The neuroscientists Giacomo Rizzolatti and Arturo Álvarez-Buylla awarded with the Príncipe de Asturias prize in Scientific and Technical Research 2011, met different experts in neurosciences in a work breakfast that took place in LAUDEO cultural Centre (The old University of Oviedo, Historical Building), organized by the Príncipe de Asturias Foundation, the University of Oviedo and the Cluster of Biomedicine and Health.

Meeting with Giacomo Rizzolatti

Giacomo Rizzolatti, given the Príncipe de Asturias prize of Scientific and Technical Research, met diverse experts in Psychology and autism at the University Chapel of the Historical Building.

Chaired by the Psychology teacher Antonello Novelli, this meeting was attended by: Emilio Fernández, neuropaediatrician from the San Juan de Dios Hospital (Barcelona); Mercedes Belinchón, teacher of the Autonomous University of Madrid; Ruth Vidriales Fernández, psychologist specialized in the Asperger Syndrome; Paloma Gónzalez Castro, expert in the attention deficit with hyperactivity disorders; Mónica Fernández Prada, head of the Association of the autistic people's families in Asturias (Adansi); Gloria Acevedo Díaz, psychologist of primary attention in Adansi; Juan Martos, Psychologist; Luis Martínez Otero, expert of the Neurosciences Institute of Alicante and Ignacio Málaga, neuropaediatrician at the Central University Hospital of Asturias (HUCA).

The attendees to this scientific breakfast talked about the autism from different perspective: the origins of this developmental disorder, the increasing number in children and treatments. Specialists discussed about the mechanisms implied in this pathology such as environmental –excluded by Rizzolatti-, genetic and epigenetic ones. Furthermore, they conversed about the numerous cases of autistic children and the lack of scientific explanation about this fact.

Giacomo Rizzolatti stressed how important the early treatment against the autism is. All the participants agreed when saying that there are proofs of the autistic symptoms' general improvement when there is an early and integral treatment.

Meeting with Arturo Álvarez-Buylla

The nerugobiologist Arturo Álvarez-Buylla shared table with specialists in neurosciences at the Auditorium of the University of Oviedo. During this breakfast, the winner of the Príncipe de Asturias Prize in Scientific and Technical Research explained the main action lines of his work based on the future of interneurons in a cortical level.

This meeting, chaired by the professor of Psycobiology of the University of Oviedo, Jorge Arias Pérez, was attended by: Jorge García Marqués, biologist; Sergio Casas Tintó, neurobiologist of the Cajal Institute of Neuroscience; Antonio Fernández Ruiz, PhD student of the Cajal Institute of Neuroscience; Ester Alcorta Azcue, specialist in Neurogenetics of the sensorial perception; José Antonio Vega Álvarez, professor of Anatomy and expert in the nervous system's regeneration; Serafín M. Costilla, specialist in behavioural diagnostic radiology; Pablo Martínez Martín, scientific manager of the Research Unit of the Alzheimer Project, Reina Sofía-CIEN Foundations; Rosa Saínz Menéndez, teacher of the University of Oviedo, expert in neuronal metabolism; and Santiago García Granda, vice-rector of Research of the University of Oviedo.

Álvarez Buylla emphasized the need of fostering organizations that work in neuroscience field, which can group equipment and human resources. Among other issues, participants discussed about the PhD students' training, professionals that, according the Príncipe de Asturias winner, "must be cared and pampered".

Before these meetings began, Giacomo Rizzolatti and Arturo Álvarez-Buylla were received by the rector of the University of Oviedo, Vicente Gotor, and both signed the academic institution's Honour Book.