Scientific Management Area

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, International Projects and Consortia Elena Chavarria Head, Advanced Therapies Program Silvia Martin-Lluesma Scientific/Project Managers Yasmin Arévalo, 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 Yago Galera, Abraham Ruiz Internship Students Carles Castellà, Laura Meroño Clinical Projects Manager 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 Clean Room Staff Patricia Castro, Georgina Mitjans, Helena Pasamar

VHIO's Scientific Management Area

Summary

VHIO’s Scientific Management Area is responsible for overseeing scientific strategy, management, and institutional programs’ coordination. Its core mission is to support the development, promotion, and implementation of research projects for VHIO investigators and research groups, while managing the institute’s institutional research programs.

We strengthen the scientific activity of VHIO by facilitating the design and execution of research projects and initiatives. We also coordinate VHIO’s Task Forces, promoting collaboration across multidisciplinary teams and fostering joint oncology research programs in close partnership with the Vall d’Hebron University Hospital (HUVH), within the Vall d’Hebron Campus.

Our activities’ scope includes both scientific and financial management, as well as strategic support and the implementation of institutional actions across key transversal areas such as education, ethics and regulatory affairs, scientific dissemination, and the coordination of research activities linked to VHIO’s participation in national and international consortia and partnerships. In addition, our Area supports the evaluation, conceptualization, and preparation of scientific proposals, disseminates relevant funding opportunities, and ensures effective monitoring and coordination of funded 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 leads EU initiatives, such as CCE_DART or PRAGMATIL, 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.

Finally, the Scientific Management Area continuously works to strengthen its organizational structure and project management processes, with the aim of expanding VHIO’s capacity to deliver excellence in oncology research.

