INiBICA is promoting this conference, where experts from the UCA and the Regional Government of Andalusia will present their results from six years of work with an investment of more than €13 million from ERDF funds.
The Secretary General of Public Health and R&D&I of the Regional Ministry of Health and Consumer Affairs of the Regional Government of Andalusia, Isaac Túnez, the representative of the Regional Government of Andalusia in Cádiz, Mercedes Colombo, and the Rector of the University of Cádiz, Casimiro Mantell, together with the Regional Delegate for Health and Consumer Affairs, Eva Pajares, and the Vice-Rector for Health Sciences and Social Welfare of the University Community of the UCA, Isabel Benavente, presided today over the opening ceremony of the conference 'Investment with impact: ITI Boost to Health Research and Innovation in the Province of Cádiz in the auditorium of the Puerta del Mar Hospital, promoted by the Institute for Research and Innovation in Biomedical Sciences of the Province of Cádiz INiBICA).
Mercedes Colombo highlighted the impact of ITI on INiBICA, "thanks to scientific Projects and the hiring of 70 researchers." She emphasized the role of the UCA in the Institute's work. These funds have allowed "researchers to apply for Projects , putting it in a good position for certification by the Carlos III Institute. Public investment in research and health can be a driver of change and progress," she said.
Casimiro Mantell confirmed that "the challenge is to get the institute accredited. This is one of the UCA's goals as Team , and today we reaffirm our support for achieving it. When you invest in health, you get results that are reinvested in society." The rector recalled the importance of the Institute's inclusion in the European ITI funding program for its creation, since "having an institute was an idea that had been taking shape in the province since the 1990s, with numerous attempts but without such convenient funding as this." During this time, he pointed out that the critical mass of researchers was a challenge, but "the life that has been given to that ninth floor, which did not exist, and which is now the most important achievement, is that society understands the effort that is being made in biomedical research. We must continue to invest, care, and give it continuity."
Isaac Túnez has clarified that "we have major challenges in the medium term, including the accreditation of the Carlos III Institute, and we are counting on the University of Cádizfor this." This investment in recent years "has made it possible to have pre- and post-doctoral staff, attract talent, and generate knowledge that has been able to attract more resources."
INiBICA is a joint university research institute led by the University of Cádiz with the Regional Government of Andalusia (Ministries of Health, Economy and Universities, Andalusian Health Service and Foundation for the Management of Biomedical Research in Cádiz-FCÁDIZ), with more than €13 million (2017-2023) in funding from the Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the Integrated Territorial Investment (ITI). Over the past six years, ITI funds have enabled the institute to secure Projects that have established it as a center of excellence in research within the European Union. This funding has enabled 16 Projects (€3,932,832.07), 20 Projects (€6,830,531.24), the scientific activity of 25 INiBICA research groups, 96 human resources contracts, 168 Publications , 14 Patents protected intellectual property registrations; and a license for the exploitation of knowledge with industry.
Specifically, it has more than 80 research groups attached to six scientific programs (Neuroscience and Behavior, Inflammation, Onco-hematology, Epidemiology and Public Health; Innovative Procedures and Therapies – Emerging and the cross-cutting area of Science-Business Transfer focused on Health based on Marine Resources) and champions Lines of research the impact of environmental and sociocultural factors on premature newborns; type 1 diabetes mellitus; physical activity and mental health in delaying aging; predictive factors for complications in pregnancy; the detection of infectious diseases in the province; the use of marine compounds in diseases such as cancer; and the relationship between disease and social inequality.
INiBICA's research work also contributes to diversifying Cadiz's economy, applying its R&D&I policy in collaboration with industry and companies in the province, and reflects how public investment in research and health can be a driver of change and social progress. Currently, several research groups are working on Projects Cadiz-based companies to innovate in the treatment and diagnosis of prevalent diseases.
The day included two sessions. In the first, the coordinators and heads of INiBICA's main programs and areas outlined the ITI's contribution to the development of their Projects. The second session, moderated by Isabel Benavente, Vice-Rector for Health Sciences and Social Welfare at the University of Cadiz (UCA), featured a round table discussion on the impact of ERDF funds on patient care and assistance, with the participation of academic specialists from the UCA and healthcare professionals from the Puerta del Mar, Jerez, and Punta de Europa university hospitals.
During the meeting, it was possible to learn about the positive impact that ITI funds have had on Projects , enabling the hiring of more predoctoral and postdoctoral staff through the Foundation for the Management of Biomedical Research in Cádiz the University of Cádiz, which "adds value to the province in terms of talent training and knowledge generation, as these hires have led to Publications , industrial and intellectual property registrations, and doctoral thesis work," according to its promoters.
Retention of 31% of staff:
It should be noted that during this period, this university institute has increased its critical mass of full-time researchers from 23 in 2017 to 109 in 2023, which is four times more. Likewise, of the 96 contracts signed thanks to these ITI funds, FCÁDIZ has hired a total of 67 researchers. In this area, we can also highlight the stabilization and 'retention' of 31% of staff (20 researchers) through contracts signed with the entities that make up INiBICA, which will allow them to carry out their activities in the province of Cádiz. Attracting talent is another pillar of INiBICA's work.
In the clinical setting, its implementation has led to an increase in healthcare professionals and Clinical Management Units (CMUs), as well as the introduction of the role of clinician-researcher in the province of Cádiz. The latter was supported by ITI funding, which enabled the hiring of three clinician-researchers, two of whom have entered the clinician-researcher career path and remain active in defining Projects securing funding.
In addition, since the launch of INiBICA's Clinical Trials area in 2020, fundraising for clinical research has increased from €948,000 in 2017 to €1,459,000 in 2023.
Likewise, the promotion of clinical research activity has enabled, through the indirect costs generated for the Institute, the development of two Clinical Trial Units in the province, at the Hospital Universitario Puerta del Mar the Jerez de la Frontera University Hospital.
In terms of fundraising through competitive and non-competitive grants, there has been an improvement in Projects , the entry of new Projects PARENT into international programs, and an increase in regional funding.
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