2017SCIENTIFIC REPORT Published by: Fundación Investigación Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valencia INCLIVA Health Research Institute Avd. Menéndez Pelayo, 4 Accesorio – 46010 Valencia Direction: Andrés Cervantes Ruipérez PhD, General Director Coordination and writing: Scientific Management Department Fundación Investigación Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valencia INCLIVA Health Research Institute Design and layout: www.valledor.net Printing: Gráficas Papallona (Valencia) Index 1. Introduction 5 2. INCLIVA origin and structure 11 2.1 History 13 2.2 Organizational structure 14 2.3 Core facilities 18 1 3. INCLIVA global analysis 21 3.1 Scientific output global analysis 23 3.2 Financial resources 25 3.3 Cooperative research networks 27 2 3.4 Knowledge transfer activities 29 4. Scientific activity 33 4.1 Scientific structure 35 3 4.2 Scientific translational programs 36 4.2.1 Overweight and cardiovascular and renal risk 36 4.2.2 Myocardial ischemic damage 37 4.2.3 Rare diseases 38 4.2.4 Neurological impairment 39 4.2.5 Translational oncology 40 4.2.6 Reproductive medicine 41 4 4.2.7 Aging and its associated diseases 43 4.3 Research areas 45 4.3.1 Cardiovascular area 47 4.3.2 Oncology area 81 4.3.3 Metabolism and organic damage area 116 5 4.3.4 Reproductive medicine area 165 4.4 Other scientific contributions from the Hospital Divisions and the Valencia Clínico-Malvarrosa Health Department 179 4.5 Other scientific contributions from scientific platforms 199 6 4.5.1 Biobank 201 4.5.2 Oncology Phase I clinical trials unit 202 5. Clinical trials and other studies 205 5.1 Clinical Research Ethics Committee (ECCR) Activity 206 5.2 Clinical research activity performed by the Valencia 7 Clínico-Malvarrosa Health Department 207 6. Initiatives for research promotion 213 6.1 VLC - Bioclinic research grants 214 6.2 Grants for secondments in centers of excellence 217 8 6.3 Training and teaching activities 218 7. Highlights 221 8. INCLIVA social initiatives 225 8.1 Philanthropic projects 226 8.2 Social initiatives news 227 8.3 Private philanthropic donations and acknowledgments 227 1 Introduction Introduction 1 It is my pleasure to share INCLIVA’s 2017 Annual Scientific Report with you, my first as General and Scientific 7 Director. As in previous years, this document evaluates scientific activity carried out during 2017 by INCLIVA research groups at the Hospital Clínico Universitario of Valencia and its Department of Health, the University of Valencia and the IUIVI (Valencia Fertility Institute). The purpose of this report is to help analyze 2017’s results in research and administration, as a basis for implementing the new approaches and changes needed to rise to our future challenges. This year represents an important milestone for several reasons. Changes in INCLIVA management The board of INCLIVA has renewed its management, and I am published scientific output was also remarkable: articles published proud to be appointed the new General Director, also taking over in magazines of the first and second quartiles of their respective the responsibilities of Scientific Director. The appointment was categories represented 56% and 20% of total output, respectively. proposed by the Institute’s Governing Board on accepting the resignations of Dr. Rafael Carmena and Dr. Josep Redón. In terms of competitive funding for new scientific research projects, INCLIVA groups obtained 19 projects within the National Dr. Josep Redón held the position of Scientific Director from R&D & Innovation Plan framework, four international projects, one June 2010 and Dr. Rafael Carmena was Director General from Valencian Government-funded project and five competitive grants May 2012. It was during Dr. Josep Redón’s term as Scientific Di- from privately-financed institutions. The grants received for health rector that INCLIVA was accredited as Health Research Institute, and technological development research projects in the Strategic and this accreditation was renewed in February 2017. Both the Action in Health framework, and the Research Challenges project Board of Trustees and INCLIVA’s researcher community have have provided INCLIVA with nearly two million euros of funding great respect and appreciation for the achievements of both for the next three years, in addition to the funding received for men during these years, a key period for the Institute in which the institute to continue working in three Platforms supporting re- scientific and research activity has grown significantly and INCLI- search in technology and health sciences (the Biobanks platform, VA has established itself as a center of reference. the Clinical research and clinical trials units platform, and the Inno- vation platform) with a total of €455,400 in funding. During 