‘We must all believe that IDIBAPS is Campus Clínic’s research and innovation centre’

I would define them with three words: ‘intensity’, because they have been very intense, ‘admiration’, for all the good work that is being done, and ‘excitement’. I am a science lover, and the new positions bring me into very close contact with research areas that are not my own. That is really exciting and enticing. There is nothing more rewarding than seeing how human intelligence is used to produce knowledge.

I would highlight the professionalism of the management teams and their great ability to handle projects with the limited resources available. I have also been able to confirm that the structure is understaffed, that the people in the management offices are making extra efforts and that this is something we must improve.

We must believe in who we are: IDIBAPS is Campus Clínic’s research and innovation centre. We must keep this clearly in mind, both at IDIBAPS and at the hospital. We must think as one big campus, also with the University of Barcelona. Several obstacles are making this difficult, but my job is to work to overcome them.

One is urban planning. We are physically separated and scattered across many different locations. This makes it hard to create a common sense of belonging. Having different domains does not make it easy for us to share information; we still lack a common data governance framework that would allow us to work efficiently and responsively. We must clear the way to become a single campus when we have the new Clínic, all working and coordinating together, regardless of the institution that hired us.

We need space now and we’re working on it. In March we will open the new rooms in the Science Park, where we will install three IDIBAPS groups and some IS Global groups currently located in the Esther Koplowitz Centre (CEK). We are also setting up new multipurpose rooms in the Rostower building and we continue to look for more alternatives where we can grow.

The first is scientific cohesion. We are strangers to each other and many research groups don’t know what their colleagues are doing. This is compounded by the physical dispersion of facilities I mentioned earlier. Some groups form alliances and partnerships and research programmes have been created to foster this in recent years, but it’s not enough. At a time when science is more complex than ever, interaction between different groups is essential.

I also think we must emphasise the value of clinical research. We do a lot of that, but there is room for improvement. And we must boost collaboration between translational and clinical professionals. Research groups must believe in and promote the idea that questions that come up in the clinic reach the laboratory and that answers found in the laboratory return to the clinic.

Another priority is internationalisation. We have professionals who are world-renowned leaders in their fields, and yet IDIBAPS as an institution does not enjoy the same global visibility. Therefore, IDIBAPS must seek synergies and agreements with international bodies and organisations.

We cannot stop or shrink. We are a huge ship and if we cut our engines, we’ll drift. We shouldn’t increase the number of groups too much, but we must adapt to new needs. The profiles we incorporate must become more diverse. We must be highly attentive to the research community and evolve to adapt to new needs arising in a changing environment.

On this point, I am optimistic. I have met the new generation in these last few months; we have very well-prepared young people with profiles of great value and a lot of drive. At the directorate, we work to support the more senior group leaders in the succession process, many of which are undisputedly top figures in their field and have made IDIBAPS great. We aim to ensure that succession is carefully planned and takes the time necessary to be as beneficial as possible for everyone.

Everything related to patient care. I was treating cancer patients with melanoma, who require a lot of dedication, and with whom I made tight and long-lasting bonds. And I miss that. I also miss my personal relationships with clinical colleagues, as now I see them far less frequently.

I see it as one more step towards normality. Several women have been appointed to lead research centres in recent years. IDIBAPS’ previous directors—Joan Rodés, Ramon Gomis and Elías Campo—had a great deal of charisma and significant and specific weight in research. When I considered applying for the position, I had to consciously tell myself not to impose a glass ceiling. This wasn’t just about being a woman, but also about coming from a specialty like dermatology, which is rarely represented in top leadership positions.