Ángel Lanas: «Spain has positioned itself well in research, but it is not enough»

In an interview with ConSalud.es, Ángel Lanas, scientific director of the Aragón Health Research Institute, points out that research in Spain is characterized by its high scientific production and effective collaboration between institutions, despite facing important challenges.

La Promotion of research in health in Spain is a fundamental pillar for the advancement of medicine and the well-being of society. Collaboration between researchers from various disciplines and commitment to pharmaceutical innovation and research has resulted in a considerable increase of investment in R&D, positioning the country as a relevant player in the European market.

In an interview With health, the scientific director of the Health Research Institute of Aragon (IIS Aragón), Angel Lanas, highlights how health research in Spain faces significant challenges due to insufficient funding and disparities in public-private collaboration, despite standing out in international rankings for its scientific production.

How would you describe the current situation of health research in Spain? What challenges exist?

I think that the current situation of the health research in Spain it is good. Our country researches and publishes well and is one of the countries that is at the top in the different rankings. The development of the Health Research Institutes and the different CIBERs has been, in my opinion, a success of the Carlos III Health Institute. These structures are significantly facilitating translational research. The interaction with University groups is decisive. One of the differences with other countries is that the network collaboration and between groups from different institutions is optimal, which facilitates research, especially on health issues. To this we must add the contribution of the different scientific societies who also do their part in this type of research.

One of the biggest challenges is, as always, financing. Spain does not invest enough and is far from the optimal percentages with respect to the GDP seen in other countries around us. This applies not only to the public sector but also to the private sector. The interaction between the public and private sectors must be intensified.

«In the field of health, it would be necessary to create and promote, in a general way, the figure of clinical researcher»

In the field of health, it would be necessary to create and promote, in a general way, the figure of the clinical researcher, with enough time to dedicate part of their time to promoting research. Steps are being taken in this direction, but it needs to be strengthened and promoted by health administrations. Another issue is obtaining funds at the European level, which is where there are more financing options. Spain is positioning itself well in recent years, but still is not sufficient for the capabilities we have.

Another aspect that as an Aragonese worries me is the inequality between communities that is being created in Spain when it comes to having research funds. Not all communities have the same funds to dedicate to their research groups or to promote it.

What are the main sources of financing for health research projects in Spain? How does investment in health research in Spain compare with that of other European countries?

In the field of health, the main sources of financing continue to be public in competitive regime, which is good, then, it makes us not “rest on our laurels.” In this sense, the competition at the national level (Carlos III Health Institute, Ministry of Industry, Research, etc.) are the main suppliers, but the money that is coming from Europe, with the different programs, is also increasing significantly. remarkable. I have already pointed out that investment in research in relation to GDP is still far from other countries around us and at our level. The community of Aragón is not at the head of the autonomous communities already within the national scope, although it is improving.

What is public-private collaboration like in this area in our country?

«Public-private collaboration must improve. This aspect has not been developed in all its capacities”

Public-private collaboration must improve. This aspect has not been developed in all its capacities, and I would say that some administrations have not only not promoted it, but have even not viewed it favorably. This view is also changing in the sense that I consider appropriate, and again the differences between communities They can be notable. This works against research where this collaboration is not enhanced or facilitated.

Regarding our community and our institutions, there is objective data ofl progressive growth of this collaboration. I trust that it will continue to grow according to the potential we have.

On the contrary, collaboration with different autonomous governments It must facilitate the growth of the sector, going where the capabilities of the environment best align with the interests of companies. Cluster companies must take advantage of the full potential of the environment and all the parties involved They should facilitate it.

Source: ConSalud.es