The event will take place on May 21 at IDIVAL’s facilities

The Marqués de Valdecilla Health Research Institute (IDIVAL) is organizing a round table discussion entitled “Artificial intelligence: how can we use it in the healthcare environment” on May 21.

The initiative will take place in person at the IDIVAL headquarters at 13:30h and will last one hour. It will also be available in streaming through the zoom platform.

It will be aimed at anyone interested in the subject, especially researchers, clinical and management staff.

Manuel Desco, Professor of Radiology in the Department of Bioengineering at the Carlos III University of Madrid, Director of the Innovation Support Unit at the Gregorio Marañón Research Institute; Julio Mayol, Professor of Surgery at the Complutense University of Madrid and Director of the Innovation Support Unit at the San Carlos Health Research Institute and, finally, Joaquín Cayón, Head of the Legal Service of the Ministry of Health of Cantabria and IDIVAL researcher, will share their vision at the round table. The moderator of the round table will be Galo Peralta, Director of Management of IDIVAL.

Registration for the conference can be made through the following link:

https://forms.gle/bW5LsqMg2RR6PKTNA

Certificates of attendance will be awarded.

Promoting patient safety culture is the aim of the conference organized by the Cantabrian Service on May 15 and 16 at HUMV

On May 15 and 16, the XIV Conference on Quality and Patient Safety will be held, an activity organized by the Subdirectorate of Care, Training and Continuity of Care of the Cantabrian Health Service (SCS) and sponsored by Johnson and Johnson, Gilead, Pfizer, Roche and AstraZeneca.

The conference will take place at the Dr. Gómez Durán conference room of the Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital (HUMV) from 4pm to 8pm and is aimed at all professionals, patients, relatives and anyone interested in patient quality and safety.

Registration is now open until May 9, 2024 and can be done online through SOFOS Moodle in the case of SCS professionals or through the following form for external professionals:

https://www.scsa[1]lud.es/web/forms/shared/-/form/28746751

The program of the event includes several round tables focused on examples of innovations that generate value, on the purposes to ensure quality and patient safety, on projects developed to address infection from all angles and also on proposals carried out by patients. They intend to be an open and participatory discussion forum giving visibility to the projects, activities and experiences developed by healthcare professionals in this field.

In order to obtain the course diploma, it is necessary to attend 100% of the course, as well as to fill in the evaluation survey on the training activity.

Audio and/or video recordings may be made, in whole or in part, based on the training objectives of the workshop and for its dissemination. In addition, accreditation has been requested from the Commission of Continuing Education of the health professions of Cantabria for students previously enrolled in the conference.

Download program:

Jornada seguridad del paciente 2024 _tríptico

Projects can be submitted in two categories until June 30.

The Marqués de Valdecilla Health Research Institute (IDIVAL), in collaboration with the Nursing Department of the “Marqués de Valdecilla” University Hospital (HUMV) has published the rules of the 26th National Call for Research Projects “Nursing Valdecilla”.

The aim of this call, funded by the Caja Cantabria Foundation, is to encourage the participation of nursing professionals in the elaboration and development of research projects.

Applications can be submitted until June 30, 2024 through this link on the IDIVAL website and for any questions you can contact proyectos2@idival.org.

There are 2 categories:

-Best project, endowed with 4,000 €.

-Best Project to be developed at the Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital (HUMV), with 2,000 €.

Requirements

1. Original and unpublished research projects, individual or team, whose principal author is a nurse and whose activity is carried out within the national territory, will be eligible for this call.
2. Only projects in which the Principal Investigator (PI) has not previously been the Principal Investigator in projects that have obtained competitive funding will be accepted.
3. Collaborators with research projects funded in previous editions of this call, who have not submitted the corresponding follow-up report in the last 5 years, cannot participate in this call.
4. The researcher(s) responsible for the scientific-technical execution of the projects or the PI must have a formal employment relationship with the institution in which they carry out their professional work during the entire period of the project submitted to this call.
5. The application for and award of these grants will be limited to one project per PI. In addition, a PI may only be active in a maximum of one project subsidized by these grants.
6. To be eligible for the category of Best Project to be developed at HUMV, the PI must have a formal employment relationship with the institution.

