Severo Ochoa Center of Excellence (2022-2026)
Programa Centro de Excelencia Severo Ochoa: strengthening VHIO research programs and teams in advancing cancer discovery and precision medicine in oncology
Since 2022, our institute is accredited and awarded as a Severo Ochoa Center of Excellence, 2022-2026. This prestigious distinction is granted within the subprogram of the Spanish Institutional Strengthening of the State Plan for Scientific and Technical Research & Innovation and is managed and supported by the Agencia Estatal de Investigación* - AEI (Spain’s State Research Agency), a body affiliated with the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation).
This distinction recognizes national research centers that demonstrate scientific leadership of excellence and impact at global level and is renewable each 4 years through re-application for the same rigorous evaluation carried out independently by an international scientific committee of renowned researchers. VHIO is the first research institute linked to the national healthcare system to have received this distinction.
This accolade reflects our Institute’s important contributions to cancer science and precision medicine in oncology at a global level. It also confirms VHIO’s scientific leadership and proven capacity to advance frontier research, generate high-impact results, as well as attract and retain research talent.
This VHIO Institutional Program further strengthens our various research programs and teams in driving important advances in cancer discovery and precision medicine in oncology.
VHIO strengthened its Biomedical Research Division, reinforced with the Severo Ochoa Excellence Program funding by welcoming several new VHIO group leaders: Marcos Malumbres, an ICREA senior researcher, Cancer Cell Cycle Group Leader and Systems Oncology Program Director; Mate Maus Aging and Cancer Group Leader, focusing on the intersection of aging and cancer; Francisco Martínez Computational Immunogenomics Group Leader, studying tumor genomics and immune interactions; and Francisco Barriga, Genome Engineering Cancer Group Leader, awarded with an ERC Starting grant. As part of this effort, VHIO also established the Cancer Computational Biology Group led by José Antonio Seoane, whose research focuses on epigenetic regulators in cancer progression and treatment response.
VHIO has significantly expanded its Immunotherapy and Advanced Therapies Program which has undergone substantial expansion through the integration of translational and clinical teams. This strategic alignment has facilitated the advancement of Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocyte (TIL) and Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapies into clinical trials. In support of this effort, VHIO has secured around €3.5 million in funding to establish an accredited Clean Room facility, scheduled for completion in 2026.
At both national and international levels, VHIO leads and contributes to key strategic initiatives, including TERAV, CERTERA, EUCCAT, PragmaTIL, and JOIN4ATMP, reinforcing its role as a reference center in the field of advanced immunotherapies.
Within the Clinical Research Division, the Investigator-Initiated Trials (IIT) Program has expanded to encompass 27 active clinical studies, including four trials evaluating VHIO-developed therapies. This growth has been enabled by competitive grant funding, strengthened patient advocacy efforts and a robust infrastructure supported by VHIO’s academic Contract Research Organization (CRO) and Data Science Program units.
The new cross-cutting Severo Ochoa Digitalization Unit (SOUND) is at the nexus of digital health and data science for research, clinical applications and patient-centered medicine. This Unit aims to accelerate the research and implementation of data science models and technology platforms in the healthcare domain for personalization of patient care at VHIO and in the benefit of existing alliances (CCE and others). Since 2022, the SOUND has launched the cVHIOportal for cancer genomics adapted to research data at VHIO, and has created a new Head of IT position within the Institution leveraging the development of the infrastructure and systems to further advance in our multiomic data integration goals.
In 2024, VHIO’s PAtients and CiTIzen InvolvemENT Program (PATIENT program), hosted 10 VHIO Talks including 8 invited patients and 25 investigators on the respective discussion panels, with a total attendance of 464 participants. This year, CaixaForum+ supported the production of the documentary series Science vs. Cancer, which includes all sessions of the VHIO Talks as well as exclusive interviews with the speakers.
The PATIENT Program also hosted the 3rd Research Day for Patients’ Associations, this year focused on colorectal cancer, with 28 attendees and the participation of 7 VHIO professionals, to discuss the importance of prevention in colorectal cancer, latest treatments, nutrition, and clinical trials. The first edition of the Clinical Trials Workshops for patients was held in 2024. Six different workshops took place with the participation of 8 invited VHIO researchers and 5 patients, covering topics such as understanding clinical trial protocols, how to interpret life history questionnaires, and listening to the voice and experience of patients who have participated in a clinical trial.
VHIO Academy supports scientific career progression and fosters a thriving workplace to drive high-quality biomedical research and innovation. Rooted in VHIO’s commitment to ethics, integrity, transparency, and patient-centricity, VHIO Academy provides a solid foundation for career development at all stages, cultivating a research culture that builds trust and enhances the quality, impact, and reach of our findings.
Since its establishment in 2021, VHIO Academy has championed interdisciplinarity, scientific creativity, collaboration, communication, and mentoring. It has played a key role in the globalization and diversification of VHIO’s workforce, equipping early-career investigators with essential skills, and strengthening interactions between biomedical researchers and the healthcare community. These efforts are critical for fostering sustainable collaborations, ensuring collective responsibility, and driving impactful oncology research.
---
*Supported by the State Agency for Research - Agencia Estatal de Investigación - AEI (CEX2020-001024-S / AEI / 10.13039 / 501100011033).
