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The Gemma Rosell I Romero Students' Research Award

On 13th December 2002, IFMSA was struck by the sudden death of two SCORE members. Two years later, their dreams and visions are still alive.

Gemma had just started her term as National Organizer on Research Exchanges (NORE) in Catalonia. She was young, full of energy and ready to work as hard as necessary to contribute to the success of SCORE. She had all the leadership skills and personal qualities needed to make an excellent NORE, and I had no doubt about the benefits AECS would gain from her involvement within its international team of officers.

On Thursday 12th December, Gemma left Barcelona on her way to Rome, Italy, to take part in the Sub-Regional Training Program, due to take place in Bari during the weekend. I remember how enthusiastic she was about attending this meeting. The smile on her face when she talked about SCORE and her international friends spoke volumes about how she already felt for this big family. She was happy being part of IFMSA and she was enjoying it.

But then the tragedy happened. On the way from Rome to Bari, the car in which Marta Teresa and Gemma were driving crashed and these two angels left us forever. The pain that we all felt, her family, her friends and members of AECS was immeasurable, too much to cope with at once.

Gemma wanted to improve the research opportunities for medical students. This not only meant being in charge of SCORE in Catalonia, but also organizing a students' research prize, as done in some other countries of the world where IFMSA is present.

A deal was made within SCORE in AECS: we were to organize the first research congress for students in health sciences doing biomedical research. Gemma, as NORE, would be in charge of the research exchanges and I was to coordinate the main aspects of the prize. When my friend died, I had no energy left to go on as planned, but I promised myself this prize would be carried out and would be named after her.

On 30-31st March 2005, the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Barcelona will be holding the first edition of the Gemma Rosell I Romero Students' Research Award. Gemma's mother, Encarna Romero Buiza, continues to work toward making Gemma's dream become a reality. In an immensely generous act, Ms. Romero donated all of the money obtained from the insurance company to the organization of the Award, for this year and in the future. The second and third prizes are funded through the Catalan and Balearic Academy of Health and Medical Sciences (ACMCB) and the AECS, respectively. It is also the wish of the family to use all money donated from IFMSA members for the same purpose.

This award will be important in improving opportunities in biomedical research in our country since it is difficult to find chances to present research. Biomedical research is not considered optimal due to opinions by scientists and university professors, therefore, this a significant event in Catalonia.

The Prize aims to reward all students of Catalan speaking universities who have been involved in a research project either in Spain or abroad. The purpose is also to encourage other students, through their classmates' presentations, to take a deeper look into research and feel motivated to get involved in a project.

On behalf of Gemma's family, I would like to thank IFMSA for the comforting support and the many messages received two years ago.

Gemma inspired the prize two years ago and she is still an inspiration for me and everyone else who was fortunate enough to meet her.

For more information, please visit:

www.gemmarr.org
www.aecs.org
www.acmcb.es
www.omniscellula.net

Elisabet Esteve Manasanch
Coordinator Gemma RR Research Students' Award 2005
Former NORE and Treasurer of AECS
Former Newcomers' Task Force Coordinator of IFMSA