Characteristics of the projects

Research projects on nursing practice in any of its aspects are the object of this call. They will have a maximum duration of two years and the aid granted may totally or partially finance the project.

In the case of projects lasting more than one year, the continuity of the aid for the second year will be subject to the evaluation of the Annual Report, presented within the deadline and correctly documented.

Documentation required

The documentation shall be submitted according to standardized models, available on the aid platform within the IDIVAL website and is as follows:

(a) Standardized application form signed by the PI of the project, which shall include:

– Personal data of the PI

– Report of the research project including the sections indicated in the standardized model.

– Composition of the research team

1. c) Resumes of the PI and collaborators in the FECYT CVN format.
2. d) Commitment of the PI, not to have been PI in another research project with competitive funding (in standardized model).
3. e) Favorable report from the Clinical Research Ethics Committee, including the Patient Information and Informed Consent document.
4. f) Authorization from the Spanish Agency of Medicines and Medical Devices of the Ministry of Health and Consumer Affairs in the case of clinical trials.

The absence of any of these documents implies the non-acceptance of the project for its evaluation.

This advisory body meets regularly and ensures the scientific quality of the institute.

The members of the External Scientific Council of the Marqués de Valdecilla Health Research Institute (IDIVAL) met last week at IDIVAL and online in order to evaluate the activity of some research groups of the center, as well as to monitor the Strategic Plan 2022-2026.

For the evaluation, the principal investigators (PIs) of each group gave a fifteen-minute presentation followed by a 30-minute discussion with the members of the board.

The groups evaluated at this meeting were the Nanomedicine Group; the Hematological Neoplasms and Hematopoietic Progenitor Transplantation Group; the Medical Oncology Group and the Neurodegenerative Diseases Group.

Likewise, the advance of the 2023 report was presented, which reflects the most relevant information of the institute for the past year in terms of scientific production, patronage or the program for the promotion of research, among others.

The External Scientific Council ensures the scientific quality of the institute

The External Scientific Council is a consultative body in charge of advising on IDIVAL’s scientific activities, as well as ensuring its scientific quality as indicated in the Statutes and in IDIVAL’s Rules of Organization and Operation.

It is made up of experts in the field of health sciences of recognized prestige in the scientific community and is appointed by the Board of Trustees at the proposal of the scientific management of IDIVAL. It is chaired by Ángel Carracedo Álvarez, Professor of Legal Medicine at the University of Santiago de Compostela and has ten members:

• Xosé Ramón Bustelo. Director of the Genomics and Proteomics Unit of the Cancer Research Center. CSIC-University of Salamanca. Cancer Research Center
• Rafael Cantón Moreno. Head of the Microbiology Department, Hospital Ramón y Cajal. Complutense University of Madrid. IRYCIS
• Miguel Delgado Rodríguez. Professor of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of Jaén
• Jordi Vila Estapé. Head of the Microbiology Department of the Clinical Hospital of Barcelona. University of Barcelona. CRESI
• Ana María Zubiaga Elordieta. Professor of Genetics, University of the Basque Country, Faculty of Science and Technology. Head of the Genomics Service of the UPV/EHU
• María Luz Martínez-Chantar. Group Leader Researcher at CIC bioGUNE
• Francisco Sánchez Madrid. Scientific Director of IIS-Princesa, Head of Service and Professor of Immunology. Hospital Universitario de La Princesa, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid.
• Nuria Monserrat Pulido. Institute of Bioengineering of Catalonia and coordinator of the Biomodels and Biobanks Platform of the Carlos III Institute of Health
• María Buti Ferret. Clinical Chief of Internal Medicine, Hospital General/ Vall d’Hebron Research Institute (VHIR). Professor at the Autonomous University of Barcelona
• Ana Fernández-Sesma. Researcher at Mount Sinai Hospital School of Medicine, New York

The conclusions obtained in the research could help design policies to address the difficulties of this type of families.

