The Marqués de Valdecilla Research Institute (IDIVAL) has allocated €465,000 this year to support the activity of the 30 research groups that make up the institute. This amount represents a significant increase compared to previous calls and is part of the Support program, which provides backing for the development of activities by IDIVAL’s research groups. The program is one of the main pillars of the 2025 regional Biosanitary Research Promotion Programs Call.

The aim of this program is to acknowledge and enhance the scientific production of IDIVAL-affiliated groups by providing funding based on the results and research activity achieved throughout the year. The funds awarded help cover the groups’ operational expenses and the hiring of personnel to support the development of projects.

The allocation of these grants is determined by various activity indicators, including:

• Indexed scientific publications

• External funding obtained and managed through IDIVAL

• Patent development

• Supervision of doctoral theses

IDIVAL, accredited by the Carlos III Health Institute, promotes and develops research and innovation in the biosanitary field of Cantabria, with the Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital as its main hub.

Each year, IDIVAL launches various support programs and competitive calls to fund research groups and drive the development of research and innovation projects by healthcare professionals within Cantabria’s public health system. In 2025, the total investment in these programs will exceed €2 million — a record figure that reflects the institution’s firm commitment to strengthening research capacity and health innovation in the region.

Since its launch in 2014, the Support program has allocated over €3.9 million to fund the activity of IDIVAL’s research groups. This support not only recognizes the achievements attained but also makes it possible to consolidate research lines, attract talent, and enhance the national and international presence of biosanitary research in Cantabria.

IDIVAL’s research groups are the driving force behind biomedical scientific output in the region, actively contributing to the advancement of knowledge and the development of innovative solutions to improve population health.

See the funding resolution and the allocation awarded to each group here: Resolution

The Clinical and Translational Research Group in Digestive Diseases at the Marqués de Valdecilla Research Institute (IDIVAL) has just published an article in the Revista Española de Enfermedades Digestivas, reviewing and updating current knowledge on the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and its role in the bidirectional communication between the central nervous system and the gastrointestinal tract, known as the gut-brain axis.

A neuropeptide is a small molecule that acts as a chemical messenger between neurons and other cells, modulating functions such as pain, digestion, or stress response. In this study, CGRP emerges as a key player, with a versatile, chameleon-like behavior, in the communication between the gut and the brain.

The work, led by first author Marta Pascual Mato, was carried out in collaboration with the Headache and Other Non-Degenerative Neurological Diseases Research Group, offering a comprehensive perspective on the effects of the two isoforms of this neuropeptide, particularly beta-CGRP, on intestinal homeostasis and the pathophysiology of digestive disorders.

In recent years, both groups have demonstrated that beta-CGRP plays a protective role in the intestinal mucosa, modulating processes such as gastrointestinal motility, local immune response, and neurogenic inflammation. Previous studies had already shown that the release of beta-CGRP explains diarrhea in COVID-19 patients, that in the early stages of inflammatory bowel diseases (Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis) there is a decrease in this isoform — suggesting its protective effect — and that a reduction in beta-CGRP accounts for constipation in migraine patients treated with anti-CGRP monoclonal antibodies.

This new article not only reviews these findings but also explores the translational potential of monitoring CGRP levels in various comorbid digestive and neurological diseases, such as irritable bowel syndrome, chronic migraine, or functional constipation.

Read the full article: Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in the pathophysiology of gastrointestinal disorders – A key mediator in the gut-brain axis. DOI: 10.17235/reed.2025.11310/2025

Caption: The research team responsible for the article, made up of researchers from the Clinical and Translational Research Group in Digestive Diseases and the Headache and Other Non-Degenerative Neurological Diseases Research Group.

During the Regional Health Congress held in Comillas (Cantabria), two projects developed within the framework of the Joint Action PreventNCD were presented, focusing on health equity and approaches to tackling smoking.

As part of Work Package 7 (WP7), professionals from the Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital (HUMV) and the Marqués de Valdecilla Research Institute (IDIVAL) presented the study “Retrospective analysis of clinical and demographic variables recorded in the Altamira Electronic Health Record to assess aspects related to inequity in access to tobacco and alcohol cessation programs.” This analysis aims to identify inequalities in access to cessation programs among vulnerable groups such as older adults, migrants, and people with mental health problems. Preliminary results indicate signs of inequality, particularly affecting the migrant population.

Additionally, within Work Package 10 (WP10), the pilot project “Group-based tobacco and nicotine cessation in Primary Care” was presented. This initiative, managed by professionals from the Regional Ministry of Health and IDIVAL, was designed based on a survey of healthcare professionals regarding their consumption habits and attitudes towards smoking. The program is being implemented in 15 basic health areas, with 104 participants, and includes group sessions led by trained healthcare professionals, promoting motivation, mutual support, and ongoing follow-up. As part of this strategy, two accredited workshops were also delivered, training 40 professionals.

