Director of Area Alejandro Piris Giménez Head, Scientific Strategy and Translational Programs Javier Carmona Head, Pre-Awards Research Grants Office Sandra Porta Head, Management of Institutional Scientific Programs Unit Neus Bayó Head, Clinical Programs and Task Forces Management Javier Gonzalo Head, Coordinated Projects and Consortia Elena Chavarria Head, of Advanced Therapies Program Silvia Martin-Lluesma Scientific/Project Managers Andrés Castellanos, Berta Colldeforns, Natalia Czerniak, Alba Lopez, Goretti Mallorquí, María Marín, Mireia Monràs, Edurne Mugarza, Paola Pisacane, Christina Stangl, Xenia Villalobos Project Management Technicians Senior: Isabel Vallvé, Junior: Abraham Ruiz Internship Students Johan Barrezueta, Gemma Conangla, Marián Encrenaz, Yago Galera Clinical Projects Manager Farah Kamberovic, Arantxa Romero Task Force Officers Mireia Sanchís (Colorectal Cancer) Advanced Research Technician Sebastián Guzmán (VHIO’s Colorectal Cancer Group) Research Support Assistant Inmaculada Hernández Clean Room Technical Director Jara Palomero

VHIO's Scientific Management Area

Summary

VHIO’s Scientific Management Area oversees all tasks related to scientific strategy, management, and coordination at the institutional level. Our responsibilities include developing, promoting, and facilitating research projects for VHIO researchers and groups, as well as managing VHIO’s institutional research programs.

We promote and enhance the scientific activities of our research groups by facilitating the development and execution of scientific projects and programs. In addition, we coordinate the activities of VHIO’s Task Forces to foster synergies between our multidisciplinary teams and spur joint research programs in oncology with the Vall d’Hebron University Hospital – HUVH, part of the Vall d’Hebron Hospital Campus.

Our scope includes financial and scientific management, strategic scientific support, and the implementation of institutional actions across key transversal areas such as education, ethics and regulatory issues, scientific dissemination, and the coordination of research activities related to VHIO’s participation in several consortia and partnerships globally. We also provide support to the assessment, conceptualization and preparation of scientific proposals, dissemination of national and international funding opportunities relevant to our research groups, and ensure timely monitoring and coordination of awarded projects.

To boost international engagement, we devise tailored plans for VHIO's research groups, centralize research proposals emerging from our Task Forces, and proactively match selected research priorities with competitive calls. Importantly, our team co-leads EU initiatives, such as the Coordination and Support Action (CSA – 4.UNCAN.eu) of the UNderstand CANcer (UNCAN.eu) initiative, linked to EU’s Horizon Europe Mission on Cancer, among others. We also spearhead applications to highly innovative technological calls, such as the Innovative Health Initiative (IHI) within the Horizon Europe framework, and oversee VHIO’s role as a project coordinator or partner in European research efforts.

Lastly, our Area is continuously working to strengthen its organizational structure and project management processes with the goal of expanding VHIO’s capacity to conduct research of excellence in oncology.

Identify and promote new research opportunities involving academic and industry partners.

