Strengthening health research to retain and attract scientific talent

IdISBa's scientific activity has grown rapidly in recent years. This evolution has highlighted the need to recruit new professional profiles and to reinforce both the research staff and the management team. The GREAT-IdISBa initiative addresses this demand, with five programmes that seek to include talent at all stages of the career in research, from doctoral training to clinical trial management.

The project enables the recruitment of 19 professionals: support technicians, doctoral students, post-doctoral researchers and clinical staff for the new Balearic Unit for Phase I Clinical Trials. This unit, which began to be developed in 2023, aims to increase participation in highly complex trials, such as those involving CAR-T therapies, and allow local patients to access innovative treatments without leaving the islands.

The TECH, JUNIOR and FOLIUM programmes offer 24 to 36 month-contracts, with specific remuneration and grants for stays in national and international research centres. The new THERAPÏA programme will enable the continuation of key contracts for the operation of the clinical unit, while the GESTIÓ programme will reinforce the administrative team so as to manage the load brought by this growth.

With an overall budget of around 2.5 million euros, this plan aims to contribute to overcoming one of the weaknesses of the Balearic R&D system: the low proportion of research staff in relation to the total number of people employed. In addition to consolidating IdISBa's accreditation as a centre of excellence, the aim is to reinforce its role as the cornerstone of an economic model driven by innovation and knowledge.