A recent study published in the international Journal of Family and Economic Issues by the Health Economics Group of the Marqués de Valdecilla Health Research Institute (IDIVAL) explored economic circumstances, lifestyle factors (obesity, smoking and alcohol) and social support among single-parent families in Europe.

In 2019, Europe had 3.2% of single-parent families out of all households, a relatively high rate that has led researchers and policymakers to understand its economic and demographic situation. The study conducted by IDIVAL has analysed a total of 20 European countries through microdata from the European Health Interview Survey (EHIS).

The main findings indicate that both single mothers and fathers face more pressing economic challenges compared to their partnered counterparts, suggesting that lower levels of education, reduced income and poor economic conditions are common among single parents.

Also, single parents have poorer physical health compared to cohabiting couples. These results suggest that single parenthood can have a negative impact on general health, and that such special difficulties require further support, especially when we consider that three quarters of such households are headed by women.

On the other hand, social support relationships also differ between single and partnered individuals. In this case, they experience less supportive relationships compared to cohabiting couples.

Thus, this study provides valuable information for designing community-based interventions to mitigate the adverse effects of lone parenthood for both parents and their children. It is essential to address these inequalities and ensure adequate supports for lone parents.

Reference: Paloma Lanza-León & David Cantarero-Prieto. The Loud Silent Side of Single Parenthood in Europe: Health and Socio-Economic Circumstances from a Gender Perspective. Journal of Family and Economic Issues, 18 de abril de 2024.

1.7 million, the project will run until the end of 2025 and will involve leading international institutions in the sector. 

The FAITHFUL,  innovation project consortium, led by the Spanish startup Idoven, thanks to the support of EIT Health, has just launched the development of a technological solution that aims to prevent 4 out of 10 hospitalisations due to heart failure (HF) in Europe.

With funding of 1.7 million euros, the project will run until the end of 2025, involving leading international institutions in the sector. Cantabria participates in this project through the Cardiovascular Research Group of the Valdecilla Research Institute (IDIVAL) and the Cardiology Service of the Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital (HUMV) together with the Primary Care Management.

The project is based on the use of advanced algorithms and artificial intelligence applied to electrocardiograms to detect early signs of heart failure in primary care. By providing a disease score from electrocardiogram results, this innovative approach provides clinicians at health centres with crucial information to make informed decisions on patient treatment and management, and can refer patients to cardiologists earlier.

The project will recruit more than 2,500 European patients with risk factors associated with heart failure to demonstrate the reliability of its algorithm in the early detection of heart failure decompensation.

Given the enormous social and healthcare burden of heart failure, early detection will have a positive impact on the quantity and quality of life of patients and on the consumption of system resources.

FAITHFUL has been selected by EIT Health in its Flagships call which aims to boost the development and adoption of digital health solutions, maximise the potential of health data, adopt new value-based healthcare models, and strengthen the European healthcare industry.

Under the leadership of Idoven, the FAITHFUL consortium consists of AstraZeneca Spain, the Madrid Health Service (SERMAS), the Foundation for Biomedical Research of the Hospital 12 de Octubre, the Foundation for Biomedical Research of the Hospital Gregorio Marañón, the Fundación para la Investigación e Innovación Biosanitaria de Atención Primaria, the Institut Català de la Salut, Karolinska Institute, Region Stockholm, MADoPA – Centre Expert en Technologies et Services pour le Maintien en Autonomie à Domicile des Personnes Âgées and the Estonian Health Insurance Fund.  In addition, FAITHFUL has the collaboration of several key external partners including IDIVAL, the Fundacio TIC Salut Social and the Fundación del Ilustre Colegio Oficial de Médicos de Madrid (Fundación ICOMEM).

