IDIVAL approves a new R&D&I Quality Policy to promote excellence in healthcare research

At the meeting of the Board of Trustees held on 29 October 2024, the Valdecilla Health Research Institute (IDIVAL) approved a new R&D&I Quality Policy, reflecting its commitment to excellence, efficiency and continuous improvement in all its research and innovation processes. This policy not only aims to strengthen support for research professionals and guarantee quality in the eyes of funding bodies, but also constitutes an essential requirement for accreditation as a Health Research Institute by the Carlos III Health Institute.

IDIVAL’s management has established the following guidelines and key commitments:

• Innovation and quality research: Application of good professional practices that respond to the needs of generating knowledge and solutions to health problems, ensuring translation to clinical practice and compliance with current regulations on ethics and confidentiality.
• Social impact of research: Proactive evaluation of the social implications of research and innovation projects to maximise their benefit to society.
• Alignment with IDIVAL’s Mission, Vision and Values: Principles that guide all the institute’s actions and objectives.
• Quality Management System: Implementation of a management system in accordance with the standards required for the accreditation of Health Research Institutes by the Carlos III Health Institute, as well as the international standards UNE EN ISO 9001 and UNE 166.002.
• Transparency and accessibility: Promotion of equality in the recruitment and international projection of research talent.
• Continuous training: Constant improvement of the qualifications of researchers and employees through professional development programmes.
• Open science: Commitment to the dissemination of the knowledge generated to guarantee its accessibility to society in general.
• Continuous improvement: Active participation of the organisation in evaluation and improvement processes, as well as compliance with the annual objectives of the Five-Year Scientific-Cooperative Programme.

This new policy not only reflects the institute’s commitment to quality, transparency and continuous improvement, but also responds to the requirements for accreditation and recognition as a Health Research Institute of excellence. It also underlines the importance of open science as a pillar for making the knowledge generated by researchers accessible to society as a whole.

With this new policy, IDIVAL reinforces its position as a benchmark in health research, ensuring that its activities not only respond to the needs of the health system, but also generate a positive impact on the scientific community and society.