Led by the Regional Ministry of Health, the delegation visited leading centers in Washington D.C. and Boston to establish partnerships in clinical research, artificial intelligence, and medical education.
From May 4 to 9, 2025, an institutional delegation from Cantabria held a series of working sessions in the United States with the aim of exploring models of excellence in healthcare research and innovation, and establishing new international collaborations with a direct impact on the regional healthcare system.
The delegation was made up of the Regional Minister of Health, César Pascual; the Scientific Director of the Marqués de Valdecilla Research Institute (IDIVAL) and Head of the Immunology Department at the Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital, Marcos López Hoyos; the Head of the Cardiology Department at the Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital (HUMV), José María De la Torre; and the Managing Director of IDIVAL and coordinator of the visit series, Galo Peralta.
The agenda included meetings at internationally renowned centers such as the MedStar National Center for Human Factors in Healthcare and the MedStar Washington Hospital Center in Washington D.C., as well as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the Johnson & Johnson Innovation Center, and Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.
During these meetings, the delegation presented several of Cantabria’s key strategic healthcare research projects, with a special focus on the Cohorte Cantabria, a population research platform integrated into the public healthcare system, which sparked notable interest among the U.S. teams.
Throughout the sessions, strategic topics were also addressed, such as the safe implementation of artificial intelligence in clinical settings, open and collaborative innovation (J&J Innovation – JLABS), transformative medical university education (MGH & Harvard), and the professionalization of clinical research support structures.
“Cantabria has shown that it is possible to combine clinical excellence, strategic vision, and first-class scientific infrastructures. This trip marks a turning point in consolidating sustainable international alliances and generating real opportunities for our professionals and our patients,” stated Galo Peralta.
For his part, César Pascual emphasized the importance of establishing strategic partnerships to drive innovation. “Collaborating across organizations such as hospitals, research centers, and technology companies — sharing knowledge, resources, and technologies — helps us develop new solutions and tackle the complex challenges of healthcare more efficiently.”
The Regional Ministry of Health and IDIVAL are committed to continuing these partnerships through the activation of professional exchanges, institutional agreements, and future reciprocal visits to Cantabria by U.S. institutions.
