The Marqués de Valdecilla Research Institute (IDIVAL) will host two international workshops on May 29 and 30, where experts from across Europe will discuss the shared values of healthcare systems and the legal challenges posed by digitalisation in health.

This week, Cantabria will welcome an important international academic gathering, bringing together European specialists in health law and bioethics. Over two days of work sessions, on May 29 and 30, IDIVAL will be the venue for two workshops addressing key issues for the future of health governance in Europe. These events are organised by the Health Law and Bioethics Research Group and led by Joaquín Cayón.

Rethinking Common Values for a Genuine European Health Union

The first meeting, titled “Revisiting the 2006 Health Values and Principles: Contribution to a Real European Health Union?”, will take place on May 29. This workshop arises from the need to review the document approved in 2006 on health values and principles in the European Union, as it approaches its 20th anniversary in a context shaped by digitalisation, pandemics, demographic changes, and widening health inequalities.

Experts will reflect on issues such as incorporating new concepts — One Health, sustainability, or the principle of “leaving no one behind” —, the need to adapt legal and political language, and broadening the focus beyond patients to include healthcare professionals and vulnerable populations.

Digitalisation at the Centre of the European Health Law Debate

On May 30, the second workshop will be held under the title “Digitalisation and EU Health Law: New Challenges, Opportunities and Concerns”. This session is part of a series of annual meetings promoted by Professor Tamara Hervey, as part of the development of a section on European Health Law for the Oxford Encyclopaedia of EU Law.

Throughout the day, participants will analyse the impact of digitalisation across different areas of European healthcare: from data protection and medical device management to access to services, regulation of substances of human origin, and the governance of unhealthy products. Additionally, they will debate a collective concept paper on how to structure this cross-cutting area within European law.

International and Multidisciplinary Participation

Both sessions will feature leading experts from European institutions (European Parliament) and universities from ten countries: the United Kingdom (City St George’s University of London and Liverpool John Moores University), the Netherlands (Erasmus University Rotterdam, University of Amsterdam, and Leiden University), Belgium (Ghent University), Italy (Roma Tre University), Austria (MCI Innsbruck), Sweden (Uppsala University), Ireland (Maynooth University), France (Aix-Marseille University), Poland (University of Gdansk), and Ukraine (National Aviation University of Kyiv). From Spain, researchers from the IDIVAL Health Law and Bioethics Research Group — an institute integrated by the Regional Health Ministry and the University of Cantabria — will also participate.

Cantabria, an International Meeting Point for Health

With this double appointment, Cantabria and IDIVAL consolidate their role as a strategic forum for health reflection in Europe, contributing from the region to essential debates for the future European Health Union and addressing the ethical, legal, and social challenges posed by digitalisation in the healthcare sector.

Researchers from the Photonic Engineering Group (UC/IDIVAL/CIBER-BBN), in collaboration with the Valdecilla Biobank and the IDIVAL Microscopy Unit, have published a new study in the journal Spectrochimica Acta Part A: Molecular and Biomolecular Spectroscopy. The study, titled Assessment of blood serum stability with Raman spectroscopy and explanatory AI, demonstrates that Raman spectroscopy, combined with explainable artificial intelligence (XAI), can be an effective tool for evaluating the quality of blood serum and plasma samples intended for biomedical research.

This work stems from the collaboration between IDIVAL and the University of Cantabria within the framework of the external internship program of the Master’s Degree in Light Science and Engineering, and it currently continues as part of the Valdecilla Biobank project for the ISCIII Platform for Biomodels and Biobanks (PT23/00058).

In this study, serum samples from 18 individuals were analyzed after being stored at room temperature for different periods of time, simulating typical delays in clinical environments. The samples were examined using Raman spectroscopy, a non-invasive optical technique that allows the molecular composition of a material to be studied. The data were then processed using multivariate analysis techniques, automatic classification models (KNN, Random Forest, SVM), and result interpretation methods based on XAI.

Although the chemical changes detected were subtle, the AI models succeeded in distinguishing between fresh and degraded samples. A key finding was that the autofluorescent background of the Raman spectra, typically considered noise, could actually serve as an indicator of serum quality.

This advance has important implications for clinical laboratories and biobanks, where ensuring sample quality is crucial. Quickly identifying whether a sample is suitable could improve the reliability of analyses, reduce costs, and help prevent errors in subsequent studies.

The team will continue validating this methodology with more samples and under real laboratory conditions, with the aim of developing automated tools for quality control in bioanalysis.

