• In Animal Health, the award went to a vaccine development project against Rift Valley Fever, led by Alejandro Brun from the Animal Health Research Center (CISA–INIA).
• In Human Health, the prize was awarded to the CellCOM group from CINBIO (University of Vigo), led by María Mayán, for research on an especially aggressive variant of breast cancer.
• The International Zendal Awards reach their sixth edition this year, with more than 170 applications submitted. The award ceremony will take place next Tuesday, November 11, in Vigo.

O Porriño,Spain, November 5, 2025. – A project on triple-negative breast cancer and research on a vaccine against Rift Valley Fever have been announced as the winners of the sixth edition of the Zendal Awards, promoted by the biopharmaceutical group based in O Porriño. The decision was made public by the jury, composed of specialists in the field of health.

The winning project in the Human Health category was presented by the CellCOM group from CINBIO (University of Vigo), led by María Mayán, recognized for its research on triple-negative breast cancer—an especially aggressive variant with limited treatment options.

The jury for this category was composed of Carlos Martín Montañés, Professor of Microbiology, Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of Zaragoza; Miguel Ángel Llamas, PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Director of Biocomunica; María Vallet-Regí, Professor of Inorganic Chemistry and Head of the Department of Inorganic and Bioinorganic Chemistry, Complutense University of Madrid; Pilar Domingo-Calap, Professor and Principal Investigator at I2SysBio (UV–CSIC) and Scientific Director of Evolving Therapeutics; Eugenia Puentes Colorado, Full Member of the Royal Academy of Pharmacy of Galicia; and Andrés Fernández Álvarez-Santullano, CEO of Zendal.

The committee evaluated the projects based on scientific innovation, healthcare need, feasibility, applicability, and their contribution to improving quality of life, progress, and well-being.

In the Animal Health category, the award went to Alejandro Brun, researcher at the Animal Health Research Center (CISA–INIA), for a project focused on developing a vaccine against Rift Valley Fever, an acute viral disease that can severely affect domestic animals such as buffalo, camels, cattle, goats, and sheep, and also infect humans. In people, the disease usually presents as a mild, self-limiting illness, although in some cases it can cause severe symptoms.

The scientific committee for this category included Juan José Badiola Díez, Professor of Animal Health and Director of the Center for Encephalopathies and Emerging Transmissible Diseases at the University of Zaragoza; María Jaureguízar Redondo, Managing Director of the Vet+i Foundation – Spanish Technology Platform for Animal Health; Juan Carlos Castillejo, Senior Advisor in Animal Health; Francisco A. Rojo Vázquez, Professor at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of León, and Member of the Academy of Veterinary Sciences of Castilla y León; and Andrés Fernández Álvarez-Santullano, CEO of the Zendal Group.

The jury valued scientific innovation, technological feasibility, preventive impact on animal health, and the strategic potential for the development of multivalent platforms, in line with the objectives of these awards.

Awards ceremony on Tuesday, November 11

The awards will be presented, along with a special Lifetime Achievement Award (to be announced), at a gala event to be held on November 11 in Vigo. The event will be attended by authorities and representatives from Galicia’s academic and scientific community.

The International Zendal Awards celebrate their sixth edition this year, having received over 170 submissions, with the Human Health category attracting the largest number of projects. This reflects the growing prestige and consolidation of the awards, which are endowed with €40,000 for Human Health and €25,000 for Animal Health.

Cancer, antimicrobial resistance, AI, and zoonoses

Given the high number of projects, the range of topics was diverse, with several recurring themes.

In Human Health, the most prominent projects focused on cancer research, as well as advanced and precision therapies. Other frequent topics included vaccines, antimicrobial resistance, infectious diseases, and global health.

Many submissions also incorporated the use of artificial intelligence in medical and research applications.

In Animal Health, projects were strongly oriented toward innovation and global health (One Health), with emphasis on vaccine development, zoonoses, antimicrobial resistance, alternative therapies, precision diagnostics, and animal welfare. Sustainability and the applicability of emerging technologies were also key concepts reflected in this category.