It was 20 years ago, in 2005, when the building of the Barcelona Biomedical Research Park (PRBB) had not even been completed, that the Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences of the Pompeu Fabra University (UPF) and the Park itself came up with the idea of the PRBB Award. This award is intended to reward the most outstanding research work in the life sciences – done by teenagers.
This “research project” is part of the Catalan curriculum of both the baccalaureate and higher level training cycles, and is essential to obtain the degree. It gives students the opportunity to apply the knowledge acquired throughout their studies in order to develop their research skills and critical thinking. Each student can choose the topic that most interests them, but the PRBB Award focuses on those that deal with biomedicine and life sciences.
In these 20 years we have received more than 3,200 projects from nearly 3.,500 students who have demonstrated their passion for research. Their projects are also a reflection of their effort and curiosity about the world around them. These projects deal with a wide range of subjects but, year after year, they surprise the jury with their originality and quality. Because beyond the winners, the PRBB Award celebrates the restlessness and enthusiasm of young talent.
This year, we are also celebrating a record number of participants. For the 20th edition, we have received 316 entries from 337 students (80% of whom are female) from more than 200 schools. We have not reached these numbers in previous editions, a high participation that has complicated the work of the jury, which has finally chosen the following five finalists and spetial mentions.
The white-throated dipper in the Riera Major
The white-throated dipper is the protagonist of the work of Jordina Baucells of the Taradell Institute, which has won the first prize. A project that has focused on the populations of the Cinclus cinclus bird in Viladrau, quantifying the individuals, carrying out a biometric study and analysing the ecological requirements and threats of the species in order to take the most appropriate conservation measures.
Microplastics: the plague of the 21st century
This is the title of the work of Biel Badia, a pupil at the Institut La Miquela in Bescanó, who received the second prize for his work. A practical and theoretical study on the incidence of microplastics in marine life that analyses their presence in sardines from various locations along the Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts.
Resistant starch and diabetes
The work of Irene Cabré from Educem in Granollers, ranked third position, has analysed dietary recommendations to control the rise in blood glucose after meals in patients with diabetes. Specifically, she has found that cooking rice a day before and leaving it to cool in the fridge increases the levels of resistant starch – that which is not digested – thus reducing blood sugar levels.
Milestones in heart transplantation
The fourth prize has been awarded to Salma Martínez of the Corbera Institute in Corbera de Llobregat, for her exploration of bioengineering as a tool to improve the world of heart transplantation. Her research has also led her to built a functional scaffold from decellularised spinach leaves that could have promising applications in transplantation.
Dystonia, a minority disease
Laura Soler and Hasna Bouhlal, students from IES Carles Vallbona in Granollers, presented their work that focuses on the challenges of dystonia, a neurological disease that presents difficulties in expression and communication. Their multidisciplinary approach to the disease in order to develop more accessible communication strategies for people suffering from it has earned them the fifth prize.
Special mentions
The jury of the 20th PRBB Prize has decided to award two special prizes to two works that stand out for the originality of the chosen topic, as well as for their content.
- Special mention for the best work in the category ‘Science behind the myth’ to Biomedical Factors in the Curse of the Tomb of Tutankhamun by Dunia Garcés of the Alba del Vallés Institute in Sant Fost de Campsentelles.
- Special mention for the best work in the category ‘Education in Medical Emergencies’ to the work Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Obstruction of the Airway by Foreign Body (OVACE) by Duvan Andrés Garzón of the Màrius Torres Institute of Lleida.
During the awards ceremony, the finalists defended their work with a scientific poster. Once the defence was over, together with their companions and special mentions, they were able to enjoy a guided tour of the Park to learn about the research centres and the building. At the end, Dr. Jordi Camí, director of the PRBB, Dr. Joan Ramon Masclans, dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences of the UPF and researcher at the Hospital del Mar Research Institute and Dr. Andrés Ozaita, also a researcher at MELIS-UPF representing the jury (which included also Laura Avinyó from EMBL Barcelona and Sílvia Carbonell from CRG), proceeded to the awards ceremony.
Laura, Hasna, Jordina, Salma, Irene, Biel, Duván and Duna – congratulations for the work done! And also, a special thanks to all the teachers and participants who have accompanied us during these 20 editions!
