The UB, Hospital Clínic and AstraZeneca create a knowledge transfer chair on lung cancer

One out of five cancer deaths is caused by lung cancer. In Spain, there are more than 25,000 diagnosed cases per year, 80% men and 20% in women. Although smoking is the main risk factor, other factors such as genetic predisposition, bad eating habits and environmental pollution play a relevant role in the development of this illness.

Over the last years, there have been notable advances in the early diagnostic and discovery of new biomarkers, which can offer a more efficient treatment and can improve the cure and survival of patients with lung cancer. According to Mariano Monzó, professor of Human Anatomy at the University of Barcelona and director of the chair, “in this context, it is necessary to make advances in the dissemination and transfer of this knowledge to reach a better training for our students and professionals in the health field, as well as to provide our patients and families with better information through social actions such as the ones this new chair will carry out”.

Experts that build up the chair are members of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences of the UB, as well as the Department of Thoracic Tumors in Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, led by Noemí Reguart. “In the last decade, advances in the diagnosis and treatment for lung cancer have been fast paced and have improved the results on efficiency and survival. Now more than ever, we need to promote this knowledge from a multidisciplinary perspective. This chair gives us a unique opportunity to promote social awareness on this illness and transfer all these knowledges to professionals, students and patients”, notes Reguart.

Guillem Bruch, head of Oncology at Astrazeneca Spain, notes he is pleased that the pharmaceutical company is taking part in this chair: “We are proud of being participants in its creation and glad to contribute to the knowledge transfer in order to make progresses in the treatment of lung cancer as well as to improve the life of patients. We believe continuous training of health professionals is essential in order to keep improving oncological assistance, and given the impact of the illness, we are glad to be part of this project together with the University of Barcelona and Hospital Clínic”.

The chair was presented yesterday in an event which counted on the participation of the vice-rector for Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Transfer of the UB, Mercè Segarra; the general manager of Hospital Clínic and professor of the UB, Josep Maria Campistol, and the dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences of the UB, Antoni Trilla..