UB Chair on Innovation in Precision Oncology
“Precision medicine is the future of oncology. To implement it, we need to innovate in diagnosis, treatment and training.” (Dr Aleix Prat)
The University of Barcelona, Novartis and Roche have set up the UB Chair on Innovation in Precision Oncology with the goal of promoting teaching, training and research in the area of precision medicine in oncology.
The Chair, registered to the UB’s Department of Medicine, will be directed by Dr Aleix Prat, senior lecturer in Medicine, head of the Medical Oncology Service at Hospital Clínic, Barcelona, and leader of the Translational Genomics and Targeted Therapies in Solid Tumours group at the August Pi i Sunyer Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBAPS).
The initiative is the product of a synergy between the academic, healthcare and research sectors and, as its director explains, marks the culmination of work, knowledge and experience in this area of medicine. The objective is clear: to become a national and International leader in its field.
Director
Presentation
What the Chair stands for
“Precision medicine” is a recent term that refers to the adaptation of treatment to the specific characteristics of each patient. In oncology, precision medicine is implemented by using the patient’s genomic and molecular characteristics as the basis for diagnosis, treatment, clinical trials and translational research. It is therefore increasingly important for specialists to have a good understanding of molecular biology, genetics, genomics, clinical and translational research and new targeted therapies.
The Chair will develop high-quality teaching and research programmes through which to provide academic and technical training to practising and prospective oncologists and to prepare specialists to employ a precision medicine approach, enhancing the prognosis and quality of life of cancer patients. The training will focus on four core aspects: teaching (encompassing undergraduate and postgraduate education), research (promoting wider access to national and international grants and scholarships), knowledge transfer (dissemination of research results through conferences, seminars and publications), and international projection (establishing relationships and exchange mechanisms with universities and research centres outside Spain).
- Mission: To promote training in translational oncology and targeted therapies in solid tumours in order to improve patient well-being and survival.
- Vision: To revolutionize the implementation of precision medicine in cancer through teaching and academic training.
- Values: The mission will be achieved through the articulation of the following values:
- Integrity: to maintain a strong sense of internal coherence to generate trust.
- Teamwork: to instil a culture of collaboration in all members to support he achievement of the Chair’s objectives.
- Continuous improvement: to foster an attitude of personal and collective improvement and innovation as a means of improving organization.
- Focus on results: to promote the pursuit of balanced results and to provide the motivation to achieve them.
- Transparency: to guarantee transparency in the management and use of resources.
OBJECTIVES
General objective:
- To promote training, teaching and research in the field of precision medicine in oncology.
Specific objectives:
- To promote the training of oncologists, creating postgraduate diplomas and master’s degrees in areas related to the Chair’s activities.
- To create the PhD4Onc (PhD for Oncologists) scholarship in translational research, leading to the award of a PhD from the UB. Duration: 3 years.
- To foster, oversee and link the involvement of oncologists in predoctoral or postdoctoral stays at leading national and international research centres.
- To strengthen scientific debate with seminars and conferences in areas related to the Chair’s work.
- To establish a visiting professors programme for leading national and international experts in the areas covered by the Chair’s activities.
- To build networks with national and international universities and research centres with strong reputations in the Chair’s area of specialization.
- To facilitate the dissemination of research through publications and other communication actions.
- To encourage debate of aspects related to healthcare policy, legislation and the regulatory, ethical and economic factors relevant to measuring precision in oncology.
Team
Graduate in Medicine from the University of Barcelona (2003), specializing in Medical Oncology (2008), and recipient of the extraordinary doctoral award (2013) from the Autonomous University of Barcelona.
