The cancer research developed at the Comprehensive Cancer Center of the Jiménez Díaz University Foundation Hospital is integrated within the structure of the Jiménez Díaz Health Research Institute (IIS-FJD, UAM) https://www.fjd.es/iis-fjd/enThis link opens in a popup window, accredited by the Carlos III Health Institute (ISCIII).

The Jiménez Díaz Health Research Institute (IIS-FJD) was created in 2009 through an agreement between the Jiménez Díaz University Foundation Hospital (HUFJD) and the Autonomous University of Madrid (UAM). It was accredited by ISCIII (MICINN) in 2010, reaccredited in 2015, and renewed in 2021 for a five-year period, in accordance with the requirements established in Royal Decree 279/2016, of June 24.

In 2022, ISCIII authorized a significant change to include the Rey Juan Carlos University Hospital (HURJC), Infanta Elena University Hospital (HUIE), and General University Hospital of Villalba (HUGV) in the IIS-FJD. Likewise, in 2024, ISCIII authorized the significant inclusion of the Center for Energy, Environmental, and Technological Research (CIEMAT).

The IIS-FJD is made up of the research and teaching staff of the HUFJD and the associated University Hospitals that are part of the Madrid public health network: HURJC, HUIE, and HUGV; as well as teaching and research staff from UAM and associate researchers from CIEMAT.

The main objective of the IIS-FJD, as a research excellence center within the National Health System, is to promote translational research, aimed at solving health problems and improving the quality of life of citizens.

IIS-FJD Structure:

It consists of 29 research groups distributed across six areas, 4 thematic and 2 transversal.

The Cancer area is one of the six research areas of IIS-FJD.

Research in the IIS-FJD Cancer Area is developed on three complementary levels: basic research, translational research, and clinical research. The Cancer Area includes the Pathological Anatomy, Medical Oncology, and Hematology groups, in addition to 3 associated groups.

The components and scientific activity of the groups forming the Cancer Area can be consulted at:

Among its objectives are:

  • Deepen the knowledge of genetic and protein alterations in solid and hematological tumors.
  • Delve into research on the causes of resistance to current therapies, focusing on the study of the immune system and the tumor’s supporting tissue, to open new immunotherapeutic treatment strategies.
  • Advance in the treatment of the tumor microenvironment, both in drug development and clinical trials; explore new technologies and approaches to better decipher the tumor microenvironment; and discuss strategies to intervene in the protumorigenic microenvironment and maximize therapeutic benefits.
  • Investigate, in prospective samples, markers of tumor cells and the immune system that allow distinguishing patients who would benefit from next-generation therapies.

From the laboratory to the clinic:

  • Search and identification of new targets for the development of new drugs: in vitro and animal models.
  • Search and identification of biomarkers of response and toxicity to oncological drugs.
  • Integrated clinical trials unit (teamwork with Radiation Therapy and Surgery) with at least 3 data managers and 2 research nurses.
  • Phase-1 unit
  • Translational research division with clinical involvement.
  • Search for new genetic alterations responsible for cancer susceptibility syndromes or risk modifiers.
  • Radiobiology
  • Cancer immunotherapy

Future challenges of the Cancer Area:

  • Development of alternative research models (humanized mice, organoids) to recreate different human tumor models across a wide range of tumorigenesis stages.
  • Development of new high-performance diagnostic tools (massive sequencing, proteomics) and minimally invasive ones (liquid biopsy, imaging) in cancer, aimed at patient selection and disease monitoring.