2023-04-22 04:08:20
Doctor Francisco Sánchez-Madrid (Córdoba, 1954) gives good proof that it is not necessary to have a clear vocation from childhood to dedicate your whole life to a profession. In his case, what, as he says, has given him a lot of satisfaction during his career has been cellular communication. Said like this, it may not tell the reader anything. But his research serves to correct the errors that occur in the immune system of patients with diseases that are difficult to treat, such as multiple sclerosis.
However, Sánchez confesses that, although it is “added value”, immediate application is not what a researcher is after, but trying to find new knowledge. A restlessness typical of a curious mind like his. “I have always liked ornithology or geology,” he admits. Although are platonic love was biochemistry: “I was seduced from the moment I discovered it”. This seduction has resulted in important research papers that have been reflected in more than 400 international publications and have received more than 25,000 citations.
This Spanish scientist spoke to EL ESPAÑOL on the occasion of the Robert Koch award, with which he was recognized this week along with Timothy Springer, also an immunologist and professor at Harvard University in Boston. Sánchez does not yet know how one is nominated for this award. “I opened the mail and found the news“He also does not know what the endowment (120,000 euros) will be used for and if he will receive it at a private level or as a research group.
[López-Hoyos, presidente de los inmunólogos: “Lo que ha provocado ómicron puede volver a repetirse”]
The immunologist is the first Spaniard to collect this recognition granted by the Robert Koch Foundation and the German Ministry of Health. He was not aware of this matter. “I found out because I looked it up on Wikipedia.” As a result of this search he also found out that the Robert Koch is one of the prizes considered as “the prelude to the Nobel”. This researcher acknowledges that he continues with his feet on the ground, that he is realistic, but “dreaming doesn’t cost anything.”
How did you receive the news that you had been awarded the 2023 Robert Koch Prize?
The news? Well, surprise. No one told me that I had been introduced. I have no idea how you get nominated for this award. I think the other award-winning researcher [el también inmunólogo y profesor de la Universidad de Harvard en Boston Timothy Springer] they had not told him that he was nominated either. So I found out by opening an email late last year asking me to be confidential until it was made public.
This is an unexpected event because no one asked me for any prior information. For example, in other national awards they do inform you, at least, that you are nominated. Although it is true that it is much more attractive when you know nothing. It is a great recognition and I feel very happy about it.
They say that this award is the prelude to the Nobel. Can you imagine one day joining the short list of Spanish researchers with this award?
[Se ríe] Well, it’s a dream. But I consider myself a down-to-earth and down-to-earth person. Now, just as this award already makes me extremely happy, because receiving the Nobel would be even more so. However, it is not only said of this one. The Lasker Award is one of those that is also considered the prelude. I have been very impressed, seeing the list of winners, that I am the first Spaniard to receive it. It is also a privilege to be included in a group of researchers (in immunology, infectious diseases, and cancer, among others) who have made impressive contributions throughout their careers.
Winning the Nobel would be a desideratum. I think it happens to all researchers. And as they say, dreaming doesn’t cost money. And you can dream what you want, but you have to be realistic. It is extremely difficult.
Still, it’s not going astray.
You do your job because you like it, because you want to make new discoveries. If they give you a prize, it is always a great additional joy.
He has been awarded for his important research in Immunology. Although they are not precisely few, would you highlight any one above all?
Well, I will go back to my time at Harvard University, where Professor Springer [el otro galardonado] he was my boss, even though we weren’t many years apart. At that time we made a discovery that was very relevant, as has been seen later. We describe for the first time the adhesion molecules of leukocytes. We discovered this because we were looking for receptors that are involved in leukocyte functions. In fact, there is one type, known as cytotoxic T lymphocytes, that kill other cells. killers). What we found here was the relevance of cell adhesion molecules to immune cell function.
On my return to Spain I was also quite lucky because in the first projects I did I discovered a second molecule related to this cellular interaction. What has been most noteworthy is that this research has subsequently been translated into drugs to treat diseases that are difficult to treat, such as multiple sclerosis.
Francisco Sánchez at the La Princesa Hospital in Madrid.
Is it satisfying that the results of your research are later translated into a drug with which to improve the life of a patient?
Yes, it has added value. Although it is not normally what a researcher is after. I think what we are looking for is to discover how, in this case, the cells of the immune system work. It is true that you are very gratified if what you find has an application. But when you do research, you don’t go looking for immediate applicability. That would be too shortsighted. At least in fundamental research, which is what aims to generate new knowledge.
How much do we know about the molecular language of cells?
Well, we know enough. Especially since in the last 20 years one of the issues that we have studied the most has been cell communication, known as immunological synapses. This transfer of genetic information is essential because it is the beginning of a lasting immune response. I have dedicated many years to this object of study and I am very satisfied with it.
Were you always clear about what you wanted to dedicate yourself to?
I would say no [se ríe]. It is quite difficult to have a vocation. It is true that since I was little I have been very curious. I have always liked ornithology or geology. It is true that Biochemistry seduced me from the moment I discovered it. But I think that you build your vocation over time. Obviously, you have to have that innate curiosity.
Do you think we have learned to value science after the pandemic?
I would say yes. At that time, the public realized that science was important. With mRNA vaccines, the problem could be tackled in record time; or at least, everything that could be. Little by little, science will take its place at a social level, although it is very difficult because having a good training and scientific sensitivity costs generations. But in Spain it is being achieved.
A few weeks ago the EMA gave the green light to the Spanish vaccine against Covid-19. Do you think you are late?
I don’t think so. All vaccines are necessary and may even be complementary. I wish it had come earlier, of course. But the development of a vaccine needs great potential and a good investment. It would have been preferable if it had arrived at the peak of the pandemic. It’s not about criticism, it’s about being realistic. Even so, we must assess the positive: we have a Spanish vaccine.
Do you consider that Spain is in the Champions League Of the investigation?
Clear. Obviously, we need more economic investment and more awareness that a greater amount of money must be dedicated to research. The mentality of each culture also influences. For example, rich countries are rich because they invest a lot in science.
Now, Spain currently has magnificent researchers. They are much better prepared, it has nothing to do with when I trained in the 70s at the Severo Ochoa Molecular Biology Center. Despite this, we need a more powerful dissemination system. Although investment in research will always be low. If you ask a French or German researcher, they will tell you the same thing. What happens is that they have more money than us, that’s the difference.
What do you think when you see that young researchers have to carry out their careers outside of Spain?
Leaving Spain is not bad. It is good because it gives you a vital and scientific experience in another place, which you would not have if you stayed. For example, it was very good for me. But good mechanisms must be established to recruit the people who have left and not lose the potential that has been formed here.
In your case, did you go to the United States voluntarily?
Completely. But at that time it was more necessary than now because it was very important to be exposed to international science. So in Spain we had a much more rickety research system than the current one. It was on the minds of all the researchers: if you wanted to be a researcher, you had to go abroad. Nor were there so many highly qualified groups in Spain.
Did you have the opportunity to continue your research career abroad?
It was not an option that was considered. I think if I had tried, I would have had no problem doing it. But I wanted to go back to my country.
Although it is not well seen to talk about money. Have you already thought about what you are going to allocate the prize money?
Well, I don’t know yet because I don’t know in what term they will grant it to me, whether on a personal level or it will be an endowment to my research group.
#Spain #Champions #science