The event also saw the presentation of the annual grant to a young researcher. The winner was Valeria Tubita from the VHIR
Her Majesty Queen Letizia, President of the Honorary Committee of the Dexeus Mujer Foundation, presented the XIX Dexeus Mujer Foundation Award to Professor Arri Coomarasamy, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to preventing pregnancy loss and reducing maternal mortality during childbirth. This international award is given each year to a person, team or institution for their contribution to the field of health sciences, with a particular focus on women.
Professor Arri Coomarasamy is Professor of Gynaecology and Reproductive Medicine in the Department of Metabolism and Systems Science at the University of Birmingham and the main driving force behind the E-MOTIVE, study, which has developed a new method for the rapid diagnosis and combined treatment of postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) in vaginal deliveries. The work was carried out on a sample of 200,000 women from 80 hospitals in Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa and Tanzania. The results were published in the New England Journal Of Medicine and showed that the treatment is incredibly effective, with severe haemorrhaging (loss of more than one litre of blood after delivery) reduced by 60% and the likelihood of patient death also decreasing.
Arri Coomasamy currently heads Tommy’s National Centre for Miscarriage Research, Europe’s largest centre for research into pregnancy loss, and is the founding Director of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Global Women’s Health at the University of Birmingham. Professor Coomarasamy was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2023, a distinction awarded to individuals who have rendered meritorious service to the community.
The event also saw the presentation of the Dexeus Mujer Foundation’s annual grant to a young researcher. This year’s winner was Valeria Tubita for a research project focused on evaluating the efficacy of combining anti-HER2 therapies and PARP inhibitors to improve the anti-tumour response and reduce the growth of HER2-positive endometrial cancer. Valeria Tubita is a postdoctoral researcher in the Biomedical Research in Gynaecology group at the Vall d’Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), where she focuses her work on the study of innovative therapies for endometrial cancer.
The event, which coincides with the 30th anniversary of the Foundation, was attended by various authorities: the Minister for Equality, Ana Redondo; the Government Delegate in Catalonia, Carlos Prieto; the Regional Minister for Health, Ms Olga Pané; the Mayor of Barcelona and member of the Honorary Committee, Jaume Collboni; the President of the Dexeus Mujer Foundation, Dr Pedro N. Barri; the Vice-President of the Dexeus Mujer Foundation, Dr Rafael Fábregas; and the President of the Dexeus Mujer Centre, Dr Pere Barri Soldevila, among other members of the Board of Trustees, the Advisory Council and the Scientific Committee.