  • Promote the creation of new scientific research programs aligned with the scientific strategy of VHIO.
  • Participate in VHIO’s Internal Scientific Committee and working groups aimed at improving the internal operations and research capabilities.
  • Lead/ co-lead EU initiatives/ projects – see our highlights below.
  • Write, coordinate and manage scientific proposals.
  • Launch and monitor institutional research programs.
  • Promote intramural research through spearheading education, networking and communication programs.
  • Actively involve patients in the development of our research initiatives.
  • Assist in the organization of scientific events and conferences to bolster the visibility and collaborations of VHIO’s research ecosystem.
  • In 2024, we maintained a good track record with a success rate of 28%, out of 265 grant (competitive) applications, with 45 proposals pending resolution and in the 2nd phase of evaluation.
  • Reflective of the research support that we provide to VHIO is our co-authorship of several publications (see Paper Pick 2024).
  • We have obtained funds from the prestigious AECC’s Excellence Program, CERTERA ISCIII, PragmaTIL and JOIN4ATMP to develop our Advanced Therapies Program that will consolidate VHIO as a reference center in Spain in the development of anticancer cell therapies.
  • FORTALECE alongside CERTERA ISCIII are the first transversal joint initiatives within Instituto Acreditado de Investigación Sanitaria (Accredited Research Institute - Vall d'Hebron).
  • We coordinate the participation of VHIO in major EU consortia. Some of these include the Coordination and Support Action (CSA – 4.UNCAN.eu) of the UNderstand CANcer (UNCAN.eu) initiative or CCI4EU, and we chair the Cancer Core Europe (CCE) consortium. We are also collaborating as partners in several work packages of flagship European initiatives such as JANE and CraNE, among others.
  • Strengthen VHIO’s position as a leading international research institution.
  • Expand support for VHIO groups, researchers, support/ management units and the Director.
  • Promote the professionalization of the Scientific Manager role in the biomedical sector through educational programs (e.g.: Master’s in Health Management) and training activities.
  • Foster active patient and public engagement in our research programs.
  • Martín-Lluesma S, Svane IM, Dafni U, Vervita K, Karlis D, Dimopoulou G, Tsourti Z, Rohaan MW, Haanen JBAG, Coukos G. Efficacy of TIL therapy in advanced cutaneous melanoma in the current immuno-oncology era: updated systematic review and meta-analysis. Ann Oncol. 2024 Oct;35(10):860-872.
  • Palomero J, Galvao V, Creus I, Lostes J, Aylagas M, Marín-Bayo A, Rotxés M, Sanz M, Lozano-Rabella M, Garcia-Garijo A, Yuste-Estevanez A, Grases D, Díaz-Gómez J, González J, Navarro JF, Gartner JJ, Braña I, Villalobos X, Bayó-Puxan N, Jiménez J, Palazón AN, Muñoz S, Villacampa G, Piris-Giménez A, Barba P, Codinach M, Rodríguez L, Querol S, Muñoz-Couselo E, Tabernero J, Martín-Lluesma S, Gros A, Garralda E. Preclinical data and design of a phase I clinical trial of neoantigen-reactive TILs for advanced epithelial or ICB-resistant solid cancers. Immunooncol Technol. 2024 Dec 2;25:101030.
  • Carmona J, Chavarria E, Donoghue K, von Gertten C, Oberrauch P, Pailler E, Scoazec G, Weijer R, Balmaña J, Brana I, Brunelli C, Delaloge S, Deloger M, Delpy P, Ernberg I, Fitzgerald RC, Garralda E, Lablans M, Lëhtio J, Lopez C, Fernández M, Miceli R, Nuciforo P, Perez-Lopez R, Provenzano E, Schmidt MK, Serrano C, Steeghs N, Tamborero D, Wirta V, Baird RD, Barker K, Barlesi F, Baumann M, Bergh J, de Braud F, Fizazi K, Fröhling S, Piris-Giménez A, Seamon K, Van der Heijden MS, Zwart W, Tabernero J. Cancer Core Europe: Leveraging Institutional Synergies to Advance Oncology Research and Care Globally. Cancer Discov. 2024 Jul 1;14(7):1147-1153.
  1. Martín-Lluesma S, Svane IM, Dafni U, Vervita K, Karlis D, Dimopoulou G, Tsourti Z, Rohaan MW, Haanen JBAG, Coukos G. Efficacy of TIL therapy in advanced cutaneous melanoma in the current immuno-oncology era: updated systematic review and meta-analysis. Ann Oncol. 2024 Oct;35(10):860-872.
  2. Palomero J, Galvao V, Creus I, Lostes J, Aylagas M, Marín-Bayo A, Rotxés M, Sanz M, Lozano-Rabella M, Garcia-Garijo A, Yuste-Estevanez A, Grases D, Díaz-Gómez J, González J, Navarro JF, Gartner JJ, Braña I, Villalobos X, Bayó-Puxan N, Jiménez J, Palazón AN, Muñoz S, Villacampa G, Piris-Giménez A, Barba P, Codinach M, Rodríguez L, Querol S, Muñoz-Couselo E, Tabernero J, Martín-Lluesma S, Gros A, Garralda E. Preclinical data and design of a phase I clinical trial of neoantigen-reactive TILs for advanced epithelial or ICB-resistant solid cancers. Immunooncol Technol. 2024 Dec 2;25:101030.
  3. Carmona J, Chavarria E, Donoghue K, von Gertten C, Oberrauch P, Pailler E, Scoazec G, Weijer R, Balmaña J, Brana I, Brunelli C, Delaloge S, Deloger M, Delpy P, Ernberg I, Fitzgerald RC, Garralda E, Lablans M, Lëhtio J, Lopez C, Fernández M, Miceli R, Nuciforo P, Perez-Lopez R, Provenzano E, Schmidt MK, Serrano C, Steeghs N, Tamborero D, Wirta V, Baird RD, Barker K, Barlesi F, Baumann M, Bergh J, de Braud F, Fizazi K, Fröhling S, Piris-Giménez A, Seamon K, Van der Heijden MS, Zwart W, Tabernero J. Cancer Core Europe: Leveraging Institutional Synergies to Advance Oncology Research and Care Globally. Cancer Discov. 2024 Jul 1;14(7):1147-1153.
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