Cover photo: Part of the JA PreventNCD team in Cantabria, responsible for presenting the pilot project “Group-based tobacco and nicotine cessation in Primary Care.”

Inside photo: Part of the JA PreventNCD team in Cantabria, responsible for presenting the study “Retrospective analysis of clinical and demographic variables recorded in the Altamira Electronic Health Record to assess aspects related to inequity in access to tobacco and alcohol cessation programs.”

The Marqués de Valdecilla Research Institute (IDIVAL) has joined this European initiative through its Medical Oncology and Hematologic Neoplasms and Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant teams, following their participation in the previous eCAN Joint Action.

The new eCAN Plus Joint Action, officially launched this month in Brussels, aims to improve cancer prevention and care across Europe through digital transformation. This project, co-funded by the European Union’s EU4Health programme, brings together 81 organisations from 23 countries and will run until 2029.

IDIVAL is contributing to this European initiative through its Medical Oncology team, in collaboration with professionals from the Hematologic Neoplasms and Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant group, strengthening its commitment to international projects in digital oncology transformation. The institute also brings valuable experience from its involvement in the predecessor initiative, eCAN (2022–2024), which laid the groundwork for addressing challenges in health data interoperability and security in cancer care.

A key priority of eCAN Plus is to reduce inequalities in cancer care across European countries by promoting equitable access to telemedicine tools, remote patient monitoring systems, and digital clinical decision support solutions. The project is structured around nine Work Packages covering areas such as digital skills training for healthcare professionals, the development of regulatory frameworks, and strategies for the long-term sustainability of these digital solutions.

The joint effort of the participating European centres will also help prepare healthcare systems for the future implementation of the European Health Data Space (EHDS) — one of the European Union’s flagship initiatives to improve access, quality, and security in health data sharing. In this context, IDIVAL’s involvement reinforces its position as a leading institution in Cantabria for European projects focused on digitalisation and care improvement in oncology.

More information: https://ecanja.eu/

On 24 June 2025, the Regional Minister of Health of the Government of Cantabria, César Pascual, presented the Award for International Trajectory in the Protection of the Right to Health to Professor Rafael Yuste Rojas, recognised as a ‘figure of international research relevance’. This award, promoted by the Regional Ministry of Health through the Health Law and Bioethics Research Group of the Marqués de Valdecilla Research Institute (IDIVAL), recognises scientific excellence and commitment to the protection of the right to health at a global level.

The ceremony took place within the framework of the 18th Inter-autonomic Meeting on the Legal Protection of Patients, held at the Menéndez Pelayo International University (UIMP) in Santander. The event was attended by the Rector of the UIMP, Carlos Andradas, and the Director of Management of IDIVAL, Galo Peralta, together with the Minister César Pascual.

This award, which in previous editions has recognised outstanding researchers such as Dr Manuel Elkin Patarroyo (2018), Dr Valentín Fuster (2019), Dr María Blasco (2023) and Dr Ángel Carracero (2024), once again highlights top-level scientific work with a marked ethical and social commitment.

Professor Rafael Yuste is Professor of Neurobiology and Professor of Neuroscience at Columbia University, where he directs a leading centre in neurotechnology. His career combines cutting-edge research, ethical innovation and a strong defence of human rights. He is notably involved in the BRAIN project, one of the most important scientific initiatives of the 21st century, promoted by the White House to map human brain activity with unprecedented resolution.

Beyond his scientific impact, Professor Yuste has been a pioneer in warning about the risks that new technologies can pose to freedom, privacy and human identity. He is the creator of the concept of ‘neuro-rights’, an emerging category of fundamental rights that seeks to protect the mental and cerebral integrity of individuals from technologies capable not only of reading thoughts, but also of influencing them.

He has promoted the NeuroRights Foundation and coordinated the Morning Sight group, which brings together experts in neuroscience, law and ethics, successfully bringing his proposals to international bodies such as the United Nations and national parliaments. His work includes the book The Brain, the Theatre of the World, in which he invites us to understand the brain not just as an organ, but as the stage on which consciousness, memory and the capacity to be unfold.

Photo caption: from left to right Galo Peralta, Rafael Yuste, César Pascual and Carlos Andradas.

Researcher María Muñoz San Martín, from the Marqués de Valdecilla Research Institute (IDIVAL), has been awarded the Cajal Award in the Neurology category in the first edition of these recognitions, promoted by Merck and the Autonomous University of Madrid (UAM) through its Chair of Innovation in Science and Health.

The award ceremony took place on June 13th at the headquarters of the Royal National Academy of Medicine. These awards, endowed with €25,000 for each category, aim to support disruptive projects in the fields of Oncology and Neurology and represent a strong commitment to young talent in biomedical research.

