Bringing everyone and every subject into the research fold: the Strategic Action for Health and the funding of biomedical research, development, and innovation

Fernández-Formoso JA, Pérez-Ortega JM, Sanz-Martul E, Blázquez-Herranz M

Biomedical research is an essential part of any strategy that seeks to improve the health

of citizens. The research done in Spain today will provide the basis for developing our

medical practices in the future. This paper considers the multilevel model that provides

the basis for public policies on how biomedical research, development and innovation

projects are funded. We discuss the situation of emergency medical specialists, who have

traditionally focused on clinical practice rather than research. We also provide an

overview of government biomedical research grants channeled through the Strategic

Action for Health (AES), which is administered by the Carlos III Health Institute (ISCIII),

the funding agency of the Ministry of Science and Innovation. Emphasis is placed on the

goals of the AES and the research challenges the National Health Service faces. The life

cycle of a research grant is described briefly. Finally, the AES subprograms in two lines,

research and human resources, are described in detail.

Blázquez-Herranz M, Fernández-Formoso JA, Pérez-Ortega JM, Sanz-Martul E