Precision medicine as a founding framework
Precision medicine represents a paradigm shift in healthcare, as it proposes an approach focused on adapting diagnostic and therapeutic decisions to the individual characteristics of each patient. In oncology, this approach is particularly relevant, given that cancer is a profoundly heterogeneous disease from both a biological and clinical perspective.
The application of precision medicine in oncology means that decisions related to diagnosis, treatment, clinical trial selection and translational research are based on the specific genomic and molecular characteristics of each tumour. In this context, it is increasingly necessary for oncologists to deepen their knowledge in areas such as molecular biology, genetics and genomics, as well as in clinical and translational research and the development of new targeted therapies.
The creation of the IOP Chair at the University of Barcelona responds directly to these emerging needs. Its objective is to equip present and future oncologists to lead the implementation of precision medicine and achieve tangible improvements in both prognosis and quality of life for people with cancer.
In addition, the Chair considers it essential that patients and society as a whole understand what precision oncology is, as well as its opportunities and limitations, as a key element for informed decision‑making, active participation in care processes and the responsible implementation of innovation within the healthcare system.
Specialised training and university teaching
One of the core areas of the Chair’s activity has been the promotion of specialised training. In this regard, the Chair has encouraged the participation of twelve lecturers with profiles specifically linked to precision oncology, strengthening teaching in clinical research, biostatistics and the molecular biology of cancer. The Master’s Degree in Senology constitutes a benchmark academic programme in specialised breast cancer training.
More specifically, the Chair has played a key role in structuring and organising the module “Research, biostatistics and molecular biology of breast cancer”, aimed at providing professionals with a solid scientific and methodological foundation.
Over these five years, the Chair has developed an intense training activity, with 14 training initiatives aimed at healthcare professionals, researchers and PhD students. Among these initiatives are the Molecular Tumor Board (MTB) training course, with four editions; the Statistics in Radiation Oncology Course at Hospital Clínic Barcelona; and the R statistics course applied to oncology, designed to provide professionals with practical tools for data interpretation and evidence‑based clinical decision‑making.
The Chair has also participated in promoting the GenAI Health Hack, an initiative of Hospital Clínic Barcelona focused on the co‑creation of health solutions through generative artificial intelligence. This initiative brings together healthcare professionals, researchers and experts in data and technology, reinforcing responsible innovation focused on real impact in clinical practice.
As part of the integration between teaching, research and care, the Chair has promoted four editions of the Molecular Tumor Board (MTB) training course, which have served as the conceptual and organisational basis for the creation of the clinical MTB at the Clínic Barcelona Comprehensive Cancer Center (4CB). This model aligns with the Catalan Health Service’s precision oncology instruction launched in March 2021 and contributes to the structured incorporation of molecular information into clinical decision‑making within the healthcare system.
Endorsements and commitment to training excellence
The Chair has granted 33 endorsements to training activities, in addition to endorsing a strategic positioning document, reaffirming its commitment to programmes that guarantee excellence, continuous updating and scientific rigour in oncology.
Specifically, the Chair endorsed the “ASEICA‑MED Position Paper on the physician‑researcher”, promoted by the Spanish Association for Cancer Research (ASEICA). This document, signed by twelve leading scientific organisations, identifies the main structural challenges of clinical cancer research in Spain and proposes measures to strengthen the role of the physician‑researcher and the effective integration of research into the healthcare system.
Fostering research talent
In the field of research training, the Chair has acted as a catalyst for young talent. Over these five years, seven doctoral theses linked to its lines of work have been completed, and there are currently twenty‑one doctoral theses underway, reflecting sustained growth in scientific activity and interest in precision oncology.
In addition, the Chair has organised four calls for predoctoral grants, acting as an academic and organisational platform for their dissemination, evaluation and follow‑up. The funding for these grants, with a total allocation of €80,000, has been provided by sources external to the Chair itself, making it possible to support five PhD students and actively promote gender equality and the development of scientific careers in this field.
New deputy director
As part of this fifth anniversary, the IOP Chair appointed Professor Teresa Macarulla as deputy director.
Professor Teresa Macarulla, a leading medical oncologist and clinical and translational researcher in the field of digestive cancers, and associate professor at the University of Barcelona, assumed leadership of the Medical Oncology Department at Hospital Clínic within the framework of the 4CB on 1 September 2025. Her leadership strengthens the integration of care, research and teaching, and brings additional strategic value to the Chair’s academic project.
Institutional vision
Joan Guàrdia, Rector of the University of Barcelona, highlights that “the IOP Chair exemplifies the University of Barcelona’s commitment to excellence in teaching and research, closely aligned with the real needs of the healthcare system and society. Initiatives such as this strengthen the role of public universities as drivers of knowledge, innovation and social progress.”
Institutional collaboration and future outlook
Aleix Prat, Professor at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences of the University of Barcelona, Director of the Institute of Cancer and Blood Diseases (ICAMS) and the 4CB, and Director of the IOP Chair, notes that “these five years have coincided with a genuine revolution in precision oncology. The Chair has made it possible to build a stable model of collaboration between the university, the healthcare system, industry, patients and society, which is key to accelerating knowledge generation and its real impact on clinical practice.”
The Chair is supported by Roche, Novartis, Pfizer and MSD, whose involvement has been key to achieving these objectives.
Rita Casas Carrogio, Regional Head Northeast Business & Regional Access at Roche Farma S.A., explains that “celebrating the fifth anniversary of the IOP Chair means recognising the transformative power of collaboration and the value of joining forces around a common goal: advancing precision oncology. At Roche, we are proud to be part of this success story and to continue promoting truly personalised oncology, based on research, knowledge and innovation. This anniversary represents a further step in our commitment to patients and to a form of medicine that seeks to generate a real and positive impact on each person’s life.”
Lupe Martínez, Medical Director of Novartis Spain, states that “we are proud to support an initiative that, over these five years, has become an example of why Spain is now an international reference in oncology research and training. Its trajectory reflects the value of combining capabilities between academia and industry, which is essential to continue moving towards more integrated, innovative precision medicine focused on patients’ needs, contributing to improving their quality of life and the sustainability of the healthcare system.”
José Chaves, Medical Director of Pfizer, explains that “for Pfizer, the Chair has proven to be a catalyst that accelerates the application of cutting‑edge science in oncology care. It demonstrates the company’s firm conviction in the power of collaboration to transform patients’ lives and drive the future of precision oncology in Spain.”
Joaquín Mateos, Executive Director of MSD, points out that “at MSD we believe that the training of professionals and, in particular, initiatives such as this Chair, are tools to promote knowledge and create collaborative environments in which experience and learning become the driving force behind innovation and the provision of better care for patients with cancer.”
Looking ahead, the Chair aims to consolidate and expand its training programme, continue promoting doctoral theses and competitive projects, strengthen its national and international profile, and continue acting as an even stronger bridge between the university, the healthcare system, industry, patients and society.
More information: https://catedra-iop.com/en
