigdomènech, from the Institut Jaume Callís in Vic, received the second prize for her work on the influence of physical exercise and training of amateur dancers on the cardiovascular system.
Impact of stress on oral health
This is the title of the work by Marta Macià, a student at the Mig-Món Institute in Súria, which received the third prize. A study that relates the pH in the saliva of high school students with their stress levels.
Fats, antioxidants and daphnia
The fourth prize has been awarded to Parveen Kaur, from the Institut Santa Coloma de Farners for her study on how a high-fat diet and the protective effect of antioxidants can affect daphnia, or water fleas.
The pleasure of eating glass
Gabriel Cara and David Segura, from the Institut Creu de Saba in Olesa de Montserrat received the fifth prize for their work analysing the composition of chocolate. A study that delves into crystallography, combining science and gastronomy.
The jury also awarded the following mentions:
- Special mention for the best paper in the category “Science with social impact” to the project “Study of the improvement of the quality of life of Alzheimer’s patients based on the needs of caregivers and their profiles“, by Emma Fernàndez and Mireia Serradó of the Institut El Cairat in Esparraguera.
- Special mention for the best work in the category “Scientific dissemination” to the project “Beyond the bones. Pediatric osteosarcoma, a rare disease“, by Rosa Llohis from the Escola Arrels II in Solsona.
- Special mention for the best work in the “Preservation of popular culture” category to the work “Those who play with fire get burned? Study of individual protection accessories in popular culture acts with fire“, by Pol Rivas from the Escola Sagrada Família Sant Andreu.
After the defence of their work, the finalists and those awarded with special mentions, together with their families or teachers, were given a tour in order to get to know the facilities and the research being carried out at the Park. Afterwards, Dr. Jordi Camí, director of the PRBB, Dr. Francisco J. Muñoz, vice-dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences of the UPF and Dr. Francesc Calafell, researcher at the Institute of Evolutionary Biology and the UPF, proceeded to give the awards.
Laia, Clara, Marta, Parveen, Gabriel, David, Pol, Rosa, Emma, Mireia – congratulations for the work done! We hope that this experience with science has awakened your interest in research and maybe we will see you soon in the corridors of the PRBB.