Link to the article: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40359594/

Caption: Inés Santiuste, coordinator of the DNA and Fluids Node of the Valdecilla-IDIVAL Biobank; María José Marín, scientific director of the Valdecilla-IDIVAL Biobank; Verónica Mieites, predoctoral researcher in the Photonic Engineering Group at IDIVAL/University of Cantabria; Olga María Conde, researcher in the Photonic Engineering Group at IDIVAL/University of Cantabria; and María Gabriela Fernández, predoctoral researcher in the Photonic Engineering Group at IDIVAL/University of Cantabria.

Dynatract, a dynamic abdominal wall traction system for the treatment of open abdomen, has been selected to take part in the Deep Tech Venture Builder (DTVB) programme by EIT Health, one of Europe’s largest healthcare innovation networks.

This is a medical device designed to address one of the most complex and high-risk surgical situations: the open abdomen. This procedure is used in cases of severe trauma or serious abdominal infections when it is not possible to close the abdominal wall after surgery.

The Dynatract project has been fully developed at the Marqués de Valdecilla Research Institute (IDIVAL). The Botín Foundation is participating as a Venture Builder, supporting the project promoters in refining the business model and preparing for its future market launch as a tech start-up.

Dynatract offers an innovative and effective solution: a traction system that applies controlled tension to the edges of the abdominal wall, allowing for progressive approximation and compatibility with Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT).

This advancement facilitates postoperative care, reduces tissue damage, shortens ICU stays, and could result in savings of up to €15,000 per patient.

The team is led by Federico Castillo, surgeon at the Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital (HUMV), and Patricia Zorrilla, engineer at IDIVAL.

Being one of the 17 projects selected in Europe for EIT Health’s DTVB programme represents a strategic opportunity for Dynatract, as it provides access to expert advice on clinical and regulatory development (CE and FDA certifications), refinement of the prototype and production of the first clinical series, acceleration towards clinical trials and market preparation, and participation in a European network of mentors, investors, and leading hospitals — key for its positioning in the international market.

According to Patricia Zorrilla, “with Dynatract we are transforming a complex surgical challenge into a safer and more efficient solution, improving outcomes for both patients and healthcare systems.”

This recognition by EIT Health strengthens IDIVAL’s commitment to applied clinical innovation and consolidates its role as a driver of projects capable of delivering real impact in healthcare.

Photo caption: From left to right: Gerardo García, Fernando Quevedo, Patricia Zorrilla, engineers at IDIVAL, and Federico Castillo, surgeon at HUMV.

Since 2022, the hospital has been anonymously gathering feedback from mothers to improve birth and breastfeeding care, in line with international quality standards.

The Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital (HUMV) has implemented a range of improvements in recent years to offer more personalized, evidence-based, and compassionate care during childbirth and the initiation of breastfeeding. Among the most notable initiatives are the updating of clinical protocols, the development of specific breastfeeding guidelines, the implementation of ongoing training programs for healthcare professionals, and the introduction of Neonatal Rooming-In in the Maternity Ward. This measure allows some newborns requiring special care to remain with their mothers. These efforts have directly contributed to enhancing the experience of women giving birth at the hospital.

As part of this continuous improvement process, in 2022 Valdecilla launched a pioneering care evaluation project in the Maternity Ward, which anonymously and voluntarily collects mothers’ experiences after childbirth. The initiative, promoted by the Marqués de Valdecilla Research Institute (IDIVAL) and the hospital’s Nursing Directorate, is funded by the 23rd Valdecilla Nursing Research Project Call (ENFVAL21-05) and is carried out in accordance with international standards set by two programs to which Valdecilla is affiliated: the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (IHAN strategy) and the Best Practice Spotlight Organizations® Program (BPSO®).

Through a simple online questionnaire, accessible via a QR code that patients can scan before hospital discharge, the hospital gathers key information on the care received during labor, the support provided in the baby’s first hours of life, assistance with initiating and maintaining breastfeeding, and support for mothers who choose not to breastfeed. The results obtained so far show a high level of satisfaction among mothers and help inform clinical and organizational decisions based on their real needs.

In addition to the care component, the project includes digital tools that allow for continuous evaluation of clinical practices and monitoring of quality indicators related to breastfeeding. This comprehensive approach is further strengthened by the formation of a multidisciplinary team made up of professionals from various specialties involved in maternal and newborn care, promoting more coordinated, efficient, and family-centered care.

