FutureMeds and Viamed Salud Celebrate II Research Day: Strengthening Spain's Leadership Through Collaboration

Industry leaders, patients, healthcare professionals, researchers, and public administration convened at the conference to address key challenges in clinical trial development. 

Spain has firmly established itself as a global leader in clinical trials, now ranking third worldwide and first in Europe. But the job is far from over. 

Against this backdrop, FutureMeds and Viamed Salud organised the II Research Conference: "The Global Clinical Research Network: Together towards the Future," creating a forum where stakeholders discussed the sector's primary challenges and opportunities, emphasising cross-industry collaboration as the key to maintaining Spain's leadership position. 

Held at The Faculty of Humanities at San Pablo CEU University, the event brought together representatives from across the clinical research ecosystem, including pharmaceutical industry executives, patient advocacy groups, researchers, healthcare professionals, hospital administrators, academics, and government officials. 

Key Themes: AI, Competitiveness, and Patient-Centred Approaches 

Discussions focussed on several crucial topics: artificial intelligence's role in optimising clinical trials, Spain's competitive position within the European Union's research landscape, and the essential contributions of patients and healthcare professionals throughout the research process. 

Esther Estepa Saro, Corporate Director of People, Teaching and Research, opened the conference by highlighting the promising progress achieved through collaboration. "Since beginning our partnership with FutureMeds just one year ago, we've conducted over 15 clinical trials involving more than 200 patients, and we're now expanding into oncology research," Estepa noted. 

She emphasised the urgent need to involve additional stakeholders, including pharmaceutical companies, academic institutions, and patient groups, to strengthen cooperation and maximise research impact.  

"With increasing competition from China, reinforcing Europe's position in this sector is critical. This requires connecting all stakeholders and increasing investments in technology and data infrastructure to maintain our leadership," 

— Esther Estepa Saro, Corporate Director of People, Teaching and Research, Viamed Salud 

Wojciech Szczepanik, Executive Vice President of Site Operations at FutureMeds, reinforced Spain's pivotal role in the global clinical trials ecosystem. “Spain has demonstrated remarkable growth in clinical trial investment, with industry funding rising at a 5.7% annual rate from €479 million in 2012 to €834 million in 2022. Building on the country's demonstrated excellence in this sector, this significant investment positions Spain to capture an even greater share of global research opportunities, building on the country's demonstrated excellence in this sector.” 

With over 28,000 randomised patients across the FutureMeds site network and a Decentralised solution bringing trials to patient homes across Europe for over 12 years, the clinical research organisation is uniquely positioned to support Spain’s push for larger market share and increased patient access to trials across broad therapeutic areas.  

"With more than 2,170 trials conducted by our sites, and over 14,000 home visits delivered by our decentralised solution, FutureMeds has established itself as a key player in clinical research. Working together with Viamed Salud, our teams offer the pharmaceutical industry a proven international solution, high capacity, and quality delivery to address current research challenges. Which also presents an excellent opportunity to bring more cutting-edge clinical trial opportunities to patients in Spain.”  

— Wojciech Szczepanik, PhD, Executive Vice President of Site Operations at FutureMeds 

The dedicated approach success was exemplified multiple times across Viamed and FutureMeds’ startup year. FutureMeds Spain became the first to enrol in Spain for acne vulgaris and vaccines (flu), outperforming more established sites. The team has also been recognised by a major Sponsor as the world's leading recruitment site in a Phase 2 clinical trial for celiac disease.  

Szczepanik attributed this achievement to the company's dedicated clinical research model, which "optimises patient recruitment and retention, accelerating study start-up and protecting quality and data integrity of the trials."  

AI's Transformative Impact on Clinical Research 

Julián Isla, Data and Artificial Intelligence Resource Manager at Microsoft and member of the European Medicines Agency's Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products, addressed critical shortcomings in healthcare data management. He highlighted how inadequate access, registration, and clinical data models adversely affect diagnosis and treatment of rare diseases. 

Isla advocated for patient empowerment through technological tools such as the Foundation 29's DX29 platform to enhance data collection and utilisation. He also explored AI's substantial impact on drug development and clinical trial optimisation, demonstrating how this technology accelerates innovation and improves precision in personalised medicine. 

Spain's Competitive Edge in Clinical Research 

A roundtable discussion on Spain's research competitiveness featured insights from Amelia Martín Uranga, Director of Clinical and Translational Research at Farmaindustria; Rosario González, Site Engagement Lead at GSK; and Agustín Probanza Lobo, Vice-Rector for Research at San Pablo CEU University. 

