The Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria INCLIVA, part of the Hospital Clínico Universitario de València, is coordinating a national project aimed at translating scientific knowledge into public policy to improve the fight against cancer.

The aim of the project, entitled Strategic Advisory Network on Health Policies Against Cancer (Red ECON), led by Dr Andrés Cervantes—Scientific Director and Coordinator of the Oncology Area at INCLIVA and Head of the Medical Oncology Service at the Hospital Clínico Universitario de València,—is to advise health authorities so that decisions can be prioritised and a 70% survival rate in cancer can be achieved by the year 2030.

The Network includes expert groups from INCLIVA, the Instituto Catalán de Oncología (ICO), the Oncology Service of Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre de Madrid (12-O), the Vall d’Hebron Instituto de Oncología (VHIO), the Fundación para la Gestión de la Investigación en Salud en Sevilla (FISEVI) and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Cáncer (CIBERONC).

Red ECON, which held its kick-off meeting this Wednesday at the VHIO premises in Barcelona, aims to build a bridge between the scientific-health ecosystem in cancer and national and regional health authorities. Based on scientific evidence, it seeks to promote the adoption of the most suitable political decisions and social strategies to ensure an efficient and effective fight against cancer.

The project’s specific objectives include: enabling political authorities to access the scientific and technical knowledge of this expert network for the design of public policies and action plans; developing strategies for advising on the management and funding of research and care in oncology; improving the coordination and management of strategic R&D&I initiatives in cancer, encouraging collaboration between political and scientific institutions to optimise research and treatment efforts; and promoting Spain’s participation in international cancer-related projects and initiatives.

Red ECON, which will run for two years, is a project funded with €60,000 by the State Research Agency of the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, through the 2024 Research Networks Call.

According to the National Statistics Institute, nearly 115,000 deaths from cancer occurred in 2022—a 3.9% increase compared to 2021—making it the second leading cause of death in both Spain and Europe.

Ayuda RED2024-153888-E financiada por MICIU/AEI / 10.13039/501100011033: