Palabras de S.M. la Reina en el acto central del 'Día Mundial de la Investigación en Cáncer'

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I first of all would like to thank the Cancer Research Center for hosting us today. Your work with the University of Salamanca and CSIC has been remarkable and long lasting. By the way, happy anniversary. I also thank the Spanish Association Against Cancer for organising this event. And, of course, allow me to recognise the work of different entities and résearchers who support our shared goal: preventing and conducting research on cancer, being more effective in its treatments, caring for patients and giving them a more powerful voice. And why? Because everyone, even before potentially becoming patients, should be at the centre of research and of concern by our healthcare system: so the keyword is prevention. Therefore your motto "Cancer research needs us all" is so pertinent. Moreover, patient experience transforms technological innovation into human innovation and ultimately improves medical effectiveness. What we are talking about, what you are talking about, is a more inclusive research, one that leads to a more effective and humane treatments.

"...everyone, even before potentially becoming patients, should be at the centre of research and of concern by our healthcare system: so the keyword is prevention. Therefore your motto "Cancer research needs us all" is so pertinent. Moreover, patient experience transforms technological innovation into human innovation and ultimately improves medical effectiveness. What we are talking about, what you are talking about, is a more inclusive research, one that leads to a more effective and humane treatments..."

In our complex and rapidly changing world, global priorities may equally shift, but that does not necessarily apply to certain empirical realities, like cancer remaining the second leading cause of death worldwide; the first, last year, in Spain. Accomplishments and strides are numerous, this centre is a good example. I have just been to several of your labs, where you are working on how to improve the diagnosis and treatment of cancer caused by mutations in specific oncogenes, where you try to explore deeper into chemical mutations in RNA or study the genetic basis of myeloma in the field of haematological cancers.

However, we know the disease continues today to spread faster than our knowledge. That is why equitable and secure funding remains vital, ensuring fairness and transparency both in the distribution of resources and in the access to results; as well as in guaranteeing the basic right to healthcare. It is therefore more than worthy to continue investing in research, in technology, in services and, above all, in talent, without forgetting how crucial it is to invest in prevention!! And we hope that those of you who work in oncological research may access the means to continue doing so, and share your knowledge, as you are about to do here today. These spaces for dialogue are truly important because, in order to make true progress, science also needs to listen and to be heard… So, keep going! Thank you!