Heart failure leads the way in hospital admissions

Heart failure affects 770,000 people in Spain1 and more than 15 million in Europe2. 2 It is also the leading cause of hospitalisation in people over 65 years of age and of unscheduled hospital readmissions3. Studies suggest that hospitalisations for HF will increase by 50% in the next 25 years4, mainly due to the progressive ageing of the population and a growing prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia and obesity, among others.

Dr Manuel Marina Breysse, cardiologist and CEO of Idoven, explains: “This project has the potential to radically transform the way heart failure is diagnosed and managed. Heart failure represents a huge cost to healthcare systems because it is difficult to diagnose before it manifests itself. “In this way, we want to contribute to the sustainability of the healthcare system, improving the health and quality of life of the population,” adds Dr Marina Breysse.

“This project represents our dedication to the forefront of cardiovascular health,

highlighting the crucial role of digital health innovation and artificial intelligence in redefining the future of healthcare. As Core partners of EIT Health, we are co-leading the drive for the transformation of healthcare systems in Spain, fostering an approach that integrates effectiveness, efficiency and profoundly patient-centric care,” says AstraZeneca Spain’s Director of Innovation and Digital Strategy, Dr. César Velasco.

 As Dr Izabel Alfany, CEO of EIT Health Spain, explains, “We promote collaborative leadership among all our partners and ecosystem actors to make transformative innovation in Spain and Europe possible. We support the FAITHFUL project and the organisations that make up its consortium because they help us to lead the culture of innovation in Spain and because they will enable a significant improvement in the healthcare and health of heart failure patients”.

 References

(1) Sicras-Mainar, A., Sicras-Navarro, A., Palacios, B., Varela, L., & Delgado, J. F. (2020). Epidemiología y tratamiento de la insuficiencia cardiaca en España: estudio PATHWAYS-HF. Revista Española de Cardiología. Published. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.recesp.2020.09.014

(2) Heart Failure Policy Network. Heart Failure Policy and Practice in Europe. London: HFPN; 2020. Available at: http://www.healthpolicypartnership.com/app/uploads/Heart-failure-policy-and-practice-in-Europe.pdf

(3) ¿Qué es la insuficiencia cardíaca? (2021, 8 febrero). Heart Failure Matters. https://www.heartfailurematters.org/es/ conocer-la-insuficiencia-cardiaca/que-es-la-insuficiencia-cardiaca/

(4) Cowie, M. R., Anker, S. D., Cleland, J. G. F., Felker, G. M., Filippatos, G., Jaarsma, T., Jourdain, P., Knight, E., Massie, B., Ponikowski, P., & López-Sendón, J. (2014). Improving care for patients with acute heart failure: before, during and after hospitalization. ESC Heart Failure, 1(2), 110–145. https://doi. org/10.1002/ehf2.12021

Registrations for the DTEC-VAL programme are open until 10 May.

The Valdecilla Health Research Institute (IDIVAL) is once again launching the DTEC-VAL programme to support the Development of Health Technologies, a call for applications as part of the Programme of Aid for the Promotion of Biosanitary Research (PLADIBIO).

The aim of the DTEC-VAL programme is to promote innovation in general and specifically to support the development of health technologies in our environment through the funding of late-stage innovation projects that facilitate collaboration between the health sector, the university environment and companies.

Applications can be made until 10 May via this link on the IDIVAL website and any queries related to the procedures and the project can be sent to the email address proyectos2@idival.org

The duration of the projects will be 1 year and the maximum amount to be granted per project is €20,000. The funding granted may finance all or part of the project.

Project requirements

In general, newly developed projects that show potential for transfer to the National Health System will be considered eligible. Projects may also be partially developed at university and in companies.

