The Biomedical Research Networking Center (CIBER) is a Public Research Consortium created in 2006 under the leadership of the Carlos III Health Institute (ISCIII, the main Public Research Entity responsible of funding, managing, and carrying out biomedical research in Spain), to promote research excellence and build a critical mass of researchers in the field of Biomedicine and Health Sciences. Organized in 13 research areas including Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBERBBN), Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Hepatic Diseases (CIBEREHD), Cardiovascular diseases (CIBERCV),Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases (CIBERDEM), Rare Diseases (CIBERER), Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), cancer (CIBERONC), Respiratory Diseases (CIBERES), infectious diseases (CIBERINFEC), Frailty and Healthy Ageing (CIBERFES) Public Health and Epidemiology (CIBERESP) and, Obesity and Metabolic Diseases (CIBEROBN), CIBER is the largest Research Network in Spain.
CIBER counts with more than 750 dedicated employees and more than 5,000 associated researchers integrated in more than 500 leading-edge research groups. Thanks to its network structure, CIBER is capable of bringing together more than 100 different associated institutions including Hospitals, Research Centers, Technology Centers, Private Institutions and Universities selected to join CIBER consortium on the basis of their excellence.
CIBERONC is the Spanish Research Thematic Network Centre on Oncology, that under a single legal personality, aggregates 50 excellent research groups around 27 institutions through the whole Spanish territory either at the National Health System or at Research centres, operating under a single programme. To ensure the integration of the results of research in patients’ treatment, there is a balance between basic and clinical researchers in all CIBERONC structures. The central objectives of each programme are furthermore intended to improve the diagnosis and treatment of cancer patients. Last, but not least, CIBERONC wishes to narrow the gap between scientific knowledge and society. CIBERONC has thus adopted a structure with the following specific aims: (i) to carry out joint programmes for research, development and innovation in the cancer area, (ii) to contribute to solving the problems faced by healthcare in the field of oncology, (iii) to promote the participation of research groups in national and international research activities, especially the ones included in European R+D+I Framework Programmes, (iv) to promote the transfer of results of research processes to society and in particular to the production sector and (v) to promote the dissemination of its activities and the training of researchers in the cancer field.
Biographies of team members
Anna Bigas
Dr. Anna Bigas is the Scientific Director of CIBER Oncology (CIBERONC), vice-director of preclinical research at the Josep Carreras Institute and leader of the Stem Cells and Cancer Research Group at the Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM).
Her research group investigates how to create and renew the stem cells that maintain the tissues under physiological conditions. These processes have great similarities with those used by the tumours for their perpetuation. Their studies focus on the hematopoietic system and in the process of leukaemia.
In 2021, Dr. Bigas was awarded as one of the Top10 women leaders at the national level in the Academics, Researchers and Thinkers category.
Izaskun Miguel
Dr. Izaskun Miguel is the Deputy Scientific Director of CIBER Oncology (CIBERONC), the national research structure of excellence in cancer. She is managing the Area of Oncology in the Biomedical Research Center Network (CIBER), which counts with more than 800 researchers, both academics and clinicians, dedicated to cooperative research in cancer.