The Assar Gabrielssons Fond Foundation has awarded Angela Molinaro in the category of basic scientific research and Emilia Alfonzo Rodriguez in the category of clinical research. Both laureates, researching at the University of Gothenburg, will receive a reward of SEK 100,000 each, directly transferred to the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg as an additional research grants.

The Assar Gabrielssons Award 2022 for clinical research is given to Emilia Alfonzo Rodriguez.

Emilia Alfonzo Rodriguez is awarded the prize for clinically relevant and well-conducted studies regarding the screening and treatment of cervical and vaginal cancer. The research focused on the importance of screening and comparison between different surgical methods. This knowledge can lead to clear benefits for patients through better diagnosis and treatment of these types of cancer.

Emilia Alfonzo is doing the final year of her subspecialisation in gynecologic tumor surgery at Sahlgrenska University hospital. She studied medicine at Lund University where she graduated 2007. She continued with an internship at Uddevalla and NÄL hospital 2007-2009.

In 2009 she started her residency training in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Sahlgrenska University hospital. During the residency she started with research focused on cervical cancer screening. The research also came to include treatment of cervical cancer because of raised concerns about the safety of given treatment in Sweden and abroad.

In April 2021 she defended her thesis “Cervical and vaginal cancer – aspects on risk factors, prevention and treatment”. She has since dissertation continued with research projects covering prevention and treatment of cervical cancer and on equity and access to gynecologic cancer care.

The Assar Gabrielssons Award 2022 for basic scientific research is given to Angela Molinaro

Angela Molinaro is awarded the prize for advanced and innovative experimental studies related to PI3K signaling linked to cancer disease, among other cancer diseases. The research shows differences in physiological effects of different PI3K isoforms, as well as factors that can influence treatment with PI3K inhibitory substances. The results of the thesis provide new basic knowledge that can be used in the long term for better treatment of cancer diseases.

Angela Molinaro is an enthusiastic researcher with more than 10 years of experience in animal work and cellular biology. She graduated with cum laude at La Sapienza University in Rome in Medical Biotechnologies. Angela worked as teacher/researcher in Germany at Universität des Saarlandes before moving to Sweden where she completed her PhD studies at the Department of Medicine at the University of Gothenburg. Her PhD thesis was awarded “Dissertation of the year” 2020 for the Institute of Medicine, University of Gothenburg.

The aim of her thesis was to gain new knowledge on the specific role of Phosphoinositide 3 kinase (PI3Ks) isoforms in insulin signaling, obesity and cancer therapy. PI3Ks type I family is involved in several mechanisms such as immune response, insulin pathway, growth factor signaling, tumor promotion and growth. Different pan-inhibitors for PI3Ks have been used as cancer therapies, showing a limited success due to side effects from the treatments as increased blood glucose and insulin levels. However, the data in her thesis supports the concept that the therapeutic effects of PI3K inhibitors on obesity, insulin resistance and tumor promotion could be improved by using isoform-selective inhibitors limiting the possible deleterious effects on glucose homeostasis.