The charity match will be played on April 25 in Suances and the proceeds will support the research activity of the Cohorte Cantabria project led by IDIVAL.

Suances Town Hall hosted the presentation of the charity match Cohorte Cantabria – Real Madrid Legends, which will take place on April 25 at La Ribera Football Stadium. The aim of the event is to raise funds to continue the research activity of the Cohorte Cantabria project, a scientific initiative led by IDIVAL, and to raise public awareness of the importance of research in improving population health.

The presentation was attended by Javier Crespo, Scientific Director of Cohorte Cantabria; Juan Antonio Rodríguez, board member of Sociedad Deportiva San Martín de la Arena and event coordinator; Pedro Munitis, player for the Real Madrid Legends team; and Andrés Ruiz Moya, Mayor of Suances.

A scientific project for the whole society

During his speech, Javier Crespo highlighted the scientific and social value of the Cohorte Cantabria project, one of the most ambitious population research initiatives in Europe. “Cohorte Cantabria is much more than a research project: it is a project for society, a project for all the people of Cantabria,” he stated.

Currently, more than 50,000 people are part of this study, representing approximately 20% of the population of Cantabria aged between 40 and 70 — an extraordinary scale for a population cohort. Crespo explained that this project will help advance knowledge of multiple diseases and improve public health in the coming years.

“The data we collect today for research purposes will ultimately translate into better health for citizens,” he said, also noting that in just four years Cohorte Cantabria has become one of the most relevant population cohorts in southern Europe.

The Scientific Director also emphasized the importance of initiatives such as this charity match to bring science closer to the public. “Actions like this bring together health, physical activity and society, and allow a scientific project that belongs to everyone to reach the entire population.”

A project born from sport’s social commitment

The event coordinator, Juan Antonio Rodríguez, explained that the initiative emerged from the social commitment of Sociedad Deportiva San Martín de la Arena to its local community. Under the slogan “Hacemos pueblo” (“Building community”), the club sought to promote an initiative with strong social and charitable impact that would strengthen the connection between sport and the community.

He described how the project began to take shape after learning about several research initiatives promoted by IDIVAL. Ultimately, they chose Cohorte Cantabria because of its innovative nature and the involvement of thousands of citizens in the study. “From the very beginning we understood that it was an exceptional project that represents all of Cantabria and deserves to be known by the whole society,” he said.

Rodríguez also highlighted the collaboration between institutions and organizations that made the initiative possible, thanking the support of Suances Town Hall, the Government of Cantabria, the Cantabrian Football Federation, IDIVAL and the many partners involved.

Suances, host of a sporting and charitable event

The Mayor of Suances, Andrés Ruiz Moya, also spoke during the event, highlighting the pride the municipality feels in hosting an event of this kind. He emphasized the sporting and social value of the match, which will bring historic football figures to the town and attract visitors.

Ruiz Moya also stressed the charitable commitment behind the initiative and its positive impact on promoting the municipality. “This match represents a unique opportunity for Suances, both because of the sporting appeal of hosting the Real Madrid Legends and because of the charitable value of an initiative that supports health research,” he said.

### Giving back to society

Pedro Munitis, representing the Real Madrid Veterans Association, expressed the team’s pride in participating in such a charitable initiative. “For us it is very important to be able to help through football and collaborate with causes that are truly worthwhile,” he said.

The former Real Madrid player noted that this type of event allows players to give something back to society for the support they have received throughout their careers. “It is a way of thanking people for everything football has given us over so many years,” he explained.

Munitis emphasized the main objective of the event: supporting health research. “What truly matters is the cause behind the match, which is to generate funds so that IDIVAL can continue researching and working to improve our health,” he said, encouraging the public to attend and turn the event into a great celebration of sport and solidarity.

 €10 tickets and a donation row

The charity match Cohorte Cantabria – Real Madrid Legends will be played on April 25 at 18:00 at La Ribera Football Stadium in Suances. Tickets will have a single price of €10, and a “fila cero” (donation option for those unable to attend) will also be available for anyone who wishes to contribute.

Through this solidarity event, sport, society and science come together to support the continuation of the Cohorte Cantabria research project, promoted by IDIVAL, and to keep advancing knowledge that will help improve the health of the population.