The panelists identified several factors behind Spain's European leadership in clinical trials: robust public-private collaboration, highly qualified professionals, committed patient participation, and strong industry support.  

However, they highlighted the need for continued investment in innovation, greater patient involvement, streamlined processes, increased visibility for academic research, and expanded partnerships to maintain this competitive advantage. 

The Role of Patients and Healthcare Professionals 

The patient-focused panel brought together Begoña Barragán, president of the Spanish Cancer Patients Group (GEPAC); Blanca Rubio, vice-president of the InMunes Institute Foundation; and Jacqueline Usón, rheumatologist at Viamed Santa Elena University Hospital.  

They unanimously emphasised the critical importance of active patient participation from the earliest stages of research to improve trial outcomes and ensure humanised processes. 

The speakers advocated for a holistic approach to patient care that integrates lived experiences and needs into trial design and execution. They stressed the importance of clear, ethical communication among patients, researchers, and clinicians, while calling for enhanced patient education and improved tools to facilitate access to clinical trial information. 

Healthcare professionals Miguel Genebat González (Internal Medicine specialist, Viamed Fátima Hospital), Jesús Fernández Francés (pulmonologist, Viamed Santa Elena University Hospital), and Tomás Chivato Pérez (Dean of Medicine, San Pablo CEU University) discussed how collaboration between different healthcare levels and clinical trial sites, along with active professional participation, can strengthen clinical research in Spain. They emphasised the importance of fostering a research culture and providing proper training and recognition for professionals involved in clinical trials. 

Regulatory Perspective and Future Challenges 

Juan Estevez Álamo, head of the Clinical Trials Department at the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Medical Devices (AEMPS), presented on the current situation and challenges facing clinical research in the EU. While highlighting the importance of regulation, transparency, and safety, Estevez acknowledged the need to simplify processes, reduce timelines, and improve cross-country coordination to facilitate access to innovative treatments. He underscored patients' essential role throughout the development process and the fundamental importance of protecting their rights and well-being. 

Paulo Gonçalves, CEO of Viamed Salud Group, delivered closing remarks, reiterating the importance of teaching and research for the organisation "because it allows us to continue caring for the patient." He emphasised Viamed's commitment to their partnership with FutureMeds in advancing research while embracing new tools like AI. 

Rocío Díaz Sánchez, Managing Director of FutureMeds Spain, noted that building on last year's success, the collaboration with Viamed aimed to "bring together more industry professionals and provide opportunities to explore key issues in greater depth." 

A Shared Vision for the Future 

FutureMeds and Viamed Salud reaffirmed their commitment to supporting the development of new treatments for unmet medical needs and fostering a collaborative ecosystem that drives innovation and competitiveness in Spanish clinical research. Their shared philosophy emphasises that only through collective knowledge and action can patients gain access faster to the most advanced therapies. 

About Viamed Salud 

Viamed Salud is one of the leading hospital groups in the Spanish market, created in 2001. Viamed Salud has 13 hospitals and 15 health centres in Andalusia, Aragon, Catalonia, La Rioja, Murcia and Madrid. Its objective is to provide those regions where it is present with added value for their population in terms of health, always meeting the highest standards of quality for the patient.

The group is made up of 2,300 healthcare professionals, highly qualified and specialised in the treatment of different pathologies, prioritising the human and close treatment of patients. Its hospital facilities are characterised by modern equipment and the latest medical-surgical technology, as well as by its policy of environmental respect and sustainability. 

About FutureMeds 

Specialising in conducting clinical trials, FutureMeds is driven by a purpose to connect a global healthcare community and help bring quicker access to life-changing medications and therapies to all those who need them worldwide.  

FutureMeds’ Dedicated Research Site (DRS) teams serve as the company’s service foundation. FutureMeds @home, the company’s Decentralised Clinical Trial solution, enabling Sponsors and CROs to increase patient access to trials and boost recruitment, engagement and retention.  

In collaboration with Viamed Salud, FutureMeds Spain represents a key component of the country's clinical trials ecosystem since 2023. With expert teams and specialised dedicated sites across therapeutic areas, FutureMeds Spain collaborates closely with pharmaceutical and biotechnology partners to advance medical innovation, provide Spanish patients with early access to innovative treatments under the highest quality and safety standards and enhance patient quality of life. 

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