The Faculty of Pharmacy paid tribute to its patron saint, the Immaculate Conception, during a ceremony in which various awards and acknowledgements were presented to students, professors and companies. In the latter category, the company 24Genetics was awarded the plaque of Honour for its support in the training of students in the Degree in Biotechnology programme.
The Dean of the Faculty, Gonzalo Herradón, opened the ceremony and took the opportunity to thank all staff who contribute to the day-to-day life of the Faculty. He also expressed his thanks to the companies that collaborate, with their projects, chairs and scholarships, in the training of our students. These companies include: Merck, Johnson, Danone, Sociedad Española de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Multiópticas, Colegio Oficial de Farmacéuticos, Carrefour.
The Dean went on to review the achievements of the Faculty during the previous academic year, particularly international accomplishments across a variety of areas, and expressed gratitude to all the people who had made them possible. He underlined that “integrity, ethics and truth must be the heart and soul of the Faculty”.
Keynote lecture
The Keynote lecture, entitled 'Fructose: hero or villain of our health and of our offspring?' was delivered by the Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Carlos Bocos. In his address, Professor Bocos aimed to show how fructose, one of the most widely used food additives, and in particular when consumed during pregnancy, is one of the causes of metabolic diseases such as obesity, metabolic syndrome and diabetes, prevalent all over the world.
Professor Bocos underlined the importance of prevention: “To prevent is to protect health. Diet is one of the most important factors in preventing or promoting obesity, fatty liver disease, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and other metabolic disorders”. The consumption of ultra-processed foods, sweetened beverages and saturated fats are the main causes of these metabolic diseases.”
According to an analysis of the effects of exposure to advertising of unhealthy foods and soft drinks (through TV and Internet), it was found that “the exposure to advertising increased food ingestion in children, but not in adults. These findings demonstrate the high susceptibility of the child population to advertising campaigns which promote increased consumption of sugars, which in turn is linked to a subsequent increase in childhood obesity rates. In the professor's opinion, this background suggests that the approach to the problem caused by the excessive intake of added sugars should be multifaceted, with collaboration between governments, medical institutions, communities, families and individuals. A combination of policy interventions and individual efforts to adopt a healthy lifestyle can help prevent and control metabolic diseases”.
Finally, the professor referred to the essential work of individual governments “who can enact laws to regulate the food and beverage industry, such as taxing sugary drinks, implementing clear labelling of added sugars, favouring the reformulation of healthy foods and limiting the marketing of harmful foods to minors.”
During the academic event, awards were presented to students as well as to teaching and non-teaching staff. Julia Almazán, the student recipient of the Academic Excellence Award, granted for the best academic record in the school of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, spoke on behalf of her classmates to celebrate the individual and shared achievements achieved through hard work. She thanked the University for its commitment to education, which she says has taught students to love knowledge. “They have planted a seed of love for our profession,” she said.
The rector, Rosa Visiedo, brought the event to a close by reaffirming the commitment, the search for excellence and the importance of competing with oneself. She emphasized that student excellence is a reflection of the clarity of the professor and of the support given to the student by all members of the faculty. “We must be able to identify the strengths and weaknesses of our students in order to help them on their journey.” In concluding her address, she highlighted research as the driving force of an excellent university.