IMPPC Fundación Institut de Medicina Predictiva i Personalitzada del Càncer

12.   What are the expected results?

The creation of a dedicated center for pure and applied research into the genetics and epigenetics of cancer, with an initial concentration on gastrointestinal cancer, will require returns proportional to the initial investment.

The objective of the IMPPC is to guarantee the following essential outputs of a research center:

• Publications
• Training of researchers
• Registered patents
• Licenses and contracts
• Creation of spin-offs

These outcomes are quantifiable.  The center will also have an impact on the following three areas:

First Impact:  The generation of knowledge and its sustainability and transmission

1.1   Scientific Production

•   Number of publications
•   Impact factor and number of citations

1.2   Training of Researchers 

•   Postgraduate, master and doctoral theses
•   Continuing Education of Postdoctoral Investigators 

 
Second Impact: Improvement of clinical practice

            2.1   Implementation of diagnostic techniques for hereditary cancer

2.2  Contributions to the new stage of molecular diagnostics (biomarkers)

2.3  Contribution to the new stage of targeted therapies

Third Impact: Generation of profitable new businesses

3.1          Patents

3.2          Creation of new companies

The professional curriculum of the principal investigator, both scientific and strategic, is a guarantee of success in these three areas of impact.

Dr Perucho has wide experience of directing research programs with a high scientific output.  He also has teaching experience, spanning many years both in the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) and the USA.  The site of the IMPPC, close to the both the teaching hospital and the UAB will allow the institute to carry out highly specialized training of researchers.

The research strategy of the first groups at the IMPPC and the preliminary results, in conjunction with the close collaboration with the UAB and the university hospital (HUGTiP) mean they are ideally placed to produce innovative diagnostic techniques and effective targeted therapies.

Finally in relation to the business impact, a field in which Spain has traditionally lagged, there will be large incentives to set up companies in the scientific area dominated by the IMPPC.  The political and financial climate favors such start-ups and the physical environment of the institute allows for growth of this nature.