Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO)

 Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO) is an international cancer research centre of excellence with the mission of fostering translation of scientific breakthroughs into novel and more effective ways to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer.

Research proposals shall cover the following lines:

• Basic Research – As the main activity of the CNIO, basic research is carried out in two  Research Programmes: Molecular Oncology and Structural Biology. At least three groups of the Molecular Oncology Programme are also envolved developing projects related with SARS-COV-2, such as 1) SARS-COV-2 diagnostic test by phi 29 polymerase amplification, aimed to develop novel detection  kit (COVI-PHI) for the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection. 2) Study of the potential role of short telomeres in the pulmonary fibrosis associated to COVID-19 infection 3) Systematic evaluation of ACE2 modulation by drugs approved for medical use.

Research proposals in basic research should be focused on generating knowledge and discoveries that can advance the fields of molecular oncology, structural biology and biocomputing.

• Patient-oriented Translational Research – the Clinical Research Programme of the CNIO aims to bring together the bench and the bedside by directing research efforts towards translating advances in cancer research for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of patients. Research proposals can include conducting early clinical trials with novel drugs; discovering biomarkers for drug response and disease outcome, and implementing a strategy for personalized medicine. The Human Cancer Genetics Programme focuses on areas related to genetics, genomics, pharmacogenetics, molecular cytogenetics and the environmental bases of human cancer, working in close collaboration with the clinical community. Two Units of the Programme are envolved also in a COVID-related project on Host genetics. The Mouse Genome Editing Unit of the Biotechnology Programme is working on Preclinical mouse models for the study of COVID-19 and the test of therapeutic strategies

Research proposals should be focused on any of these areas.

• Innovation– the CNIO has an Experimental Therapeutics Programme (ETP) to develop drug discovery and development research projects to identify novel drug targets and to validate them as potential therapeutic opportunities for the treatment of cancer; and a Biotechnology Programme that supports the development of novel biotechnological tools and reagents for cancer research.

Research proposals in these scientific disciplines should be oriented at these two aspects of innovation in applied cancer research.

Research proposals  oriented in molecular aspects,  patient-oriented or drug discovery related with SARS-Cov-2 may also be accepted.