THE Unicaja Foundation and the Pablo de Olavide University (UPO) of Seville have reached an agreement collaboration with the aim of developing joint initiatives in various areas, including the research of rare diseases.
The agreement, signed by the president of the Unicaja Foundation, José M. Domínguez, and the rector of the UPO, Francisco Oliva, is part – as the Malaga institution emphasizes – within the framework of the commitment of promote education, scientific progress and the creation of sustainable environments.
One of the most important projects that will result from this agreement is research into rare diseases, led by José Antonio Sánchez Alcázar, professor of cell biology at UPO. This study will focus on personalized precision medicine and seeks to develop therapeutic solutions for these pathologies, many of which lack effective treatments, thus giving hope for an improvement in the quality of life of patients.
Additionally, the agreement includes the UPOForest project, which will be coordinated by Juan R. Tejedo, vice chancellor for Infrastructure and Sustainability. This plan provides for the creation of a forest perimeter on the university campuswith native species and the construction of a lagoon, as well as other infrastructure that will contribute to improving biodiversity. A bird observation and interpretation center is also planned as part of this initiative.
The Pablo de Olavide University of Seville (UPO) was founded in 1997 at the headquarters of the old Labor University of Seville, which is why it recently celebrated its 25th anniversary. Currently, its community is made up of more than 13,000 students1,089 teachers and 362 members of technical management, administration and service staff.
The institution is composed six faculties (Law, Management Sciences, Social Sciences, Experimental Sciences, Human Sciences and Sports) and the École Polytechnique Supérieure, in addition to an attached center. It offers diplomas, double degrees and postgraduate diplomas, as well as 101 research groups. In addition, it is the first university in Spain with all its study centers certified by the audit program of the National Agency for Quality Assessment and Accreditation.