María Isabel Martínez Rodríguez, head of the Molecular Imaging Group at the Valdecilla Health Research Institute (IDIVAL) and a Nuclear Medicine specialist at the Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital (HUMV), has been awarded one of the grants from the INNVAL program for her project “Storage and retrieval of biomedical images through DNA encryption and encapsulation in silica nanoparticles.”

The initiative, developed in collaboration with IDIVAL’s Nanomedicine Group—led by Mónica López Fanarraga—and with the U.S. company Iridia Inc., proposes a completely new approach to addressing one of the major challenges of the digital transformation in healthcare: the sustainable, secure, and long-term storage of data generated by biomedical imaging techniques.

A disruptive solution for the growing volume of medical imaging data

The project arises from the urgent need to find alternatives to traditional storage systems, which require large IT infrastructures, constant cooling, and high energy consumption. Techniques such as positron emission tomography (PET/CT) generate very large studies—around 600 megabytes per patient—which are saturating the storage capacity of healthcare centers.

Martínez’s proposal is to encode the images into synthetic DNA molecules, encapsulate them in silica nanoparticles, and evaluate whether they can be retrieved without loss of information after different storage periods. Due to its natural stability, DNA is considered a virtually unlimited, secure information medium that does not require energy for preservation.

“We want to determine whether this technology is effective for storing medical images and all associated data, and whether it allows them to be recovered with the same quality over time,” explains the researcher. The study will be carried out using anonymized real patient images, for which participants will previously provide consent to take part in the project, while always maintaining data confidentiality.

Strategic collaboration and future outlook

The development of this project continues the line of public-private collaboration already initiated by the Nanomedicine Group with Iridia Inc. The participation of this company, a leader in DNA encryption technologies, provides essential value to the project.

“The fact that a leading company trusts this initiative is fundamental. Their experience in cryptography and molecular storage allows us to work with the highest standards of security and reliability,” she highlights.

The INNVAL grant will make it possible to carry out a pilot study to evaluate the real feasibility of the system in a clinical environment. If the results are positive, the team plans to expand the research through national funding calls and extend the technology to other types of medical images and data.

“INNVAL has given us the opportunity to join forces with other groups and explore an idea that could have a huge impact on the future of biomedical data storage. It is a first step toward more ambitious projects,” the researcher concludes.

The Marqués de Valdecilla Research Institute (IDIVAL) reaffirms its commitment to ethical, responsible, and transparent scientific research, in line with the Transparency Agreement on the use of animals in scientific experimentation promoted by the Confederation of Scientific Societies of Spain (COSCE). The recent annual report published by this entity highlights a particularly relevant figure: in 2024, 22.5% fewer animals were used compared to 2023, reflecting the ongoing effort to apply the principles of reduction, refinement, and replacement in research models.

IDIVAL formalized its adherence to the Agreement in 2023 and, as stated in its Institutional Declaration on the use of animals for experimentation—published that same year—it expresses its commitment to the strict respect and compliance with current legislation on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes. In this declaration, the institution notes that all projects are evaluated by an animal experimentation ethics committee and require authorization from the competent authority before they begin, in addition to ensuring staff training and the necessary resources to guarantee the welfare and proper care of the animals.

As part of COSCE—which brings together 87 scientific societies and represents more than 46,000 researchers in Spain—IDIVAL is also integrated into a European and international framework of good practices through the European Animal Research Association (EARA).

Founded in 2014 and with more than 200 member organizations in 25 European countries and 21 other countries worldwide, EARA works to help society understand the essential role that animal research continues to play in biomedical progress, promoting open and evidence-based communication. Through this, IDIVAL strengthens its commitment to rigorous, ethical, and transparent research aimed at finding solutions for diseases that still lack effective treatment.

Carlos Amado, specialist in Pulmonology at the Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital, researcher at the Valdecilla Health Research Institute (IDIVAL), and associate professor at the University of Cantabria, has been one of the professionals recognized in the latest INNVAL program call for an innovation project focused on respiratory rehabilitation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The project aims to identify mitochondrial biomarkers capable of predicting which patients will benefit most from this key therapy.

The award makes it possible to advance a research line with a strong translational focus, aimed at addressing an unmet clinical need. “This funding is essential because, in projects like this, the difference lies between an idea being abandoned along the way or being developed and generating useful knowledge,” Amado explains, emphasizing the potential of the results to improve clinical practice.

