Juan Ramon Gonzalez awarded Conde de Cartagena Prize by The Royal Academy of Medicine

Researchers at the Genetics Unit of the Hospital Infanta Cristina from Badajoz, Extremadura Obesity Observatory (OBEX.O) and CREAL (Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology), have been honored with the Award Conde de Cartagena. The work was led by Dr. Raquel Rodriguez-Lopez and has enjoyed the participation of Juan Ramon Gonzalez, a CREAL researcher.

The Award Conde de Cartagena, which was given a few weeks ago at the Royal Academy of Medicine in Madrid, acknowledges the contribution of this research group for identifying the genetic factors responsible for obesity and morbid obesity associated to mental retardation. The results have allowed us to optimize the clinical management of patients/families included in the OBEX.O.

As Juan Ramon Gonzalez said, "this award is a recognition of the good coordination in the collaborative work between centres and the advantages of interdisciplinary research groups (geneticists, pediatricians, endocrinologists, bioinformaticians and statisticians), with the aim to achieve a better design of projects with objectives of improving public health." The area, in which has been recognized, is evidence of the "transnational interest for the clinical management of endemic diseases and high health costs such as obesity." Besides this, Gonzalez remarks "the potential benefits for the design of new strategies for primary prevention."

The event was chaired by the Hon. Mr. Manuel Diaz-Rubio Garcia, President of the Royal Academy of Medicine, and academics participated in plenary, as part of the opening of the new academic year.