2010 AnnuAl REpoRT - Ciberdem

Letter from the Scientific Director
CIBERDEM began its activity over three years ago and it is now time to take stock of its achievements. Some are already
evident and among these is the qualitative leap forward, to which the present report bears witness, as regards the number
and excellence of publications. In line with international parameters, we consider it one of our main objectives to achieve
the maximum number of publications in the first decile in each speciality and, in fact, as the present report shows, most of
the groups have managed to publish several works at this level of competence. To this success we should add others, well
documented in the report, such as the ability of groups to work together, especially in the case of clinical and basic research
groups, which is a clear indication of our strong commitment to translational research, as well as an obvious demonstration
that these associations between groups are advantageous when it comes to obtaining funding, both private and public,
especially from the European Union. All this will soon allow us to put CIBERDEM firmly on the map of competitive biomedical
research in Europe, particularly in the field of diabetes and associated illnesses.
There is still a lot to do; in particular, we need to carry out further solid research which will have a significant impact on the
prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diabetes and its complications. Such an ambitious objective requires time, but in my
opinion, we are on the right track. The researchers have shown a remarkable capacity to obtain funding in order to promote
collaborative structures as well as to develop competitive projects, it might be a risky business, but even so the objective is
achievable. The report mirrors the reality of research in our country, but also shows us the way forward and the objectives
we need to achieve. The criticisms received by the External Scientific Committee, as well as the considerations of the
researchers themselves, have been an incentive to improve, but we also hope to receive positive interaction from the readers
of this report. CIBERDEM’s groups want to collaborate, participate and generate biomedical science to benefit the patients
suffering from diabetes, and in this sense are open to collaboration with others to make possible not just sound scientific
articles, but also scientific discoveries which are applicable to the medicine of the future. The challenges are there, and so
is the answer.
Ramon Gomis
CIBERDEM Scientific Director