The thematic scope includes the areas of Biomedicine, Electromedicine, Pharmaceutical Technologies, Health Technologies and Sciences, as well as Biotechnology, Chemical Technology and Materials applied to human health and Information and Communication Technologies applied to health and health, as well as any others related to innovation in health systems.

Innovation projects must be developed mainly in the public health environment of Cantabria and must be aimed at innovation and development in the health field. The project must have a previous protected development or in the protection phase in which an institution of the Public Health System of Cantabria participates in at least 50%, at TRL 3 or higher.

Documentation required

Together with the application, the following documents must be submitted

1. Report of the research project in standardised format.
2. CV of the members of the research team. Available at: https://cvn.fecyt.es/ and on the IDIVAL intranet.
3. In the case of participation of companies, a letter signed by the company representative expressing knowledge of the project presented and interest in participating will be required. Declarations of interest will also be accepted from companies, institutions or scientific societies or patient groups that do not participate in the project.
4. Letter of acceptance from the centre. A letter signed by the person responsible for the centre where the study is being carried out (Director of the centre in the health field, corresponding Vice-Rector at the University of Cantabria) must be submitted, indicating the express interest in the project submitted to the call for proposals.
5. Report from the Innovation Support Unit. A report must be submitted reflecting IDIVAL’s participation in the project, the maturity of the technology under development, the state of industrial protection and its TRL.
6. Studies carried out in clinical settings must have written authorisation from the management of the centre and the head of the main unit or department, which must be provided at the time of the application.
7. In the case of participation as collaborating researchers of staff from the University of Cantabria who do not belong to IDIVAL groups, the authorisation of the Vice-Rector for Research of the University of Cantabria will be required.
8. When the research involves individuals, the projects must have all the reports and authorisations of the Medicines Research Ethics Committee (CEIm) and of any other collegiate bodies responsible for ensuring compliance with the existing agreements and regulations on research. Likewise, in the case of clinical trials, authorisation will be required from the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products (Agencia Española de Medicamentos y Productos Sanitarios). Similarly, when experiments are carried out on animals, the relevant permits from the Research Bioethics Committee of the University of Cantabria will be required. The documentation referred to in section g) shall be submitted once the project has been awarded.

The funds raised in the walk will be used for research at IDIVAL

This Sunday, 7th April, the XIV Solidarity Race ‘Luchamos por la vida’ will take place in Los Corrales de Buelna, which has become one of the most popular sporting events in Cantabria.

This initiative allows funds raised to be donated to various cancer research projects at  Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Valdecilla (IDIVAL).

The day – in which the entire municipality of Los Corrales is involved – will begin at 9am, with the collection of numbers at the Luis Andrés Samperio Sañudo sports complex.

The official start of the race will be at 12 noon, headed by the runners who will run 9 kilometres. This will be followed by the rest of the participants who will run the 5 kilometres in solidarity. In addition to the race, numerous sporting activities will take place throughout the day in Los Corrales, as well as tastings, inflatables, raffle prizes, etc., so that everyone can enjoy a day of solidarity with the family.

Las inscripciones para conseguir camiseta, dorsal y bolsa de avituallamiento se pueden realizar en este enlace. En cualquier caso, todo aquel que quiera sumarse a la causa, pueda acercarse al Estadio y participar en la marcha y actividades.

DOBLE OBJETIVO

El objetivo de esta marcha busca no sólo recaudar fondos para la investigación contra el cáncer si no promocionar aquellos comportamientos que pueden inducir a un estilo de vida que promueva la salud, como es la actividad física adecuada, alimentación equilibrada, no fumar… El movimiento ‘Luchamos por la vida’ lo creó Almudena Ruiz Pellón, con el objetivo de promover hábitos de vida saludables y aprender a afrontar el cáncer.

A raíz de su fallecimiento, un grupo de voluntarios, encabezados por Noelia -hermana de Almudena- crearon la asociación que ha permitido destinar fondos a diversos proyectos de investigación contra el cáncer desde el año 2013.

