CENER leads the BIOOLE-UP project, which will transform waste from the oil sector into revolutionary medical advances

The National Renewable Energy Center (CENER) has recently hosted in its facilities of the Biorefinery and Bioenergy Center BIO2C the initial meeting of the R&D&I project BIOOLE-UP, an innovative initiative that will develop a sustainable and efficient biorefinery process from oil wastes, and more specifically, valorizing oil leaves. Thanks to a pioneering technology based on selective cascade extraction, combined with purification methods for extracts and active ingredients, the project will evaluate medical applications in advanced treatments for aggressive cancers and chronic diseases such as those related to diabetes and fatty liver disease.

This project has been funded by the call for grants to SINAI agents to carry out collaborative R&D projects 2024 of the Department of University, Innovation and Digital Transformation of the Government of Navarra.

Strategic alliance for innovation

The project consortium led by CENER under the direction of Irantzu Alegría, head of the Microbiology and Biotechnological Developments Laboratory of the organization, has the collaboration of relevant partners, such as the Miguel Servet-Navarrabiomed Foundation through the Oncoimmunology and Signaling in Cancer Units, led by David Escors and Imanol Arozarena respectively, and the Nutrition Research Center of the University of Navarra, led by Fermín Milagro.

Towards a sustainable health future

In the BIOOLE UP project CENER will be in charge of carrying out the cascade fractionation of the olive leaf to generate the 4 fractions, which will be evaluated by the other two partners. The fractions to be analyzed are:

• Xylo-oligosaccharide (XOS): for its functional assessment as an anti-obesogenic treatment.
• Polyphenols and oleuropein: for their evaluation as anti-adipogenic and/or anti-inflammatory effects, as well as for cell reprogramming and anti-cancer effects.
• Lipids: to evaluate their anti-adipogenic and/or anti-inflammatory effects, as well as for their impact on cancer cells.
• Depolymerized lignin: for functional assessment in tests of anti-adipogenic and/or anti-inflammatory effects, as well as cell reprogramming and anti-cancer effects.

Thanks to the BIOOLE-UP research and development project, CENER strengthens its commitment to innovation, sustainability and health improvement, positioning itself as a benchmark in biorefining applied to global challenges.

Strategic alliance for Innovation

The project consortium, led by CENER under the direction of Irantzu Alegría, head of the organization’s Microbiology and Biotechnological Developments Laboratory, collaborates with key partners, including the Miguel Servet-Navarrabiomed Foundation through its Oncoimmunology and Cancer Signaling Units, led by David Escors and Imanol Arozarena, respectively, as well as the Nutrition Research Center at the University of Navarra, led by Fermín Milagro.

This project has been funded by the call for grants to SINAI agents to carry out collaborative R&D projects 2024 of the Department of University, Innovation and Digital Transformation of the Government of Navarra.