2017 This Board also appointed an Economic Director, Mr. Vicente de INCLIVA maintained almost 160 competitive projects active. Juan, previously the financial-administrative director. INCLIVA research groups also participate in cooperative re- Reaccreditation as a Health Research Institute search networks such as CIBER, with a presence in most of the thematic areas (diabetes, oncology, cardiovascular, aging, respi- In 2016 INCLIVA applied for renewal of accreditation, as estab- ratory, rare), as well as forming part of groups in RETIC. lished by the June 24 Royal Decree 279/2016 on biomedical or health research institute accreditation, and after a successful au- In clinical research, since the 2016 approval of new Royal De- dit INCLIVA’s accreditation as a Health Research Institute was re- cree 1090/2015 the Clinical Research Ethics Committee of the newed through the Carlos III Health Institute on March 13, 2017. Hospital Clínico has acted as reference committee in 16 studies, and in 2017 143 new clinical studies were initiated, resulting in a Increased quality research output total of 391 active clinical studies during the year. Turning to scientific output, during 2017 INCLIVA produced 584 Among its initiatives to promote research and training documents and surpassed the impact factor barrier of 3,600, thus culture, during 2017 INCLIVA continued with its Training Plan, continuing the upward trend seen in recent years. The quality of 1 Introduction collaborating with different hospital departments in organizing researchers (EPICHEM, MuTaLig or MOUSEAGE). These activities and coordinating 42 training initiatives, including 16 courses, 21 focus on areas such as cardiovascular medicine, personalized, workshops, three seminars and two conferences. In addition, aging, oncology, frailty and big data, with funding of more than 2.5 as per every year, the Institute supported training in centers of million euros. Another success is our researchers’ participation excellence, awarding a total of 21 grants for research stays aimed in international networks such as the Big Data Value Association 8 at learning new clinical and research techniques. (BDVA), the European Infrastructure for Translational Medicine (EATRIS) and the global initiative Networking in Personalized During 2017, grants have been obtained from differentHuman Cancer Medicine (WIN). Resource Programs, such as the Joan Rodés Program, which awarded the first funding of this kind to the institution enabling Quality in management us to contract an oncology specialist with extensive research ex- perience. Others include the Río Hortega Program, the Miguel Accreditation as a Health Research Institute already certifies Servet Program, the Ministry of Education Predoctoral and Post- the quality of the institution; nonetheless, INCLIVA has opted to doctoral Programs, as well as private grants such as the Spanish implement quality management systems in all areas where cer- Cancer Association Predoctoral grants. Finally, participation in tification is appropriate. Thus, in 2017 we obtained the Quali- postgraduate programs has led to 80 doctoral theses defended ty Certificate in Innovation Management, UNE 166002: 2014, in 2017. and previous certificates in management structure - the central medical research unit (UCIM), the Biobank and the Clinical Re- Encouraging collaborative research search Ethics Committee - have all been renewed. This year the VLC-Bioclinic Program, together with the University Commitment to Equality of Valencia, has again funded five innovative collaborative projects and nine preparatory actions for cooperative research projects. INCLIVA’s Equality Plan obtained the quality seal “Doing The main aim of this initiative is to support translational research Business. Equal Opportunities” granted by the Vice Presidency between researchers and physicians from the two institutions. and Ministry of Equality and Inclusive Policies of the Valencian Government. INCLIVA is the first Valencian health research Thanks to the REDIT-INCLIVA Program four initiatives have also foundation to obtain this seal. Our Equality Plan monitors gender been funded, in collaboration with the Institute of Information equality compliance in situations such as personnel selection, Technology (ITI), AINIA and the Technological Institute of Plastics. internal promotion, remuneration, non-sexist language and prevention of harassment. Broad international scope INCLIVA’s current privileged position has been made possi- INCLIVA management’s recent commitment to internationalize ble thanks to the efforts of our researchers, 180 of whom are research activity is now bearing fruit. As of 2017 INCLIVA is a employed directly by the Foundation. Our challenge, however, partner in several collaborative projects