NEWS

Will Spain's First National Cancer Center Boost Research?

Sabine Steimle

Few countries in Europe have faced as rapid a transition as Spain. Within a couple of decades the formerly autocratic regime has developed into a flourishing and prosperous modern democracy. However, when it comes to science and biomedical research, Spain has not yet reached its full potential. But there are signs of progress.

With the creation of the first National Cancer Center, the CNIO (Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncologicas, Carlos III), Spain, it seems, is on its way to overcoming an image of a country that is not using research to its economic and social advantage. The center was established by the Ministry of Health in 1998 and is located in Madrid.

"It may sound amazing but our country traditionally has lacked interest in scientific research and has not excelled in any relevant scientific or technological field for many years," said Mariano Barbacid, Ph.D., CNIO's newly designated director. "As a result, investment in science and technology is running behind other European countries. For instance, in 1998 Spain only dedicated 0.8% of its gross national product to research and development, while most other countries of the European Union invested 2% or more."



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Dr. Mariano Barbacid

 
The country's scientific community therefore considers the new center, which just went into construction this spring, as the first serious attempt to create a competitive facility for basic cancer research. Estimated costs for the construction of the center, which will open its doors in early 2001, are about U.S. $25 million. However, the CNIO's research projects on molecular pathology are planned to start later this year in temporary laboratories supplied by the Ministry of Health.

"In order to provide urgently needed molecular diagnostics, we are initiating collaborations with the pathology and oncology departments of leading hospitals in Madrid as fast as possible," said Barbacid.

Estimated operational costs for the CNIO are about U.S. $30 million per year, an amount that represents as little as 0.1% of the total Spanish health care budget. Only about 50% of the funding will come from the Ministry of Health directly.

"For the other half, we will be obliged to raise funds through research grants and contracts with industry," said Barbacid.

That will be a rather tricky endeavor, according to Alfredo Carrato, M.D., Ph.D. "So far, our industry has not established a culture of funding and supporting biomedical research since such investments are not encouraged by tax reductions or similar advantages."

Carrato is head of the medical oncology department at the Elche University Hospital and vice-director of the research center for cellular and molecular biology at the Hernández University, both in Alicante.

Public associations are not big spenders either. Said Barbacid: "One wouldn't believe it, but the Spanish Association Against Cancer in general only allocates about 3% of its budget to research while similar organizations in France, the United Kingdom, or the Netherlands dedicate about 80% of their resources."

Reorganization Effort

Funding is only one part of the problem. Structural obstacles and a rather heavy-handed bureaucracy are consequently damaging the country's research effort. Experts criticize the fact that university departments still get their funding based on the number of students and/or the number of courses offered. As a result, research is not seen as a priority and good researchers are often considered a threat rather than an asset.

"It is obvious that our scientific system needs to be reorganized," said Barbacid. "Even if there was enough funding for cancer research, this field cannot be isolated."

According to the CNIO director, the problem boils down to several basic concepts which need to be implemented as soon as possible. Funding should be gradually allocated based on scientific merit, even if this requires shutting down certain university facilities.

In addition, the permanent civil servant positions must be phased out except for accomplished senior scientists. "Currently, investigators must have tenured positions before they are allowed to create their own research groups and only these who are civil servants can apply for grants provided by the European Commission," he said. "Such administrative rigidity goes against common sense. Only a long-term strategic research plan will enable Spain's cancer research to catch up with its European neighbors."

The CNIO has already taken the first steps on the rocky road to reform.

Unlike other Spanish research centers, its staff will not consist of government employees anymore. "We will have industry-like conditions instead and senior staff must be prepared for regular evaluations and site visits," said Barbacid.

A Complementary Force

"The CNIO will complement the already well-established clinical research network and hopefully boost translational research in our country," added Carrato.

Some investigators said that the new center might well encourage young cancer researchers working abroad to take advantage of the recently established government-sponsored repatriation grant program to return to their home laboratories.

Barbacid doubts that this will work in the near future: "The program lacks a detailed plan that will provide the necessary resources for the establishment of scientists, once the temporary grants have expired," he said.

However, the newly established Office for Science and Technology which directly reports to the President indicates that Spanish politicians are prepared to give biomedical research closer attention.

"That is a step in the right direction," said Barbacid, "Now we shall see how it develops."



             
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