Biomarkers to anticipate treatment response

Respiratory rehabilitation is one of the pillars of COPD treatment, but its evaluation still relies largely on subjective questionnaires and functional tests with operational limitations. The project addresses this gap by searching for objective biomarkers that allow assessment of its clinical impact and prediction of patient response.

Specifically, the study will analyze molecules related to mitochondrial function — the mitokines humanin, MOTS-c, and GDF-15, as well as the ATPase inhibitor factor 1 (IF1) — closely linked to energy metabolism and muscle response to exercise, a tissue particularly affected in COPD patients.

“The main hypothesis is that we can begin to use biomarkers to detect which patients will benefit most from respiratory rehabilitation,” the researcher notes. “We know that COPD induces significant mitochondrial stress and that these alterations directly influence patients’ functional capacity.”

The project, designed as a prospective multicenter study, will serially evaluate these biomarkers throughout an eight‑week standardized respiratory rehabilitation program, correlating their changes with clinical, functional, body composition, and exercise capacity parameters. This is the first systematic approach to these markers in this therapeutic context.

Collaborative research and the role of SEPAR

Beyond its scientific relevance, the study has clear potential impact on healthcare organization. “If we manage to objectively identify the patients who will truly improve with this therapy, we can recommend it more precisely,” Amado points out. “It is an effective intervention, but limited in resources and time, and personalizing its use benefits both patients and the healthcare system.”

The project is being carried out with the participation of five hospitals from different regions of the country, strengthening its robustness and applicability. In this regard, the researcher highlights the role of the Spanish Society of Pulmonology and Thoracic Surgery (SEPAR), where he has coordinated the Emerging COPD Group for the past three years, as a key element in facilitating collaboration among centers.

“Coordinating a multicenter project is complex, but SEPAR greatly facilitates networked work and professional involvement,” he says. Amado also encourages young researchers to rely on health research institutes and emerging groups within scientific societies as a way to begin and consolidate a research career.

The scientific conference “Innovation and Equity in Addressing Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Fatty Liver Disease: A Commitment to People Living with Obesity,” held today at the headquarters of the Spanish Medical Association (OMC) on the occasion of World Obesity Day, concluded with the approval of the Madrid Declaration on Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Fatty Liver Disease (MAFLD), a document that proposes a structural transformation in the healthcare response to this condition.

During the meeting, Javier Crespo, head of the event’s scientific leadership, scientific director of the Cantabria Cohort promoted by the Valdecilla Research Institute (IDIVAL), professor at the University of Cantabria, and member of the MedicineAI Association, explained that metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease must be placed at the center of the healthcare agenda due to its high prevalence—around 30% of the adult population—and its role as an early indicator of future cardio-hepato-renal-metabolic burden. He emphasized that the main problem is not the lack of scientific evidence, but rather the gap between knowledge and implementation, as well as organizational inertia that prevents the activation of structured and measurable responses.

In this regard, he advocated for integrating MAFLD into national non-communicable disease strategies with specific objectives and budgets, developing care models based on systematic fibrosis risk stratification, and addressing the social and commercial determinants of health by incorporating equity as a structural principle. In his view, without implementation, evidence loses value, and diagnosis must become an organizational and political decision accompanied by evaluation and accountability.

Madrid Declaration on MAFLD

The conference concluded with the approval of the Madrid Declaration on Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Fatty Liver Disease (MAFLD), a strategic document proposing a structural transformation in the approach to this disease, currently the most prevalent chronic liver disease worldwide.

More than 30% of the adult population lives with MAFLD, a condition that is not an isolated liver disorder but rather the organ-specific expression of systemic metabolic dysfunction associated with increased cardiovascular, renal, and oncological risk. In this sense, it represents an early marker of metabolic vulnerability and a strategic opportunity to intervene before irreversible damage becomes established.

The Declaration calls for moving from a reactive and fragmented model toward a proactive, coordinated, and person-centered approach, closing the existing gap between scientific knowledge and effective implementation.

