In the third edition of the Diana Garrigosa Awards, We awarded the journalist and writer Rosa Montero and the singer Miguel Ríos in gratitude for their life and professional career as examples of active seniority and commitment to the defense of social values and rights.
These awards were created three years ago in memory of Diana Garrigosa (1944-2020), with the aim of honouring and giving visibility to her legacy. In previous editions, Manuela Carmena, magistrate emeritus and former mayor of Madrid; Fernando Ónega, journalist and director of the media outlet 65andmore; Victoria Camps, philosopher, former senator and former member of the Council of State; and Iñaki Gabilondo, a renowned journalist.
Once again, we have given out the awards during the VII Annual Meeting, held at the Barcelona Auditorium, where both winners personally collected the award at an evening that highlighted the fundamental role of social involvement in the fight against Alzheimer's.
Rosa Montero He stressed that “I would love to live up to what they say about me with this award, which I find very exciting, especially because the Foundation works on an absolutely necessary cause such as the fight against Alzheimer's”.
Miguel Rios, for its part, has stated that “Receiving the Diana Garrigosa Award is an honour, as I had the privilege of meeting her when we had some performances in Barcelona. She was a completely self-assured woman, with an overwhelming personality”.
The new era of Alzheimer's
The VII Annual Meeting brought together more than 1,500 people, including members, donors, patrons, participants in our studies, caregivers and staff of the organization. The event, hosted by journalist and actor Queco Novell, has focused on the current research landscape, at a time when science is redefining the approach to Alzheimer's with promising advances such as the arrival in Europe of the first drug that modifies the course of the disease.
In this sense, the Dr. Arcadi Navarro, director of the Foundation, highlighted at the inauguration that "We are at a historic moment in the fight against Alzheimer's that allows us to be more optimistic than ever thanks to advances in early diagnosis and the first treatments approved in Europe, which open the door to better manage this devastating disease.".
He also stressed our commitment to advance research, support affected families and transform the social perception of Alzheimer's thanks to the contributions of the organization's more than 92,000 members: “Science gives us reason to be optimistic, but this path is only possible thanks to collective commitment. Together, we are making possible a new era in which Alzheimer's will no longer be seen as a condemnation, but as a condition that can be prevented and managed.”.
At the meeting Researchers from our research center have also participated, the Barcelonaβeta Brain Research Center (BBRC), to present the main scientific developments in Alzheimer's research. Dr. Laura Garcia, a postdoctoral researcher in the Genomics Research Group, has explained the role of research with brain organoids; Dr. Paula Ortiz Romero, head of the laboratory of the Research Group on Biomarkers in Fluids and Translational Neurology, has detailed the advances in early detection and diagnosis thanks to biomarkers in blood; and finally the Dr Oriol Grau, head of the Clinical Research Group and Risk Factors for Neurodegenerative Diseases, has focused his intervention on new treatments capable of slowing the progression of the disease.
For its part, Ignasi López, Director of the Research and Health Institution Relations Area of the “la Caixa” Foundation, has highlighted the importance of collaboration and some of the progress made by the BBRC: «14 years ago we were able to support an extraordinary vision of doing science with the dream of beating Alzheimer's; we are happy with this journey we have made together, to continue to promote the scientific project of the BBRC for years to come».
Finally, and as a closing, Cristina Maragall, president of the Foundation, thanked the social base for its support over all these years: «Today is a day to thank the continued support of our research. Thank you to our more than 92,000 members and the 3,000 participants in the studies, whose involvement allows us to work for a better future. I would also like to give special recognition to all the caregivers for their often invisible but essential work for the well-being and dignity of people living with this disease.».
The event was attended by Musical performance by Macaco, an artist who has collaborated in numerous initiatives in defense of human rights and social justice, culminating in a performance by Gospel Messengers Barcelona.