You can register for a T-shirt, race bib and refreshment bag by clicking on this link. In any case, anyone who wants to join the cause, can come to the stadium and participate in the march and activities.

DOUBLE OBJECTIVE

The aim of this march is not only to raise funds for cancer research but also to promote those behaviours that can lead to a lifestyle that promotes health, such as adequate physical activity, a balanced diet, not smoking… The ‘Luchamos por la vida’ movement was created by Almudena Ruiz Pellón, with the aim of promoting healthy lifestyle habits and learning how to deal with cancer.

Following her death, a group of volunteers, led by Noelia – Almudena’s sister – created the association, which has allowed funds to be allocated to various cancer research projects since 2013.

Applications may be submitted from 1 April to 1 May.

The programme to intensify the healthcare activity of medical or nursing staff is now open until 1 May. This is a call for applications with the aim of freeing up staff with a high research and/or innovation workload, by means of part-time or full-time substitution of nursing staff.

The activity covered by this substitution includes the development of research projects, or the implementation of healthcare innovation programmes such as new diagnostic or therapeutic techniques, technological platforms (computer programmes, new infrastructures), procedures, technology imports, training techniques, development of companies linked to research (spin-offs), etc., which require intensive dedication and which are incompatible with full healthcare work.

With funding of €134,000, this call for applications is part of Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Valdecilla (IDIVAL).Programme for the Promotion of Biosanitary Research (PLADIBIO).

Applications can be made until 1 May via this link on the IDIVAL website and any queries related to the procedures and the project can be sent to the email address proyectos2@idival.org.

Modalities

– Modality A. Competitive intensification.

A maximum equivalent economic contribution is established for the replacement of the intensified of 60,000 € for medical staff and 30,000 € for nursing staff, corresponding to the hiring of a specialist doctor or nurse for a period of approximately 1 year.

– Modality B. Self-intensification.

Financed by private funds provided by the researchers, which must be available in full at the time of application, for a monthly amount corresponding to the replacement contract for the care staff requested.

The minimum intensification period is 1 month, and the maximum is 1 year, extendable. The development of this programme is compatible with the receipt of their salary, the performance of on-call duty and with other assistance. Your care activity will be covered in whole or in part by a contracted professional.

Beneficiaries

Applicants to this programme must be health professionals, doctors or nurses of the Public Health System of Cantabria, who do not have simultaneous active intensifications of other programmes, which includes the primary care and hospital areas.

It is essential that at least 60% of their indexed publications in the last 3 years reflect the IDIVAL affiliation. Heads of Service are excluded from modality A) of this call.

The Intensification period must start in 2024 or 2025. Intensifications may be requested for a maximum of two consecutive calls.

Documentation required

Together with the application, which will be made through the IDIVAL platform, the following documentation must be submitted:

1. CVA of the applicant.

In FECYT format (reduced version available at: https://cvn.fecyt.es/.) detailing the scientific publications, research projects funded in competitive calls, patents and innovation projects in which the applicant has participated.

2. Report of the activity to be carried out during the intensification period.

The duration and the research or innovation work to be carried out shall be detailed, indicating whether it is intended to be carried out at the same time as the healthcare activity. Likewise, the articulation in the environment in which it is developed, potential collaborators, available resources, timetable with proposed start and end dates, the intensification period, as well as the expected results and impact on patients, the service, the institution and society shall be described,

3. Reports.

Favourable report from the head/coordinator of the Service/unit, and from the manager or medical director, and from the nursing management when appropriate when the application is for nursing staff, specifying the interest of the intensification for the Public Health System of Cantabria and the suitability of the applicant to carry it out.

In the event that the planned activity refers to healthcare innovation projects, it will be necessary for these reports to specify their clear interest and viability. In the case of associated university lecturers, a favourable report from the director of the University Department will be required.