HUMV’s Deputy Director of Nursing, Carolina Lechosa, highlights that “this initiative has been developed over the years in line with the indicators set by the IHAN strategy. Additionally, we have worked intensively to implement the BPSO Breastfeeding Guideline.” These initiatives generate synergies and are part of a broader institutional commitment, as the Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital is currently undergoing the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (IHAN) accreditation process. Thanks to this sustained effort, the hospital was recently designated as a Best Practice Spotlight Organization® (BPSO®), a recognition of its leadership in promoting best practices and continuous quality improvement in healthcare.

For Lorena Lasarte, Supervisor of the HUMV Obstetric Inpatient Unit and Principal Investigator of the project, “the mothers’ opinions are extremely valuable because they allow us to adapt our care to their real needs. Their experiences motivate us to make tangible changes so we can improve our care every day.”

Through this initiative, the Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital reaffirms its commitment to more humane and personalized care, placing mothers and their families at the heart of the healthcare process. The project represents an effective tool for continuing to move toward a healthcare model that listens, accompanies, and responds to people’s real expectations at one of the most significant moments in their lives.

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.

Solidarity and sport came together once again at a new edition of the Trail Nocturno de Cicero, an event that this year gathered nearly 1,000 people committed to the fight against Alzheimer’s disease. Thanks to this sporting event, the association Unidos por un Reto has donated €5,000 to the Marqués de Valdecilla Research Institute (IDIVAL) to support the research projects led by the Neurodegenerative Diseases group.

The event, held on April 18, brought together around 200 runners, 700 participants in the walk, and a hundred volunteers who made the day possible. All of them united for a cause that continues to mobilize the people of Cantabria: advancing knowledge about the causes and factors behind Alzheimer’s disease.

For over ten years, Unidos por un Reto, led by Óscar Negrete, has actively collaborated with the research group headed by Eloy Rodríguez, Head of the Neurology Department at the Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital (HUMV).

According to Eloy Rodríguez, “these kinds of initiatives are priceless, not only because of the financial support they provide for research, but because they also help raise awareness about the importance of investing in health and science.” The researcher also explained that the donation will be used to “study the mechanisms of neuroinflammation throughout the continuum of Alzheimer’s disease, which is one of our current research lines”, a key area for better understanding the progression of the disease and seeking new therapeutic approaches.

Galo Peralta, IDIVAL’s Managing Director, personally thanked Óscar Negrete and the entire Unidos por un Reto team for their ongoing involvement for more than a decade. “Projects like this are a great example of how sport and solidarity can come together to change lives and open new paths in the research of neurodegenerative diseases.”

With this new contribution, Unidos por un Reto strengthens its commitment to Alzheimer’s research — a disease that affected Óscar Negrete’s father for 15 years and inspired the creation of this sports and solidarity association. Through sporting events and awareness-raising initiatives, the association keeps his memory alive and continues the fight against this devastating illness.

The Marqués de Valdecilla Research Institute (IDIVAL) is collaborating in the 3rd Conference on Technologies and Innovation Applied to Health, organised by the Cantabria Association of Economists, which will be held on 16 May at the Cantabria Labs headquarters (La Concha de Villaescusa).

The event will bring together professionals from the healthcare, technology, academic and hospital management fields to discuss the challenges and opportunities offered by the use of Big Data, Artificial Intelligence and digitalisation in improving healthcare and advancing towards personalised, patient-centred medicine.

The conference, starting at 9:30 a.m., will feature an opening lecture and two expert panel discussions. Marcos López Hoyos, Scientific Director of IDIVAL, will be in charge of closing the session from 12:30 p.m. onwards.

In addition, several professionals linked to our institute will participate as speakers in the scheduled panel discussions:

• Rocío Montalbán, Deputy Director General for Digital Transformation at the Cantabrian Ministry of Health, and member of the IDIVAL Immunopathology Group.

• Flora Pérez, Head of Pharmaceutical Management Service at the Directorate General of Pharmacy, Humanisation and Social and Healthcare Coordination of the Government of Cantabria, and researcher at the IDIVAL Health Economics Group.

• Pedro Prada, Head of the Radiation Oncology Service at the Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital and IDIVAL researcher.

This forum, which is free to attend with prior registration, aims to serve as a space for reflection and debate on the impact of new technologies in healthcare, as well as an opportunity to foster synergies among the various stakeholders involved in healthcare innovation.