Since 2019 he has been a senior lecturer in Medicine at the University of Barcelona, where he has supervised five doctoral theses. He is also the head of the Medical Oncology Service at Hospital Clínic, Barcelona, and leads the Translational Genomics and Targeted Therapies in Solid Tumours group at the August Pi i Sunyer Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBAPS), as well as president of Solti (2019-2022), director of the master’s degree in Senology at the University of Barcelona, head of the Breast Cancer Unit at the Baselga Oncology Institute (IOB), member of the executive committee of the Breast International Group, member of the Barcelona Provincial Board of the Spanish Association Against Cancer (AECC) and member of the principal national and international medical and scientific societies in his field. He has recently been appointed a member of the Scientific Advisory Committee for the Catalan health authority’s Precision Oncology Programme.
Dr Prat is the co-founder and leader – alongside a group of national and international researchers – of the spin-off Reveal Genomics, SL, which develops precision diagnosis tools for oncology based on the aggregation of genomic data sources. The company will focus its ongoing work on improving the diagnosis of advanced or metastatic breast cancer and designing personalized treatments.
Dr Prat is actively involved in promoting clinical and translation cancer research, where he focuses particularly on cancer genomics and its clinical implications. Specifically, his research centres on the use of genomic or molecular data to guide the design of clinical trials and the development of biomarkers for the enhancement of precision medicine. His projects have received funding under a variety of national and international competitive programmes, most prominently from the Carlos III Health Institute, the American Association for Cancer Research, the Susan G. Komen Foundation and the Spanish Association Against Cancer. Since 2007 he has been involved in 170 publications and acquired three patents. He has received numerous awards and distinctions throughout his career.
“Smooth seas do not make skilful sailors” (Dr. Aleix Prat)
Graduate in Teaching (specializing in foreign languages) and in Business Management and Administration from the Autonomous University of Barcelona, International Executive Assistant master from INSA. She has also completed training programmes in communication and image, protocol and public relations, and other specific programmes linked to the emerging needs of a fast-changing globalized business environment.
She began her career in business with a scholarship at Hewlett Packard, where she provided executive support. She has many years of experience in multinational companies and has acquired extensive expertise in pharmaceuticals, healthcare and research. Since 2015 she has been the personal executive secretary of Dr Aleix Prat, head of the Medical Oncology Service at Hospital Clínic, Barcelona.
“Supporting leaders to align strategy with execution and achieve positive results and outcomes, always working in the shadow to give light” (Sra. Eva Paradell)
Graduate in Medicine (Autonomous University of Barcelona), master’s degree in Physical Activity and Sport (National Institute of Physical Education of Catalonia) and postgraduate diplomas in Behavioural Medicine (Harvard Medical School) and Clinical Hypnosis (University of Barcelona). He also holds an MBA (University of Barcelona) and completed the Program for Management Development at IESE Business School (University of Navarra).
He has extensive management experience in the biopharma sector, as a business manager in new molecule development, and is the CEO of BCNscience, a group of companies specialized in scientific communication and health promotion.
He has taught Strategic Planning at the Institute for Lifelong Learning of Pompeu Fabra University and hosts seminars in health leadership in conjunction with various scientific societies and universities. He is also a consultant to high-performance professionals and an expert in the implementation of motivational health coaching programmes for patients in a variety of specialties (cardiovascular risk, oncology, haematology, paediatrics, autoimmune disease, neurological disease, etc.).
Degree in Medicine and Surgery, qualified specialist in Occupational Medicine and Pharmaceutical Medicine, and PhD (cum laude) in Preventive Medicine and Public Health (Medicine and Surgery) from the University of Barcelona. He also holds an MBA and has international training in executive management.
Dr Estiarte has more than thirty years of experience in the health sector, where he began his activity in research and project development. Since then he has held executive roles in the phramaceutical industry. Much of his career has been linked to AstraZeneca, where for sixteen years he was medical director for Spain and director of speciality medicine. He has also worked as a business director for Esteve laboratories and as medical director for Bayer. Since 2019 he has been CEO of the academic group Solti.
“Solti is synonymous with innovation and research in oncology, conducting cutting-edge studies from start to finish.” (Dr Ramon Estiarte)
