Esther López

The Jesús Usón Minimally Invasive Surgery Centre (CCMIJU) is a public and multidisciplinary institution devoted to research, innovation, training and technology transfer in the field of Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS) and health care. The main strategic research lines that make up the CCMIJU scientific program are structured in 4 main areas: Minimally Invasive Surgery; Cell Therapy; Bioengineering and Health Technologies; and Assisted Reproduction. Within these areas, we are devoted to innovation and medical training in collaboration with hospital and companies of the medical sector. The ultimate aim of the CCMIJU is to improve the quality of healthcare delivered to patients, by providing surgeons and other health professionals with innovative solutions and training. We conduct preclinical research under two different models. On the one hand, the institution acts as a Contract Research Organization (CRO) focused on “in vivo” preclinical services, for the pharmaceutical, medical devices and biotechnology industries, either via cooperation or under contract. On the other hand, the different research teams working in the CCMIJU’s areas participate in competitive calls at different levels. All these projects have a common denominator, which is an eminently translational perspective, in which we endeavour to bring the tested therapy as close as possible to the clinical setting, conducting the research under stringent ethical and quality assurance guidelines. The current CCMIJU facility: Animal Housing, Experimental Operating Rooms, Cell Therapy, Animal Modelling, Medical Imaging and Medical Bioprinting Laboratory is recognised as a Singular Scientific Technological Infrastructure (ICTS) by the Spanish Government, along with the staff and expertise necessary for GLP regulatory preclinical studies.