Among its strategic pillars are:

• Recognizing MAFLD as a priority within non-communicable diseases.
• Integrating systematic risk identification and stratification into routine clinical practice.
• Prioritizing early intervention with a comprehensive, value-based approach.
• Promoting coordinated care models across levels and specialties.
• Incorporating equity as a structural principle in detection, access, and intervention.
• Ensuring clear metrics, continuous evaluation, and accountability.

A ten-point plan for innovation and equity

The Declaration is structured around a ten-point plan that establishes concrete commitments to transform the healthcare response to MAFLD:

1. Recognize MAFLD as a strategic public health priority.
2. Consider it a marker of systemic metabolic risk.
3. Close the gap between scientific evidence and real-world implementation.
4. Prioritize early detection and structured risk stratification.
5. Orient clinical practice toward clinically relevant outcomes.
6. Incorporate equity as a structural principle in guidelines and policies.
7. Promote integrated and coordinated care models.
8. Turn diagnosis into structured clinical action.
9. Promote intersectoral policies consistent with metabolic prevention.
10. Ensure evaluation, transparency, and continuous improvement.

Javier Crespo will participate in the scientific and social conference “Innovation and Equity in Addressing Metabolic-Associated Fatty Liver Disease. A Commitment to People Living with Obesity,” to be held on March 4 at the headquarters of the Spanish Medical Association (OMC), coinciding with World Obesity Day.

The meeting will bring together experts from different disciplines to analyze the clinical, scientific, and social challenges posed by metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MASLD), in the context of obesity and related metabolic disorders.

Crespo, Scientific Director of the Cantabria Cohort at the Valdecilla Research Institute (IDIVAL) and Professor at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Cantabria, will deliver the institutional welcome alongside representatives from the healthcare sector and will serve as moderator of Panel 1, devoted to scientific advances and precision metabolic medicine.

Scientific Program

The conference will be structured around three working panels addressing metabolic liver disease from a cross-cutting perspective:

1. Science and the Frontier: Towards Precision Metabolic Medicine, which will analyze the molecular mechanisms involved in the disease, the results of the most recent clinical trials, and the impact of new pharmacological therapies. The discussion will also focus on clinical implementation challenges and coordination between specialties, including the role of primary care and the need for multidisciplinary units.

2. From the Patient to the System: An Integrated Clinical and Healthcare Response, which will address regulatory challenges, the evaluation of innovation, and the importance of incorporating patients’ perspectives into decision-making. International experiences on equity in metabolic health and organizational models that facilitate more integrated care will also be shared.

3. Ethics, Equity and Health Policy: Ensuring Access to Innovation, which will highlight the ethical and social dimensions of addressing MASLD, emphasizing that therapeutic innovation must be accompanied by policies that guarantee equitable access and reduce territorial and socioeconomic inequalities.

Objectives of the conference

The main objectives of the meeting include:

• Promoting national strategies for early detection and treatment of MASLD.
• Fostering territorial and social equity in access to innovative therapies.
• Advancing an integrated cardio-hepato-renal-metabolic (CaHeReMe) care model.
• Strengthening coordination between levels of care and medical specialties.
• Positioning the liver within the metabolic axis as a key element in the prevention and management of obesity and its complications.

The conference will conclude with the reading of the “OMC 2026 Declaration on Innovation and Equity in Addressing Metabolic Liver Disease,” outlining commitments aimed at improving the healthcare response to this emerging disease.

The Santander Biomedical Lectures program held a new session featuring Fernando Rivadeneira, Professor of Translational Genomics at Erasmus MC and an internationally recognized leader in genetics, clinical epidemiology, and musculoskeletal diseases, honored with distinctions such as the Fuller Albright Award. During his lecture, entitled “Clinical Applications of Polygenic Risk Scores,” he delivered a clear and rigorous presentation on how genomics is transforming risk assessment and opening new possibilities for truly personalized medicine.

Rivadeneira explained how polygenic risk scores (PRS) have been developed through genome-wide studies that, over the past two decades, have identified thousands of variants associated with different diseases. He noted that monogenic diseases, the most well-known, are caused by very rare mutations with a large effect. In contrast, in more common diseases, risk is driven by many frequent variants, each with a small effect, which together can significantly influence health. These accumulated variants form the basis of polygenic risk scores.

