The NEXT-Val program drives a pioneering project on early discharge after robotic colorectal surgery
The Valdecilla Health Research Institute (IDIVAL) has awarded seven young researchers in the latest edition of the NEXT-Val (NEXT generation Valdecilla) program, designed to promote translational research in Cantabria’s biosanitary field. Among the awardees is Carmen Cagigas, specialist in General and Digestive Surgery at the Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital, who leads an innovative project: developing a protocol for early discharge within less than 24 hours for patients undergoing robotic colorectal surgery.
The program, endowed with almost €150,000 in total and up to €25,000 per project, supports researchers who have not yet led competitive grants, giving them the opportunity to move toward greater scientific autonomy. For Cagigas, this support is key to combining advanced surgical technology, ERAS protocols, and home hospitalization through telemedicine. Her goal is clear: to demonstrate that patients can recover safely at home, with a better experience while also optimizing healthcare resources. “Patients recover much better in their own environment. If we can also reduce hospital costs while maintaining safety, the benefit is twofold,” she explains.
A turn towards research with international roots
A graduate in Medicine from the University of Cantabria, Cagigas completed her specialization in General and Digestive Surgery and earned her PhD at the same institution. The turning point came during her time at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, where she worked as a Clinical Fellow in colorectal surgery. “There I realized that surgeons were not just technicians, but also researchers. That experience awakened my desire to go further and contribute through science,” she recalls.
Back in Valdecilla, Cagigas has focused her career on minimally invasive and robotic surgery, fields in which she has built solid expertise and earned international certifications. She combines clinical practice with teaching in the Colorectal Surgery Fellowship and surgical simulation training at the Valdecilla Virtual Hospital. At the same time, she has published more than 30 scientific articles and participated in clinical innovation projects.
The science behind small incisions
Her NEXT-Val project is designed as a prospective randomized clinical trial that will measure readmission rates, patient satisfaction, and predictors of postoperative complications. But when she has to explain it simply, she puts it in plain words: “My research is about how to operate on someone causing the least harm possible. Robotic surgery allows us to work through very small incisions, which helps patients feel well enough to go home sooner.”
The challenge is ambitious, but also deeply human. “I work in cancer surgery and, unfortunately, we cannot always cure. But what we can do is improve patients’ quality of life and accompany them so they feel as well as possible,” she emphasizes.
A project that brings together teamwork and vocations
What began as a group of five people soon became a team of nearly ten. “I was pleasantly surprised that everyone wanted to join the project. That shared enthusiasm is what truly drives it forward,” she says proudly.
Along the way, she acknowledges the influence of mentors such as Dr. Gómez Fleitas, her first supervisor and thesis director. “He taught me that you need to train beyond borders and go abroad. That vision has shaped the way I understand this profession.”
Looking ahead, Cagigas is clear about her aspiration: “In 20 years, I’d like to look back on these beginnings with affection, even though they required a lot of personal effort. I hope to be remembered as someone who contributed to making this hospital remain a national and international reference.”