The project led by María Muñoz focuses on multiple sclerosis and builds on findings obtained during her doctoral and postdoctoral work, in which she identified an overexpressed microRNA in patients with this disease and in experimental models. The awarded initiative proposes to investigate the targeted manipulation of specific genes in microglial cells of the central nervous system, with the aim of limiting demyelination and promoting remyelination, thereby opening new therapeutic avenues for neurorepair.

“For me, this award represents not only financial support but also recognition of a line of research we have been pursuing for years. Thanks to this opportunity, I will be able to implement new experimental models in Cantabria and continue exploring therapeutic strategies for neurological diseases,” the researcher states.

María Muñoz holds a degree in Biotechnology from the University of León and a Master’s in Applied Microbiology from the Autonomous University of Barcelona. She completed her doctoral thesis at the Biomedical Research Institute of Girona and has been a recipient of a prestigious Marie Skłodowska-Curie fellowship in Ireland. Since January 2024, she has been a member of the IDIVAL Research Group on Headaches and Other Non-Degenerative Neurological Diseases, where she is also involved in studying the role of astrocytes in migraines through a project funded by IDIVAL’s NEXT-VAL program.

Photo caption: María Muñoz, right, receiving the commemorative plaque.

Researchers from the Clinical and Translational Research Group in Digestive Diseases at the Marqués de Valdecilla Research Institute (IDIVAL) have coordinated a national multicenter study that, for the first time, analyzes the incidence of opportunistic infections in patients with autoimmune hepatitis. The results, recently published in Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics, confirm that these types of complications are significantly less frequent than previously assumed in clinical practice.

The project involved 20 hospitals across Spain, all with extensive experience in managing this rare liver disease, which is characterized by requiring prolonged immunosuppressive treatments to control liver inflammation.

A Clinical Gap Addressed for the First Time

The initiative arose from a clinical perception shared by many professionals involved in the care of autoimmune hepatitis: the low incidence of opportunistic infections in their routine practice, in contrast to what occurs in other systemic autoimmune diseases treated with similar immunosuppressive regimens, for which well-established preventive protocols do exist.

Until now, the lack of specific studies on the incidence of these infections in patients with autoimmune hepatitis had prevented the development of consensus recommendations in both national and international clinical guidelines.

Main Findings

The study analyzed one of the largest cohorts described to date in this disease, including 2,893 patients. The results confirm that the incidence of opportunistic infections in patients with autoimmune hepatitis is very low:

• Only 6 cases of tuberculosis (0.2%) were documented, with a median time of onset of more than 10 years after the initiation of immunosuppressive treatment.

• No cases of Pneumocystis Jirovecii pneumonia were recorded.

• Invasive infections by Candida spp. and Aspergillus spp. were uncommon, with the latter occurring in patients with more severe clinical forms of the disease, associated with higher mortality.

These findings confirm the study’s initial hypothesis and provide the first high-quality scientific evidence in this field, reinforcing current clinical practice and establishing a foundation for designing future prevention and management strategies.

New Questions for Research

The authors emphasize that, while the study provides important answers, it also raises new questions. Among them, they highlight the need to investigate why the incidence of opportunistic infections in patients with autoimmune hepatitis is notably lower than in other autoimmune diseases treated with the same immunosuppressive therapies.

This research line is shaping up to be an area of interest for future studies, which will help advance understanding of the disease and optimize its clinical management.

Article Reference

Title: Occurrence and Management of Opportunistic Infections in Patients With Autoimmune Hepatitis: A Spanish Multicentre Study
Journal: Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics
Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40457708/

Caption: María del Barrio and Álvaro Díaz, lead investigators of the study.

Today marks the start of the 18th Interregional Meeting on the Legal Protection of Patients at the Menéndez Pelayo International University (UIMP), a nationally renowned event in the field of healthcare law and bioethics. The event is actively co-organized by the Marqués de Valdecilla Research Institute (IDIVAL) through its Healthcare Law and Bioethics Research Group.

Under the title “Innovation Ecosystems in Health: Governance, Metrics and Access to the Technology Market”, the seminar runs until Friday, June 27, bringing together leading national and international experts to reflect on the ethical, legal and organizational challenges posed by emerging health technologies.

The meeting is directed by Jorge Tomillo, Professor of Commercial Law at the University of Cantabria, and Joaquín Cayón, Head of Legal Advisory Services at the Regional Ministry of Health and Director of the Healthcare Law and Bioethics Research Group at IDIVAL and the University of Cantabria.

Over the course of five days, the program will address key issues such as the governance of health data spaces, the protection of patients’ digital rights, neuro-rights, and the ethical dilemmas surrounding artificial intelligence and biomedical innovation. The event also features representatives from leading institutions such as Amazon Web Services, Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine, and the NeuroTechnology Center at Columbia University.

