Carmen Ballesteros, Severiano’s daughter, visited the National Cancer Research Center (CNIO) yesterday and was received by its director, María Blasco, to whom she handed over the proceeds obtained through a series of charity tournaments held in different fields throughout Spain, integrated in the “FSB Challenge” initiative, which in this third edition has counted with the collaboration of Visit Panama.
On behalf of her siblings and the SB Foundation, Carmen made a donation of 100,000 euros that the CNIO will donate to the Seve-Ballesteros Foundation Brain Tumor Group laboratory.
During her tour of the CNIO facilities, Severiano’s daughter was accompanied by its Director María Blasco, researchers Massimo Squatrito, Erwin Wagner and Fernando Peláez, and Dr. Cristóbal Belda, who explained the progress of the Biotechnology Program, which provides technical support to CNIO research groups, as well as the Experimental Therapeutics Program, which develops new molecules with therapeutic potential against cancer.
In Spain, there are about 4,000 new cases of malignant brain tumors per year, the most frequent and aggressive being Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM), which affect the central nervous system in adults. The Seve-Ballesteros Foundation Brain Tumor Group at the CNIO uses a combination of genomic analysis, mouse animal models and tumor cell cultures to identify the molecular mechanisms that could serve as a basis for the development of new therapies for patients with GBM. The main objective of the Group is to discover the genetic defects responsible for the aggressiveness of this type of tumors and, in particular, to identify those alterations related to DNA damage, a type of response that protects the integrity of the genetic material.
Prior to their sister’s visit, Javier and Miguel Ballesteros also had a meeting with the CNIO managers to inquire about the progress of the research project of the laboratory that bears their father’s name.
The third edition of the Seve Ballesteros Foundation Challenge consisted of several charity tournaments, played from March to September on different courses throughout Spain and very involved in supporting this initiative in tribute to Severiano, which also had the collaboration of the Panama Tourism Authority. Panama Tourism Authority, through the program www.visitpanama.com and in conjunction with Panama Golf GroupThe Panama Golf Group, an entity that shares its objectives in the fight against cancer and the development of the values that golf represents.
PHOTOS (Courtesy of CNIO)
1: Massimo Squatrito, Carmen Ballesteros and María Blasco.
2: Fernando Peláez, Cristóbal Belda, Carmen Ballesteros, María Blasco, Massimo Squatrito and Erwin Wagner.
3Javier and Miguel Ballesteros in front of the plaque commemorating the creation of the Seve Ballesteros Foundation-CNIO laboratory.
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