"The ICS and its affiliated research institutes are the largest force in biomedical research in the country"

In 2024, more than 40,000 new cases of malignant tumours were diagnosed in Catalonia and an estimated 17,000 deaths were caused by cancer, making it one of the leading causes of death in Catalonia and worldwide. The 16th edition of the ICS Research Conference is based on this reality and highlights the need to continue advancing in clinical and translational research.

Professionals from the different research institutes linked to the ICS have discussed how they see the future of the disease, the current challenges and the need to approach research from multidisciplinary perspectives that integrate diverse knowledge and experiences.

In this vein, the managing director of the ICS, Josep M. Pomar Reynés, summarised the current state of research at the ICS. He emphasised that: 'The ICS and its affiliated research institutes are the largest force in biomedical research in the country' and that this leading position is the result of sustained collective effort and a firm commitment to innovation, teaching and the transfer of results to society.

Data from 2020 and 2023 from the Catalan Health Institute (ICS) and its affiliated institutes confirm a trend of growth and consolidation in scientific output, with more indexed publications and an increasingly significant international impact.

He also highlighted the increase in competitive funding obtained, a clear indicator of the ability of the research teams that form part of the ICS to attract funding, which has made it possible to promote projects with high transformative potential.

In the field of cancer, the data show that significant advances have been made. The Lleida Biomedical Research Institute (IRBLleida), with more than two decades of continuous research, is a prime example of commitment and the ability to generate useful knowledge for people's health.

In the keynote speech, Xavier Matias-Guiu, head of the Pathological Anatomy Department at Arnau de Vilanova University Hospital and head of the Oncological Pathology Research Group at IRBLleida, explained the importance of the role of pathologists in integrated morphological-molecular analysis.

At the round table, professionals from research institutes linked to the ICS presented experiences and research projects aimed at improving the approach to cancer treatment from different disciplines.

The meeting also announced the winners of the 2025 edition of the various Research Awards, granted by the ICS Scientific Council. In this edition, five of the seven award categories went to female researchers. The awards recognise significant contributions to the development of health sciences research, with the aim of promoting and recognising high-quality preclinical and clinical biomedical research carried out by the institution and its affiliated research institutes.