The researcher and specialist in Pathology takes over from Dr. José Sánchez Payá, scientific director of the Alicante center between 2016 and 2023
Alicante (19/12/23). Dr. Cristina Alenda is the new Scientific Director of the Alicante Institute for Health and Biomedical Research (ISABIAL). Dr. Cristina Alenda takes over from Dr. José Sánchez Payá, who served as ISABIAL’s Scientific Director between 2016 and 2023, a period during which the Alicante research center based at Dr. Balmis General Hospital achieved accreditation as a national center by the Carlos III Health Institute (ISCIII)
The new Scientific Director of ISABIAL is a specialist in Pathology and holds a PhD in Medicine and Surgery from Miguel Hernández University of Elche (UMH)
Following her specialized medical training, Dr. Cristina Alenda obtained a Río Hortega post-residency research training contract between 2005 and 2008, during which she completed a training stay at the Radboud Medical Center in Nijmegen (the Netherlands) in Neuropathology
Her scientific career has focused on research into hereditary forms of colorectal cancer and brain tumors. In 2009, she began managing the Dr. Balmis General Hospital Biobank as scientific director, a position she continues to hold.
In 2014, Dr. Cristina Alenda was appointed Head of the Pathology Section at Dr. Balmis General Hospital and currently, following the retirement of Dr. Francisco Ignacio Aranda, she leads the department. She is also an Associate Professor of Pathology in the Department of Pathology and Surgery at UMH since 2017. Since July 2021, she has held the position of Deputy Scientific Director of ISABIAL.
ISABIAL’s Scientific Director, Cristina Alenda, explained that “our main objective is to improve citizens’ health through enhancing the quality of healthcare. To achieve this goal, it is essential to manage, promote, and support health and biomedical research carried out in the province of Alicante, as well as to share the results with society so that it becomes actively involved.”
To achieve the defined objectives, ISABIAL’s Scientific Director considers it a priority to work as a team with research and management staff to renew national accreditation through the Carlos III Health Institute; to initiate the construction of the new ISABIAL building within the Alicante–General Hospital Health Department complex; and to work in collaboration with the University of Alicante and Miguel Hernández University of Elche (UMH) to launch an interuniversity doctoral program.
The Alicante Institute for Health and Biomedical Research (ISABIAL) is a center accredited by the Carlos III Health Institute (Ministry of Science and Innovation). It is part of the Alicante–General Hospital Health Department, where more than 600 researchers from the healthcare department of Dr. Balmis General Hospital, the University of Alicante (UA), and Miguel Hernández University of Elche (UMH) work.