According to Rivadeneira, PRS combine these variants into a single score that allows estimation of an individual’s genetic predisposition. Their distribution in the population follows a normal curve, with small groups at the extremes concentrating significantly higher or lower risks. In certain cases, he emphasized, the cumulative effect can be comparable to that of a Mendelian mutation, reinforcing their clinical relevance.

From genetic prediction to clinical application

Rivadeneira described different approaches to calculating these scores—restricted, extended, and pathway-specific—and highlighted particularly the latter, which make it possible to identify the specific metabolic pathways contributing to risk. This approach enables more precise classification of complex diseases, which often group heterogeneous biological processes under a single diagnosis. As an example, he referred to type 2 diabetes, in which multiple organs and mechanisms are involved in its development, and where knowledge of a patient’s genetic profile can guide more specific preventive or therapeutic strategies.

In the field of osteoporosis, his main line of research, he showed how the combination of polygenic scores and Mendelian randomization studies makes it possible to identify truly causal factors—such as bone mineral density or muscle strength—and to rule out interventions with limited effectiveness, such as indiscriminate vitamin D and calcium supplementation in the absence of deficiency. He also emphasized their usefulness in anticipating potential adverse effects of new treatments and in integrating monogenic and polygenic genetic information into clinical practice.
The session highlighted that, although challenges remain in understanding the underlying biological mechanisms, polygenic risk scores represent a key tool for advancing toward a more predictive, preventive, and personalized precision medicine.

With this lecture, the Santander Biomedical Lectures program reaffirms its commitment to disseminating high-impact scientific advances and to promoting evidence-based precision medicine grounded in genetic research, aimed at improving the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of complex diseases.

The Marqués de Valdecilla Research Institute (IDIVAL) announces the upcoming launch of the 2026 call for proposals of the NEXT-VAL Program, an initiative aimed at promoting the development of translational research projects within the biosanitary environment of Cantabria.

The program is intended for emerging principal investigators who have not previously obtained competitive funding as principal investigators. In this edition, the call has a total budget of €150,000.

Selected projects will have a duration of two years, with a maximum funding of €25,000 per project. The maximum eligible travel expenses during the execution of each project will be €3,000.

Program presentation meeting

In order to present the program and the application form, as well as to address any questions from interested researchers, an online meeting will be held next Wednesday, March 4, at 2:00 PM.

Meeting link: [https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/3PRWi-MmTwqzbeMHza8YKQ#/registration]

Principal investigator requirements

Researchers wishing to apply must meet the following requirements:

* Have an employment, civil service, or statutory relationship with the Cantabria Public Health System or with the University of Cantabria as a faculty member with clinical duties.
* Be under 45 years of age and hold a PhD degree at the time of application submission.
* Not have previously obtained funding as a principal investigator in projects awarded through national or international competitive calls, nor in IDIVAL’s Next-Val, Prim-Val, or Inn-Val calls.
* Medical residents or specialists in training may not participate.
* Only one principal investigator per application will be allowed; the role of co-principal investigator is not permitted.
* At least 60% of the PI’s indexed publications over the last three years must reflect IDIVAL affiliation.

The research team must consist of at least three members, including the principal investigator, and at least half of the team must belong to the Cantabria Public Health System.

Required documentation

Applications must be submitted through IDIVAL’s grants platform ([www.idival.org](http://www.idival.org)) and must include the following documentation:

* Curriculum Vitae: Link to the researcher’s CV from the IDIVAL research portal or CVA in FECYT format for the PI and collaborators. If collaborators from other public or private institutions, national or international, are included, their CV and authorization from their institution’s head to participate in the project must be provided.
* Project proposal using the standardized template.
* If supported by an IDIVAL group, a document endorsed by the head of the IDIVAL Group or by a member researcher with at least two competitive projects approved under the National R&D Plan.
* For studies in clinical settings, written authorization from the center’s management and from the head of the main unit or service.
* If researchers from the University of Cantabria who do not belong to IDIVAL groups participate, authorization from the Vice-Rector for Research of the University of Cantabria.

Application deadline and submission

The application period will be open from March 2 to April 1.

Application link: https://aplicacionesidival.idival.org/ConvocatoriasPropias/es/Convocatorias/VerConvocatoria?Id=1437

For any information related to the call, interested individuals may contact: [maria.wunsch@idival.org](mailto:maria.wunsch@idival.org).