Better late than never. Scientists and technicians at the country’s largest cancer research center have woken up to the deep crisis the center is experiencing and have written a statement publicly expressing their “contempt for the situation they are facing” at the National Center for Oncology Research (CNIO).
“It is an unprecedented gesture of unity,” explains in these memoirs one of the leaders promoting this reaction, which was supported by the majority of the organism’s top scientific officials and a large part of the factory dedicated to the research, Asegura. This time at 1:00 p.m., they will demonstrate at the main door of the organization to show their concern about “a prolonged period of crisis that could present a public image that is not representative” of their work, according to the document.
The new movement emerged after the CNIO fell into a deep crisis that arose at the end of last year and resulted in the loss of its top managers, Scientific Director Maria Blasco and Director Juan Arroyo. The first accusations of mistreatment and workplace harassment, among other questions, were weighed. Both spent more than a decade in their positions and maintained a declared confrontation that led to a state of unprecedented paralysis in the center. This need did not solve the crisis. The focus is now on an alleged conspiracy of old contracts handed over to friendly companies that could have defrauded around €20 million from the centre’s warehouses, according to a complaint filed with the anti-corruption tax office by a center executive who was dismissed in disciplinary proceedings.
This time, the center’s patronage unanimously agreed to abolish the current position of former director Juan Arroyo as deputy director of economic affairs, and two other senior directors close to him: the general secretary, with Laura Muñoz at its head, and his assistant for administration, José Ignacio Fernández Vera, as president of EL PAÍS. Moreover, the current director, José Manuel Bernabé, appointed to refloat the center and clarify any illegal conduct, submitted his own report to the tax office on what happened to the CNIO accounts in recent years. This is an unprecedented situation since the center was established in 1998 as a symbol of cancer research in Spain. The clean-up was proposed by the current director and accepted by all members of the Centre’s sponsorship, which includes members of the government, four autonomous communities governed by the Popular Party and three private sponsors.
“We are fully confident that the new management and scientific direction will lead a phase characterized by transparency and the protection of public interests,” says the statement, referring to Bernabe and Raúl Rabadan, who has been appointed Scientific Director, but has not yet been confirmed, which is expected at the beginning of next year, but which must be completed with current commitments to it. Columbia University, where he works until now.
The statement adds: “We want the community to make the distinction that the CNIO research community will continue to work with the same dedication in perpetuity, and that we will not allow practices that contribute to science to disrupt our work on the mission that changes us. Our work is based on accuracy, integrity, and an absolute commitment to the CNIO mission: to advance knowledge of cancer and contribute to the well-being of society. Any malfeasance or lack of transparency is in direct conflict with this purpose and erodes the trust placed in our institution.”
Scientists are trying to separate themselves from alleged wrongdoing committed at the center over the years. One of his demands is to separate everything that happened at the CNIO.
“We demand transparent and accountable management. An environment in which management is clear, effective and honest is the only way to achieve scientific quality,” they warn. He concludes: “The CNIO is an international reference thanks to its scientific and technical staff. We are confident that the new phase will foster a stronger, more ethical and more responsive center to the challenges of cancer. Researchers at the CNIO remain steadfast in our commitment to scientific excellence and the society we serve.”
One of the positions that has been eliminated is that of José Ignacio Fernández Vera, who was appointed director general of the Spanish Science and Technology Fund “for personal reasons” after these memoirs revealed that he had spent nearly €25,000 over the years to hire high-end coaches with a private driver to go from Madrid to events in Salamanca, his hometown, and elsewhere in Spain.