12-02-2026
Cristina Izquierdo Luengo, a pre-doctoral researcher at the Institute for Biomedical Research at Francisco de Vitoria University (UFV), has received the 2025 Award for Best Pre-doctoral Publication from the Spanish Society for Cannabinoid Research (SEIC). The award was presented at the Society’s 25th Annual Meeting, held in Madrid from November 27 to 29, 2025.
The researcher is celebrating the award for her research on cannabinoids, a key milestone in her scientific career.
The award recognizes his article “Long-term consequences of adolescent exposure to the synthetic cannabinoid AB-FUBINACA in male and female mice”, published in the journal iScience (CellPress).
The study, led by Professor Fernando Berrendero, examines the long-term effects of adolescent exposure to AB-FUBINACA, a synthetic cannabinoid found in Spice/K2-type blends, and demonstrates significant neurobehavioral changes with gender differences.
“It is an honor to receive this recognition, which gives a boost to my research career in a particularly important field. Adolescence is a stage of life that is highly vulnerable to the effects of synthetic cannabinoids, and this award underscores the importance of continuing to explore their impact,” the author notes.
The research reveals that exposure during early stages can lead to psychotic-like symptoms, memory impairments, changes in anxiety levels, and alterations in neuronal morphology, providing new evidence regarding the adolescent brain’s vulnerability to these substances.
These findings contribute to the biomedical knowledge needed to improve prevention and address the risks associated with the use of these new synthetic drugs.
This award recognizes the work carried out at UFV in the field of the neurobiology of addiction and highlights the importance of training young researchers in high-impact competitive projects.
“This recognition underscores the scientific rigor of the work being conducted at UFV and, in particular, the excellence of our young researchers,” says Cruz Santos Tejedor, director of the Institute for Biomedical Research.