The 3rd Conference on Technologies and Innovation Applied to Health is also supported by the Ministry of Health of the Government of Cantabria, Cantabria Labs, the Official College of Pharmacists, the College of Physicians of Cantabria, and Banco Sabadell.

Registrations open at: www.economistascantabria.com

Science will once again take over the bars of Cantabria this May with the Pint of Science festival, the international event that brings cutting-edge research closer to the general public in a relaxed and accessible environment. And this year, several researchers from IDIVAL will be part of the program, sharing their knowledge and projects in different venues across Santander, Torrelavega, and Castro Urdiales.

For three consecutive evenings —May 19, 20, and 21— researchers from fields such as health economics, nanomedicine, psychiatry, and clinical microbiology will take to the stage in local bars to talk about science in a friendly and accessible way for all audiences.

Here’s the lineup of talks featuring IDIVAL researchers:

Monday, May 19

• Ana Peleteiro and Marta Díaz (Cohorte Cantabria) at Bar Rvbicón, Santander: How to research with 50,000 people in Cantabria?

• Carlos Armiñanzas (Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology group) at Coctelería La Solía, Santander: When everything can turn into a comic book

• Olga de Cos (Health Economics group) at New Century, Torrelavega: Is the village fading away? Check the pyramid

Tuesday, May 20

• Paloma Fuentes (Psychiatry and Mental Health group) at Bar Pistones&Bielas, Castro Urdiales: Neurodrama: The brain behind your emotions

• Manuela Contreras (Nursing group) at Bar Pistones&Bielas, Castro Urdiales: Talking to children about birth and death: Let’s untangle it
  

  • In addition, María José Marín, Coordinator of Technological Services and Scientific Director of the Valdecilla Biobank, will be moderating the talks on this day in Castro Urdiales.

Wednesday, May 21

• Mónica López (Nanomedicine group) at Bar Rvbicón, Santander: Cancer target: Nanorobots on the attack

• Claudia Ovejas (Psychiatry and Mental Health group) at New Century, Torrelavega: Reality hacked: Drugs and psychosis

• Marina Barreda and Daniel Coca (Health Economics group) at New Century, Torrelavega: Made-to-order health: Economics without a prescription!

All talks will start at 7:00 p.m., with free admission until the venue reaches capacity.

Science in the bars: learning in a different way

The Pint of Science festival is held simultaneously in bars around the world and offers a unique, relaxed, and participative way to experience science. In Cantabria, the event returns to Santander, Torrelavega, and Castro Urdiales, with talks on topics as varied as cancer, mental health, rural demography, and health economics.

At IDIVAL, we would like to congratulate all our researchers for joining this initiative, which helps to promote scientific knowledge and inspire future research vocations in society.

Check the full program and venues at Pint of Science Spain

The Marqués de Valdecilla Research Institute (IDIVAL) has secured funding to lead a European project aimed at improving healthcare and social care services in rural and hard-to-reach areas. This initiative, known as the Intelligent Digital Twin (IDT)-SAM, has a budget of 1.96 million euros, of which 1.47 million come from FEDER funds.

The project, which will be piloted locally in the municipality of Penagos, involves partners from Spain, France, and Portugal, and is part of the Interreg Sudoe cross-border cooperation programme, which seeks to provide common solutions to the territories of southwest Europe.

A strategic leadership for Cantabria

For IDIVAL, leading this project represents not only important recognition of its management capacity and international standing but also an opportunity to position Cantabria as a benchmark in integrated care for vulnerable populations in rural settings.

In this regard, the rural health centre in Penagos, coordinated by Dr. Talledo — a primary care physician from the Cantabrian Health Service (SCS), will serve as one of the pilot sites where the SAM model will be deployed to enhance the quality of life for vulnerable individuals.

A diverse and specialised consortium

The project brings together 19 partners, including beneficiaries and associated entities, from the fields of health research, public administration, the scientific system, NGOs, and social care organisations. Among them are leading centres such as the University of Cantabria, the Aragon Health Research Institute (IISA), IBIMA-FIMABIS in Andalusia, and the Portuguese organisation AIDFM.

In addition, public administrations at regional and municipal levels are participating, such as the Regional Ministry of Health of the Government of Cantabria, the Communauté de communes du Pays de Nay (France), and the Câmara Municipal de Pinhel (Portugal), among others.