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

  • 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.
  • Coordinate 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 2025, we maintained a good track record with a success rate of 30%, out of 277 grant (competitive) applications, with 33 proposals pending resolution and in the 2nd phase of evaluation.
  • We have secured a broad and competitive portfolio of funding across institutional, international, and national programs, supporting a wide range of research activities and strategic initiatives. This includes sustained institutional support from regional and private funders, as well as recognition through programs such as the Severo Ochoa Centre of Excellence and AECC accreditation, reinforcing VHIO’s position as a leading cancer research centre.
  • At the international level, we are actively involved in multiple European consortia funded by Horizon Europe, EU4Health, and other frameworks. These include projects such as SHAIPeD (AI-based medical device pathways), LATE-AYA (AI-driven survivorship research), EU-CIP, JA PCM, SPARC, and LIGAND-AI, spanning key areas such as artificial intelligence, personalized medicine, and drug discovery. In addition, VHIO researchers have secured competitive grants including an ERC Proof of Concept (SonoMYC) and EHA and ESMO fellowships, further strengthening our international leadership.
  • At the national level, we have obtained a significant number of competitive projects, including multiple Knowledge Generation and Public-Private Collaboration grants from the Spanish Ministry of Science. These projects address key challenges such as treatment resistance, immunotherapy optimization, cancer genomics, and AI-based imaging, highlighting both the scientific excellence and translational focus of our research.
  • At the level of international academic alliances, we have maintained active participation and further expanded our presence in 2025 with the incorporation into Cancer Prevention Europe (CPE). In parallel, VHIO has continued to coordinate Cancer Core Europe (CCE) and EuroPDX, reinforcing its strategic positioning and leadership within the global oncology research ecosystem.
  • We have contributed to the professionalisation of the Scientific Manager role in the biomedical sector through educational programs (e.g. Master’s in Health Management) and targeted training activities.
  • Strengthen VHIO’s position as a leading international research institution.
  • Expand support for VHIO groups, researchers, support/ management units and the Director.
  • Foster active patient and public engagement in our research programs.
  • Martín-Lluesma S, Dafni U, Vervita K, Karlis D, Dimopoulou G, Tsourti Z, Villacampa G, Galvao V, Lostes J, Muñoz-Couselo E, Rotxés M, Villalobos X, Muñoz S, Haanen JBAG, Svane IM, Piulats JM, Martin-Liberal J, Gros A, Coukos G, Garralda E. Safety of adoptive therapy with tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and high-dose recombinant interleukin 2 in advanced cutaneous melanoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Ann Oncol. 2025 Aug;36(8):909-919.
  • Arenillas C, Celada L, Ruiz-Cantador J, Calsina B, Datta D, García-Galea E, Fasani R, Moreno-Cárdenas AB, Alba-Linares JJ, Miranda-Barrio B, Martínez-Montes ÁM, Alvarez-Escola C, Lecumberri B, González García A, K Flores S, Esquivel E, Ding Y, Peitzsch M, Robles-Guirado JÁ, Regojo Zapata RM, Pozo-Kreilinger JJ, Iglesias C, Dwight T, Muir CA, Oleaga A, Garrido-Lestache Rodríguez-Monte ME, Del Cerro MJ, Martínez-Bendayán I, Álvarez-González E, Cubiella T, Lourenço DM Jr, A Pereira MA, Burnichon N, Buffet A, Broberg C, Dickson PV, Fraga MF, Llorente Pendás JL, Rueda Soriano J, Buendía Fuentes F, Toledo SPA, Clifton-Bligh R, Dienstmann R, Villanueva J, Capdevila J, Gimenez-Roqueplo AP, Favier J, Nuciforo P, Young WF Jr, Bechmann N, Opotowsky AR, Vaidya A, Bancos I, Weghorn D, Robledo M, Casteràs A, Dos-Subirà L, Adameyko I, Chiara MD, Dahia PLM, Toledo RA. Convergent Genetic Adaptation in Human Tumors Developed Under Systemic Hypoxia and in Populations Living at High Altitudes. Cancer Discov. 2025 May 2;15(5):1037-1062.
  • Kittane S, Ladewig E, Li T, Love JR, Blawski R, Gao Y, Arruabarrena-Aristorena A, Zhao P, Dalrymple SL, Liu H, Guo X, Sallaku M, Kelkar N, Garcia-Martinez L, Carmona Sanz J, Chen W, Stoudmann C, Baldino L, Razavi-Mohseni M, Kalemi I, Beer MA, Castel P, Brennen WN, Scaltriti M, Morey L, Cocco E, Ji H, Chan HM, Battle A, Leslie CS, Karthaus WR, Toska E. The Histone Methyltransferase KMT2D Is a Critical Mediator of Lineage Plasticity and Therapeutic Response in Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer. Cancer Res. 2025 Dec 11. doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-25-2053.
  • Nasca V, Zhao J, Ros J, Lonardi S, Zwart K, Cohen R, Fakih M, Jayachandran P, Roodhart JML, Derksen J, Intini R, Bergamo F, Mazzoli G, Ghelardi F, Ligero M, Jonnagaddala J, Hawkins N, Ward RL, Wankhede D, Brenner H, Hoffmeister M, Vitellaro M, Salvatore L, Gallois C, Laurent-Puig P, Cremolini C, Overman MJ, Taieb J, Tougeron D, Andre T, Kather JN, Sundar R, Carmona J, Elez E, Koopman M, Pietrantonio F. Sex and outcomes of patients with microsatellite instability-high and BRAF V600E mutated metastatic colorectal cancer receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors. J Immunother Cancer. 2025 Feb 10;13(2):e010598.
  1. Martín-Lluesma S, Dafni U, Vervita K, Karlis D, Dimopoulou G, Tsourti Z, Villacampa G, Galvao V, Lostes J, Muñoz-Couselo E, Rotxés M, Villalobos X, Muñoz S, Haanen JBAG, Svane IM, Piulats JM, Martin-Liberal J, Gros A, Coukos G, Garralda E. Safety of adoptive therapy with tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and high-dose recombinant interleukin 2 in advanced cutaneous melanoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Ann Oncol. 2025 Aug;36(8):909-919.
  2. Arenillas C, Celada L, Ruiz-Cantador J, Calsina B, Datta D, García-Galea E, Fasani R, Moreno-Cárdenas AB, Alba-Linares JJ, Miranda-Barrio B, Martínez-Montes ÁM, Alvarez-Escola C, Lecumberri B, González García A, K Flores S, Esquivel E, Ding Y, Peitzsch M, Robles-Guirado JÁ, Regojo Zapata RM, Pozo-Kreilinger JJ, Iglesias C, Dwight T, Muir CA, Oleaga A, Garrido-Lestache Rodríguez-Monte ME, Del Cerro MJ, Martínez-Bendayán I, Álvarez-González E, Cubiella T, Lourenço DM Jr, A Pereira MA, Burnichon N, Buffet A, Broberg C, Dickson PV, Fraga MF, Llorente Pendás JL, Rueda Soriano J, Buendía Fuentes F, Toledo SPA, Clifton-Bligh R, Dienstmann R, Villanueva J, Capdevila J, Gimenez-Roqueplo AP, Favier J, Nuciforo P, Young WF Jr, Bechmann N, Opotowsky AR, Vaidya A, Bancos I, Weghorn D, Robledo M, Casteràs A, Dos-Subirà L, Adameyko I, Chiara MD, Dahia PLM, Toledo RA. Convergent Genetic Adaptation in Human Tumors Developed Under Systemic Hypoxia and in Populations Living at High Altitudes. Cancer Discov. 2025 May 2;15(5):1037-1062.
  3. Kittane S, Ladewig E, Li T, Love JR, Blawski R, Gao Y, Arruabarrena-Aristorena A, Zhao P, Dalrymple SL, Liu H, Guo X, Sallaku M, Kelkar N, Garcia-Martinez L, Carmona Sanz J, Chen W, Stoudmann C, Baldino L, Razavi-Mohseni M, Kalemi I, Beer MA, Castel P, Brennen WN, Scaltriti M, Morey L, Cocco E, Ji H, Chan HM, Battle A, Leslie CS, Karthaus WR, Toska E. The Histone Methyltransferase KMT2D Is a Critical Mediator of Lineage Plasticity and Therapeutic Response in Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer. Cancer Res. 2025 Dec 11. doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-25-2053.
  4. Nasca V, Zhao J, Ros J, Lonardi S, Zwart K, Cohen R, Fakih M, Jayachandran P, Roodhart JML, Derksen J, Intini R, Bergamo F, Mazzoli G, Ghelardi F, Ligero M, Jonnagaddala J, Hawkins N, Ward RL, Wankhede D, Brenner H, Hoffmeister M, Vitellaro M, Salvatore L, Gallois C, Laurent-Puig P, Cremolini C, Overman MJ, Taieb J, Tougeron D, Andre T, Kather JN, Sundar R, Carmona J, Elez E, Koopman M, Pietrantonio F. Sex and outcomes of patients with microsatellite instability-high and BRAF V600E mutated metastatic colorectal cancer receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors. J Immunother Cancer. 2025 Feb 10;13(2):e010598
  5. Haj Mohammad SF, van der Pol H, Vrdoljak E, Lassen U, Ojamaa K, Jalkanen K, Verlingue L, Stenzinger A, Patócs A, Curigliano G, Baltruškevičienė E, Helland Å, Russnes HG, Ługowska I, Mainoli B, Edsjö A, Lonardi E, Taskén K, Gelderblom H. A comprehensive assessment of the existing landscape of personalized cancer medicine in the European Union, on behalf of the PCM4EU consortium. ESMO Open. 2025 Nov;10(11):105872. doi: 10.1016/j.esmoop.2025.105872.
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