As in previous editions, the Meeting will include the presentation of the International Career Award in Health Protection Law, which this year will be awarded to Rafael Yuste, neuroscientist and Director of the NeuroTechnology Center at Columbia University, for his work in the field of neuro-rights.

Since its inception, this forum has played a key role as a space for dialogue, analysis, and knowledge generation in the field of healthcare law, fostering the exchange of best practices and experiences among professionals from across the country.

Link to the full program

With over 47,000 participants, Cohorte Cantabria continues moving forward in its mission to collect samples and data to advance biomedical research. After four years of work, the project now boasts 16 established scientific collaborations and financial support from the Government of Cantabria.

The project’s coordinating team is already preparing the follow-up phase, which will include new tests and questionnaires. In fact, this past May, they conducted the first “user experience” trial, in which 20 randomly selected participants of different ages and genders were invited to assess the usability of the future questionnaires. Their feedback helped identify key improvements in the design and language of the surveys, aiming to make them clearer, more accessible, and easier to complete for the entire participant population.

At the same time, Cohorte has launched a new initiative with the Cantabrian Directorate General of Public Health called “Cantabria en forma” (Fit Cantabria). This is a survey aimed at families with children aged 6 to 16. For those Cohorte Cantabria participants who choose to take part, their data will be cross-referenced to analyze the relationship between the habits of parents and children. The project also includes an analysis of the Cohorte Cantabria database to identify links between obesity and other diseases. Based on the results, a prevention and health promotion strategy will be developed. Anyone interested can take part through the following link: https://redcap.link/cantabriaenforma

In addition, the Cohorte team is collaborating with researchers from the Epidemiology and Public Health group at the University of Cantabria–IDIVAL and the Immunology Department at Valdecilla Hospital on a study examining the impact of circadian rhythm disruption on the development of chronic systemic inflammation. This condition represents a significant risk factor for chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, depression, and cardiovascular disorders. As part of this study, Cohorte Cantabria has distributed a questionnaire on sleep habits, physical activity, and chrononutrition. From all respondents, 1,000 will be selected to take part in a more detailed phase of the study. More information about this and other ongoing initiatives is available at: https://cohortecantabria.com/proyectos/

Although they already have the support of over 47,000 residents of Cantabria, the project still needs 3,000 more participants. In particular, they are calling on people living in the more remote areas of the region — Liébana, Campoo-Los Valles, Valles Pasiegos, Asón-Agüera, and the Eastern Coast — where participation is still needed for the study to fully represent the population of Cantabria. Get involved and make sure your community is counted at: https://cohortecantabria.com/

Colegio Torreánaz has recently donated a total of €3,035 to the Marqués de Valdecilla Research Institute (IDIVAL) to support research in multiple sclerosis. This donation is the result of a charity walk organized by the school, in collaboration with local businesses, families, and students, with the aim of allocating the funds raised to a biomedical project with a local focus and social impact.

As explained by Dr. Julio Pascual, head of the Headache and Other Non-Degenerative Neurological Diseases Research Group at IDIVAL, the initiative arose spontaneously from the school itself. “We know that Colegio Torreánaz actively promotes solidarity within its educational community and is particularly sensitive to biomedical research. They reached out to our group because they wanted the proceeds from their charity walk to contribute to the progress in neurological diseases,” Pascual noted.

Supporting Progress in Multiple Sclerosis Research

The funds will be specifically allocated to a research project on multiple sclerosis, a disease that is the leading cause of neurological damage and disability in people under the age of 50, especially women. It is estimated that at least 600 people in Cantabria live with this condition, which affects the myelin—the protective layer covering nerve fibers—leading to symptoms such as vision problems and mobility difficulties.

Although current treatments are able to slow the progression of the disease, there is still no therapy capable of regenerating damaged myelin. That is why this IDIVAL research group is working on experimental models aimed at identifying candidate molecules that may promote remyelination, meaning the repair of this protective nerve layer.

A Multidisciplinary Team for a Complex Disease

The research is being carried out by clinical neurologists from the Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital — Vicente González Quintanilla, Andrea González, and Jorge Madera — and nurse Nadia Cavada, who are in charge of the hospital’s multiple sclerosis clinic, together with postdoctoral researcher María Muñoz, an expert in this disease, and biotechnologist Gabriel Gárate.

Looking Ahead

The research team explains that the Valdecilla multiple sclerosis clinic is a pioneer in implementing new therapeutic and diagnostic options, and that their clinical experience allows them to transfer advances directly to the laboratory. “Our goal is for this experimental model to serve as a foundation for future research, including genetic manipulation techniques and the validation of new molecules with therapeutic potential,” says Dr. María Muñoz.

At IDIVAL, we extend our sincere thanks to everyone at Colegio Torreánaz for their commitment and generosity. We celebrate initiatives like this that bring science and solidarity into the classroom, showing that supporting research is something we can all be part of.