The ibs.GRANADA brings cancer research closer to the patient at the VII Oncology Area Conference
Researchers, healthcare professionals, and patients highlight the value of translational and person-centered research in advances against cancer.
The Granada Institute for Biomedical Research (ibs.GRANADA) has celebrated the VII Conference of the Oncology Area in the Lecture Hall B of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Granada, bringing together healthcare professionals, researchers and patients with the aim of sharing the latest advances in cancer research and strengthening multidisciplinary collaboration.
The meeting focused on one of the major challenges in oncology today: translating scientific knowledge into clinical practice to move towards increasingly personalized, patient-centered care. Within this framework, the main lines of research of the ibs.GRANADA groups in the field of cancer were presented, as well as various scientific collaborations promoted by the Oncology Department.
The opening ceremony was attended by Dr. María José Sánchez, Scientific Director of ibs.GRANADA; Dr. María del Carmen Ruiz, Vice Dean of Internationalization at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Granada; Dr. Manuel Reyes Nadal, Managing Director of the San Cecilio Clinical Hospital; Dr. Encarnación González Flores, Head of Research at the Virgen de las Nieves University Hospital; and Antonio Hermoso, President of the Platform of Patient Associations of Granada, who highlighted the importance of promoting spaces for dialogue between basic, epidemiological, clinical research and society.
The opening lecture, entitled “Microbiome and colorectal cancer”, was given by Dr. Paolo Giovanni Nuciforo, from the Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology, who delved into the role of the microbiome in the development and treatment of colorectal cancer and its potential as a key tool for the advancement of personalized medicine.
Throughout the day, two scientific panels showcased some of the most innovative lines of research currently being developed in oncology. These included topics such as digital pathology applied to cancer, liquid biopsy, the increasing incidence of cancer in young people, pain management in breast cancer survivors, and the identification of early biomarkers in pancreatic cancer. New therapeutic opportunities based on genetics, epigenetics, and the preclinical evaluation of new drugs were also presented.
One of the program's highlights was the roundtable discussion "Building Bridges in Oncology: The Patient at the Center of Basic and Clinical Research," which brought together researchers, pharmaceutical industry representatives, and patients. The debate underscored the need to incorporate the patient's perspective at every stage of the research process, consolidating a more participatory model focused on addressing patients' needs and improving their quality of life.
The day also included a poster session in which young researchers presented their latest work in areas such as epidemiology, genetics, immunology, and quality of life in cancer survivors. The award for best poster was given to Ms. Lucía Ortíz Comino, a researcher with the A02-Cuídate Group: Oncology Care and Advances in Sports Medicine at ibs.GRANADA and a tenured lecturer in the Department of Physiotherapy at the University of Granada, for her work "Physical Fitness in Children Survivors of Childhood Cancer." This award recognizes scientific excellence and highlights emerging talent in cancer research.
The scientific coordinators of the event and co-responsible for the Oncology Area of ibs.GRANADA, Dr. Encarnación González Flores and Dr. José Carlos Prados Salazar, highlighted that this meeting “has allowed us to share knowledge, strengthen collaborations and move towards increasingly personalized and patient-centered cancer research.”
With the celebration of these conferences, ibs.GRANADA consolidates its role as a benchmark in cancer research and reaffirms its commitment to innovation, multidisciplinary collaboration and the integration of the patient as a central focus to continue advancing in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer.
About the ibs.GRANADA
The ibs.GRANADA Biomedical Research Institute, managed by the Alejandro Otero Foundation for Biomedical Research of Eastern Andalusia (FIBAO), is the only center accredited by the Carlos III Health Institute (ISCIII) that develops biomedical research of excellence in Granada and one of the five accredited in Andalusia by the ISCIII.
The ibs.GRANADA is structured into four Scientific Areas: Oncology, Precision Medicine, Epidemiology and Public Health, and Advanced Technology and Therapies, which carry out intense research activity and lead the transfer of research results to society. This is reflected in the 1.154 publications made in scientific journals (61% of which have been in first quartile journals), which add up to a total of 5.883 impact factor points, as well as 19 patents applied for during the year 2025.
Currently, the Institute brings together more than 1.215 professionals and 75 multidisciplinary research groups that make up, from the University of Granada, the Virgen de las Nieves University Hospital, the San Cecilio Clinical University Hospital, the Andalusian School of Public Health and Primary Care Centers in Granada.
The main objectives of ibs.GRANADA are to promote biomedical, clinical and epidemiological research carried out by the different groups attached to the institute and to facilitate translational research in Granada hospitals. This research activity translates into the generation of knowledge and the transfer of scientific advances towards the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of priority health problems in Andalusia.
