Science

This collaboration between the foundation and the Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas (CNIO) made it possible to set up this post-doctoral programme in 2009 for young scientists working in several institutions in the United Kingdom and the United States.

Selected researchers work for two years on research projects at the CNIO. It serves to bring new talent to our country, while also favouring the sharing of knowledge in the field of oncology between CNIO and those centres from which programme participants come.

In 2012, Fundación Banco Santander and the Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas (CNIO) set up a programme to provide business training to specialists in scientific and technology disciplines.

Designed by IE University, the method used combines theoretical and practical training and gives great importance to discussion and the sharing of experiences. The course comprises eight modules in which industry professionals teach essential business basics (accounting, marketing, legal matters, communication skills, etc.) so that participants can convert an idea into a product with business possibilities in the market.

The foundation and the Society of Spanish Researchers in the United Kingdom (SRUK/CERU) called the sixth edition of this award created to promote the career of Spanish researchers working in the United Kingdom.

This award consists of a stipend of 14,000 pounds to cover any aspect related to the activity of the award recipient (research tasks, acquisition of equipment, dissemination of results, specialist training, etc.) and a commemorative sculpture by the artist Cristina Iglesias. 

Dr. Rodrigo Ledesma Amaro was the 2021 recipient of the award in recognition for his research work in the field of bioengineering and synthetic biology done in his laboratory at Imperial College London. His work, which focuses on the genetic modification of micro-organisms, has numerous applications in the medical, pharmaceutical and aerospace industry.

The Fundación Renal Íñigo Álvarez de Toledo is a non-profit organisation providing clinical, psychological and social care to people with kidney disease. Moreover, it furthers renal research through its Instituto de Investigación Reina Sofía, and since 1993 it has an international cooperation programme in place to transfer its comprehensive kidney treatment model abroad.

With the sponsorship it received from the foundation, the Nefrodiet app for mobile phones was created in 2016, which makes it possible to control kidney sufferers’ diets. In 2021, an upgraded version of the app was developed which contains new tools. For the fifth year in a row, Nefrodiet has been selected as one of the best health applications by Fundación iSYS, which specialises in evaluating digital health projects. The app is also endorsed by the Sociedad Española de Nefrología and the Sociedad Española de Enfermería Nefrológica.