The new CIBER is funded by the Ministry of Science and Innovation and the European Union, and is managed by the Carlos III Health Institute (ISCIII) within the Strategic Action in Health within the framework of the State Program for the Generation of Knowledge and Strengthening of the Spanish R + D + I System. Its purpose is to promote research of excellence in Biomedicine and Health Sciences that is carried out in the National Health System and in the Science and Technology System. The new area is added to the eleven previously existing areas.

The new CIBER in Infectious Diseases has selected only 46 research groups of excellencein infectious diseases in Spain, all of them large hospital centres, specialised institutes and public and private foundations, with the sole exception of the UV Health Parasitology Unit. The interaction of this group with the WHO and FAO / United Nations centres of the same Unit will represent “a new injection for this crucial field of health at the University of Valencia”, according to María Adela Valero.

The new CIBER aims to study infectious diseases to strengthen the scientific integration and coordination of research groups, both in research of a more fundamental nature and in that of a clinical and translational nature, in areas as relevant as global health, the approach to pandemics such as the current COVID-19, antimicrobial resistance, neglected diseases, emerging diseases, AIDS and other opportunistic infections, or the development of new therapies for them, among others.

María Dolores Bargues, the group’s main researcher in this project, highlights the importance that this recognition represents at the national level and the opportunity it provides to initiate and consolidate more collaborations with other reference groups. “Our group was already part of the previous RETICs network (Thematic networks for cooperative health research) on tropical diseases (RICET), which is now going to be extinguished as well as other RETICs that were related to this type of disease”, the expert highlights. Only 9 of the almost 30 RICET groups have been selected for this CIBER, which “is an undoubtedly momentous step that we are going to take advantage of to open up many perspectives for the young members of our team”, according to Bargues.

For his part, Santiago Mas-Coma emphasises “the work of many years that the group has been carrying out in the field of global health through its International Reference Centres of the World Health Organisation and FAO / United Nations United”, which he directs himself. “In Spain, our group is the only one that has two United Nations reference centres and consequently the new CIBER will allow and facilitate us to expand our international activities in parasitic diseases and infectious diseases transmitted by vectors. With our selection, the ISCIII proves the interest of our country in international cooperation in health”.

María Adela Valero emphasises the importance of having been selected for the Valencian Community, for Valencia and for the University of Valencia, when referring to the fact of being “the only representative group of the Valencian Community in the new CIBER, together with the FISABIO of the General Hospital of Elche”. In her opinion, “it is appreciated to see that our numerous and prolonged work efforts in many countries on all continents are recognised as well as the value of our scientific contributions in the fight and control of infectious diseases. When you look at the many applicant and recognised groups that have been left out, you realise the scope of the designation”.