The Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas Sols-Morreale (IIBM), CSIC-UAM recently held the first edition of IIBM PhDay, a scientific meeting specially designed for young researchers and organized by a group of early-career scientists from the Institute (#JuniorIIBM), led by Soledad Bárez López. The event took place at the Salón de Actos Gabriella Morreale at the IIBM and at the Decanato (Facultad de Medicina, UAM), where the poster sessions, coffee break, and lunch were held, fostering an open environment for scientific exchange and networking. The call was open to undergraduate (TFG) and master’s (TFM) students, as well as predoctoral and postdoctoral researchers at any stage of their careers, with the aim of ensuring that all young researchers, regardless of their career path, had the opportunity to present their work, share ideas, and establish new collaborations both within and beyond the IIBM. Although this was the first edition organized at the Institute, the high level of participation and the quality of the contributions exceeded all expectations.
The Director of the IIBM, Pilar López Larrubia, opened the meeting by emphasizing that PhDay is a space designed by and for young scientists, whom she described as the future of research. She highlighted the importance of creating forums that make their work visible, promote collaborative networks, and strengthen motivation and recognition during the early stages of a research career. The program then included a special session dedicated to celebrating the legacy of Gabriella Morreale and Alberto Sols, key figures in Spanish science who give their names to the Institute. María Jesús Obregón, Research Professor at the CSIC and a now-retired member of the IIBM, presented a tribute to Gabriella Morreale, a pioneer of molecular endocrinology and an international reference for her scientific and social impact, worldwide recognized for the early detection of congenital hypothyroidism, which earned her, among many other distinctions, the first Premio Reina Sofía. Lisardo Boscá, Research Professor at the CSIC at the IIBM, reviewed the life and scientific career of Alberto Sols, highlighting the difficult political and scientific contexts in which he developed his work and his decisive contribution to modern biochemistry in Spain, with a strong international projection. He was also the founder of the Sociedad Española de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular (SEBBM) and received numerous national and international awards throughout his career in recognition of his scientific achievements.
PhDay also featured the participation of invited speakers of recognized prestige, from diverse fields such as biomedical research, the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry, clinical innovation, science communication, and art as a tool for public engagement. Speakers included Elena López Jiménez (Merck), Laura Soucek (Vall d’Hebron Institute of Oncology and Peptomyc S.L.), M. Elisa González García, creator of the artistic project Crepitantes, as well as Laura Moreno Mazuelos (Talento EPHOS), together with Jorge Minguez Martínez, Medical Science Liaison (MSL) at Johnson & Johnson and a former master’s student, who shared his professional experience. The lecture block closed with a talk by Ignacio Crespo, physician and science communicator on the radio (Cadena SER) and contributor to the newspaper La Razón. These contributions offered attendees a broad and realistic view of the multiple professional pathways in science, combining research excellence, knowledge transfer, and social commitment.
Throughout the day, both poster sessions and ten oral communications in the form of Flash Talks were held, selected from more than seventy submitted works. Awards were also presented to recognize the best scientific contributions of this first edition of IIBM PhDay. The First Prize for Best Oral Presentation (Flash Talk) was awarded to María Fernández (IIBM). In the poster session, the First Prize went to Ángela Gómez (Facultad de Medicina, UAM), the Second Prize to Alberto Cerdeño (Centro Nacional de Biotecnología, CNB-CSIC), and the Third Prize to Lucía Fuentes (CNB-CSIC).
The event concluded with closing remarks by Soledad Bárez López, who highlighted the positive impact of this first edition and the commitment to ensuring the continuity of IIBM PhDay in the coming years.
The IIBM would like to express its sincere thanks to all participants, speakers, and sponsors, as well as to the outstanding work of the Organizing Committee, composed of young researchers from the Institute: Laura Antón, Soledad Bárez, Yosra Berrouayel, Daniel Carnicero, Paula Carretero, Darwin Andrés Córdova, María Fernández, Adriana Ferreiro, Sandra Franco, Raquel González, Rodrigo Humberto Landauro, Eliezer Navarro, Marta Olazabal, Ana Simón, and Marina Tapias. Their enthusiasm, dedication, and teamwork made possible a day marked by the exchange of ideas, scientific quality, and the collaborative spirit of the IIBM.