IDIVAL: a reference in health and social care innovation

The Marqués de Valdecilla Research Institute is an accredited centre by the Carlos III Health Institute and has a strong track record in biomedical and social care innovation. Thanks to its agreement with the Regional Ministry of Health of the Government of Cantabria, IDIVAL is able to implement projects through the Cantabrian Health Service, acting as a healthcare R&D executing agency in the region.

The approval of this project further strengthens its position in the transformation of the health and social care model in rural settings, combining care, research, and applied innovation.

Photo caption: María Luisa Sámano, IDIVAL’s European Project Officer, presents the SAM project at the Government of Cantabria alongside the Regional Minister of Economy, Finance, Autonomous Financing and European Funds, Luis Ángel Agüeros.

The solution incorporates computer vision to support the clinical assessment of a condition affecting nearly 500 people in Cantabria.

The Marqués de Valdecilla Research Institute (IDIVAL), the University of Cantabria (UC) and Viacore IT have developed an innovative application that facilitates the treatment of diabetic foot for healthcare professionals without specialized podiatry training. Thanks to computer vision, this solution generates digital images for the design of temporary insoles required to treat this condition — a significant step forward in preventing and managing a disorder that, according to the latest data from Primary Care, affects 477 people in the region.

In Cantabria, there are 35,352 people over the age of 18 living with type 2 diabetes. According to the Spanish National Health System’s Diabetes Strategy, 30% of them have a “foot at risk”. This condition, driven by a combination of circulatory problems and diabetic neuropathy, is characterized by the appearance of ulcers and infections that often precede an amputation. In fact, according to the Spanish National Consensus Conference on Lower Extremity Ulcers (CONUEI), amputations occur in between 14% and 20% of these cases.

However, up to 85% of problems associated with diabetic foot can be prevented through a combination of care and health education. Early diagnosis, preventive measures and appropriate treatment are essential to preserve foot health and avoid a significant number of amputations.

Although Cantabria was the first region in Spain to include podiatry services within its public healthcare system, the lack of specialists in the National Health System means that most patients are treated primarily by Primary Care professionals.

The drive of nurse Raquel Sarabia, a member of IDIVAL’s Nursing Research Group and a lecturer at the University of Cantabria, has been key to ensuring the success of this research project. Funded through various competitive calls published by IDIVAL, her work — together with the involvement of other Primary Care nurses — has led to the creation of a tool already being successfully used in health centers in Tanos, Sarón and Santillana del Mar.

An app made in Cantabria

Fully developed by Viacore IT, this innovative solution uses computer vision to analyze images of the patient’s foot without requiring specialist podiatry knowledge. It also stores the images in a digital clinical record, helping healthcare professionals to monitor patients’ progress and compare the evolution of lesions in a structured way.

The program captures graphic resources using an electronic device (tablet or smartphone) and automatically detects both the foot’s outline and high-pressure areas with precision. From there, it analyzes the information to anticipate the need for insoles — technically referred to as pressure offloading — as well as potential lesions at an early stage. These features make it possible to design and implement highly personalized treatments that are more effective, promoting wound healing and reducing the risk of ulceration.

The software has been designed primarily for Primary Care nursing staff, though it is also useful for podiatrists, family doctors and other healthcare professionals. Its cloud-based architecture ensures it can be used by multiple users simultaneously without performance issues. In addition, it can be integrated with Single Sign-On systems, improving interoperability with other healthcare platforms.

Although it has so far only been piloted within the Cantabrian Health Service, the application has been designed for easy integration into any large-scale healthcare system. It’s also worth noting its potential for research, as it generates a significant volume of data that could be used to improve prevention and treatment protocols.

What exactly is diabetic foot?

Diabetic foot is one of the most serious complications of diabetes, characterized by the appearance of ulcers and infections. If not properly managed, it can lead to amputation. The condition results from a combination of circulatory problems linked to diabetes and diabetic neuropathy. This nerve damage causes a loss of sensation in the feet, meaning patients may not feel wounds or abnormal pressure. Together, these factors lead to poor wound healing and an increased risk of infections.

Effective offloading — relieving pressure on the foot while protecting healing tissue — is essential for treating diabetic foot ulcers. This involves redistributing weight and reducing both vertical and shear forces to prevent further damage in the affected area.

Photo caption: From left to right, Paloma González, Innovation Support Technician and Project Manager at IDIVAL; David Pérez, Business Development Director at Viacore IT; and Mónica Cueli, nurse at the Tanos Health Center, Cantabrian Health Service, and member of IDIVAL. In the text, an image of the app, and in the gallery at the end, a summary of the presentation event.