The Marqués de Valdecilla Research Institute (IDIVAL), in collaboration with the Regional Ministry of Education, Vocational Training, and Universities, is launching the second edition of its Scientific Outreach Program, an initiative aimed at bringing biomedical research closer to students in 1st year of Secondary Education (ESO), 2nd year of Baccalaureate, and Vocational Training from schools across Cantabria. Following the success of the previous edition—during which the number of participation requests nearly doubled—the program is now firmly established as a regional reference point for fostering scientific vocations among young people.
Since its creation in 2024, this program has made it possible to unify and coordinate all the activities, workshops, and visits that IDIVAL’s technological services and research groups have been offering to schools since 2014. The 2025–2026 edition expands this offer and makes it available to all interested schools, with activities tailored to different educational levels.
The program maintains its goal of opening the doors of science and showing, in an accessible way, the impact of research on health and society. Students will get a first-hand look at the work of IDIVAL’s scientific teams, visit laboratories, observe interactive demonstrations, and engage in dialogue with professionals from different areas of biomedical research.
Among the participants, the Hospital Educational Care Team of the Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital (HUMV) stands out. This team cares for preschool, primary, and secondary students who must remain hospitalized for health reasons. Together with the students from the Child and Adolescent Day Hospital, they will attend the workshop “Science that Shines: The Magic of Molecular Imaging with Radioactive Isotopes,” delivered by Dr. Isabel Martínez Rodríguez, head of the Molecular Imaging Group.
Activities Offered by Research Groups and Technological Services
The program brings together a wide range of proposals designed to introduce biomedical research to students across Cantabria. Among the activities offered is a visit to the Pathological Anatomy Service and Museum at the Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital, organized by the Pathological Anatomy and Molecular Pathology Group.
The Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology Group is offering three activities: “Antibiotic Use: Why More Is Not Always Better,” “Protect Yourself and Protect Us: Learn About Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and How to Prevent Them,” and “Get Closer to Clinical Research in Infectious Diseases.”
Meanwhile, the Cellular Signaling and Therapeutic Targets in Cancer Group offers the activity “Why Do Our Genes Make Us Sick?” and the Surgery Research and Innovation Group proposes a session dedicated to robotic surgery at Valdecilla. The field of social sciences is also represented with the activity “Unraveling the Links Between Economics and Health: An Innovative Approach,” offered by the Health Economics Group.
The Photonic Engineering Group opens the doors of its laboratory for students to learn about its work, and the Translational Hematopathology Group proposes a training experience focused on identifying immune system neoplasms. Also noteworthy are the activity “Science that Shines: The Magic of Molecular Imaging with Radioactive Isotopes,” delivered by the Molecular Imaging Group, and the initiative “Looking at Bone Up Close” from the Skeletal, Metabolic, and Environmental Diseases Group (iESQUEMA).
Rounding out the program is a visit to IDIVAL’s technological services, which provides an up-close look at the institute’s scientific resources, and the activity “How Can We Innovate in Health?” delivered by the Innovation Support Unit, which introduces students to the process of creating and developing innovative solutions in the healthcare field.
