Swim with the current of great initiatives on Campus Terra

In our Western culture, the origin of the theory of the four elements was proposed by pre-Socratic philosophers and has lasted over the centuries. These representations allow us to understand the main forces of nature and build a discourse about it. The Campus Terra research projects grow on land, fly through the air internationally and hide all their treasures underwater. .

But what about fire? Its distinctive orange-red colour represents the love and affection with which the R & D initiative “Pelayo and zebrafish help advance the research on rare diseases” is being treated by everyone involved.

This crowdfunding project —led by USC research groups ZebraBioRes and Gapavet at the Lugo Campus— was created to develop a zebrafish model that will allow to spot the origin of congenital glycosylation defects (CDG) and further the study of rare diseases. In order to do so, the groups will use a CDG-syndrome subtype associated with an RFTQ gene mutation detected in Pelayo, as the model will allow them to observe any factors that are potentially derived from it, such as metabolic and physiological changes, to later test specific treatments.

During its journey, and without even slipping its flippers on, this project has already achieved a third position on the podium of national research projects as the highest-funded initiative on Precipita —the platform of the Spanish Federation of Science and Technology (FECYT)—, with over 40,000 euros raised in three months.

Just like fish, who never swim on their own, several local initiatives —which had the aim of bringing the project closer to the public in Lugo— contributed to its ultimate success. The science workshops and outings for young people, the donation boxes that could be found in many stores throughout the city, the selling of masks and T-shirts with the designs created by illustrator Noemí López and the charity gala held at the Hotel Méndez Núñez were all very well received, and helped boost both for the project and Pelayo.

Whether by land, water or air, joining efforts and collaborating are the main drivers that advance research at Campus Terra.