"Constantes y Vitales" (Vital Signs) recognizes excellence in research and preventive health initiatives.
Each year, the "Constantes y Vitales" Awards are held to promote, recognize, support, and strengthen the research work carried out by Spanish scientists in the field of biomedicine, as well as initiatives focused on preventive health.
Expert committee
The “Constantes y Vitales” campaign is supported by a committee of renowned experts from Spain and abroad, which serves as an advisory body guiding the campaign strategy. We are fortunate to count the following individuals among its members: Dr. Mariano Barbacid, biochemist and molecular researcher; Josep Brugada, senior consultant at the Hospital Clínico Universitario de Barcelona; Ángela Nieto, CSIC (Spanish National Research Council) research professor and director of the Department of Developmental Neurobiology of the Alicante Neuroscience Institute; Carlos Camps Herrero, head of the Medical Oncology Department of the Hospital General de Valencia and Chairperson of the ECO Foundation; Flora de Pablo, PhD in Medicine from Salamanca University and research professor at the CSIC Centre for Biology Research in Madrid; Elena Flores, AXA Director of Health; María José Alonso Fernández, professor of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology at USC and pioneer in the fields of pharmaceutical nanotechnology and nanomedicine; Fátima Bosch, professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and director of the Centre for Animal Biotechnology and Gene Therapy; Alfredo Carrato, Chair of the National Medical Oncology Committee, the Spanish Society of Cancer Research, and the Federation of Spanish Oncology Societies; María Sanz Vicente, deputy director of the CSIC General Foundation (FGCSIC); Ramón Reyes Bori, Chair of the Spanish Association Against Cancer (AECC) and the AECC Scientific Foundation; and Jesús García-Foncillas, director of the Cancer Institute.
"Constantes y Vitales" Conversations
The aim of this initiative, launched in November 2020, is to strengthen the support for science and the work of scientists at a crucial time for scientific advancements. The discussions are moderated by journalist Mamen Mendizábal and address key issues in science and research. The first edition featured Pedro Duque (Spanish Minister for Science and Innovation) and Ángela Nieto (research professor at Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and director of Department of Developmental Neurobiology of the Alicante Neuroscience Institute) and focused on the campaign called "Objetivo 2%", the signature campaign to increase investment in science to this percentage of GDP. The second edition focused on the rollout of Covid-19 vaccines in Spain with the participation of Mariano Barbacid (professor of Molecular Oncology of the CNIO *Spanish Center for Research in Oncology and member of the AXA Research Fund), María Jesús Lamas (director of the Spanish Agency of Medicines and Medical Devices) and Isabel Sola (co-director of the Coronavirus lab at CNB-CSIC).
"Objetivo 2%" Campaign
If supporting science has always represented a clear investment for the future and an indicator of the health of a country and its citizens, today there is a need to go a step further. In this context, in October 2020, the Corporate Responsibility platform "Constantes y Vitales", along with the AXA Foundation, launched a signature campaign called "Objetivo 2%" to call for investment in scientific research to be increased to 2% of Spanish GDP.
