Scientific production was good this year, despite the fact that the total number of publications appears to have stabilized, which represents a turning point compared to the continued growth of recent years. This is because 244 publications have been accepted this year but were not published before the end of the year - delays that have been increasing recently - and this may make it necessary to reconsider how publications are accounted in terms of the scientific production of a given center. In terms of scientific production, the percentage of articles published in journals with an impact factor was 90% (884/979) and the percentage of articles published in journals in the first quartile of their category was 63% (564/884).

In 2017, IMIM submitted a total of 407 research grant applications.

A total of 94 agreements have been signed with private companies to carry out services or for sponsorship and 148 agreements have been signed for carrying out clinical trials for an overall sum of six million euros.

Two of the projects submitted in the competitive calls for applications by the Spanish Ministry for Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO) on CHALLENGES and EXCELLENCE have received provisional approval.

Of the 49 project applications submitted to calls for research projects in health by the Carlos III Institute of Health (ISCIII), 17 projects have been obtained - a 34% success rate, which is a little higher than the average for Spain. We have also managed to maintain participation in the platforms funded by ISCIII on Biobanks and ITEMAS.

Funding was obtained for one project in the “2017 Grants for Cancer Research” call for applications by the Spanish Cancer Association (AECC). A total of 36 groups submitted applications for grants to support the activities of the AGAUR Research Groups.

In 2017, the Department of Health of the Catalan government has issued a decision on the call for grant applications in health care as part of the Strategic Plan for Research and Innovation in Health Care (PERIS), and the center obtained a total of 20 grants from the PERIS call: 6 proposals for increasing nursing personnel, 4 for taking on technical and scientific staff, and 4 projects aimed at research in primary care. In the call for applications as program coordinators, one program was awarded in personalized medicine, one in regenerative medicine, two in independent clinical research, two in cohort studies, as well as participation as subprojects in two programs coordinated by other centers. Proposals have already been submitted for the second PERIS call for applications and have received provisional decisions, with the following results: 2 agreements for increasing nursing and physiotherapy personnel, 4 agreements for increasing medical personnel, 3 agreements for taking on technical and scientific staff, and 1 project aimed at research in mental health as project coordinator, and participation in 5 more projects.

Two European projects have been implemented: one IMI project and one H2020 project. Furthermore, 2 more projects have received approval: one IMI project and one H2020 project.

In terms of personnel grants, the hiring of one researcher was approved by means of a Juan de la Cierva training grant. A predoctoral FPU candidate has also been incorporated.

The following were funded in the ISCIII human resources calls for applications: 1 personnel increase, 2 Rio Hortega post-residence grant, 2 Sara Borrell postdoc, 3 PFIS predoctoral and 1 Miguel Servet I researcher, and 2 researchers have moved to Miguel Servet II.

In relation to calls for grants by IMIM under the Programme Contract, management of the intensification programme, funded with €57,000, has made it possible to intensification for two doctors from Hospital del Mar. A Jordi Gras grant has also been awarded for training in research for doctors who will finish their residence in 2017.

Furthermore, the call for applications for a grant for training in foreign research centres for specialist medical personnel at Parc de Salut Mar has been issued and the grant awarded for the fourth year running.

The good results in innovation, both in Catalonia and in Spain in terms of scientific publications, contrasts with the reduced transfer of results to the production fabric - an aspect that bears improvement and that will require the allocation of more resources next year. In 2017, two new patents were formalized and there was 1 notarial registration, which is expected to be available for use for a new spin-off. A licence was obtained for a new patent in oncology at a European company in the field of biomarkers and worthy of mention is the new initiative of the innovation club (Club de la Innovació), which brings together once a month professionals from the institution who are interested in innovation.

In terms of transfer of results, one patent obtained a PCT extension and two patents have entered national phases.

This year, the Innovation Unit was accredited with the UNE166.002:2014 quality certification.

In October, the Office of the Secretary General for Sport (SGE) and FIMIM signed a cooperation agreement to promote scientific research associated with protecting the health of athletes and people who do sport, and the fight against doping in sport. The IMIM Foundation received €750,000 from this agreement this year.

All these milestones reached highlight the importance of the rising and positive trajectory of IMIM.

We want this positive trend to be maintained consistently over the coming years, together with the implementation and execution of the strategic plan.

 

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