The Institute of Tropical Health University of Navarra (ISTUN) has awarded the prizes for the best Final Degree Project (TFG) for students of the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Navarra.

The award went to the work presented by the Biochemistry student Reyes Ruiz, entitled "Study and characterization of natural compounds with antitrypanosomiasis activity". The starting point of this research is the implementation of new drug design strategies through the application of computer techniques. Ruiz has identified molecules that can be subjected to structural optimization strategies and that could serve as base structures for the design of new active drugs.

The awards organized by the ISTUN also distinguished with a special mention the TFG presented by three students of the Faculty: Natalia Aisa, Nuria Alfonso and Iris Elizalde. The work of the biologist Natalia Aisa ("Identification of new therapeutic targets and active compounds against Leishmaniamajor") shows results for the development of future drugs to treat leishmaniasis.

"Characterization of in vitro infection of murine macrophages with Leishmaniaspp" is the title of the TFG presented by Nuria Alfonso (Chemistry+Biochemistry), in which the infective capacity of two strains of Leishmania (L. amazonensis and L. guyanensis) was studied. Iris Elizalde (Biology) also received a special mention for her work"Cloning of Leishmaniaspp genes in pLexsy expression plasmid".

This is the first edition of these awards organized by ISTUN and whose objective is to promote research related to global health. ISTUN, created in 2011, has as its mission to find solutions for the diagnosis, treatment, prevention and control of diseases in developing countries, as well as to share training and technology transfer with professionals from countries in Europe, America, Africa and Asia.