If drawing up a research project to obtain funds used to be an important part in the career of all scientists, in view of today’s economical situation, this process has become essential. The Esteve Foundation therefore decided to organize a new course addressed to future health science researchers, to learn the techniques and basic skills to apply for research projects from funding agencies and other institutions.

Three specialists in preventive medicine and public health, who have participated in a number of research projects, showed around thirty students the keys to draw up a good project. The course took place on 16 and 17 February 2016 in the Institut de Medicina Predictiva i Personalitzada del Càncer (IMPPC), in collaboration with the Institut d’Investigació en Ciències de la Salut Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP) and the Institut de Investigació contra la Leucèmia Josep Carreras (IJC), during which the participants learnt about the different types of projects, the different sources of funding and how to approach them.

Teresa Ruiz Cantero, coordinator and currently vice-dean of research, postgraduate/doctorate and international relations of the faculty of heath sciences of  Universidad de Alicante, explained “whoever takes on the task of drawing up a project to obtain funds for research, has to control many aspects, from the bibliographic revision to the declaration of new and attractive hypothesis, along with developing a work plan and a realistic costs estimate”.

Fellow lecturers were Carlos Álvarez-Dardet, Professor of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, and director of the Doctorate programme in Health Sciences of Universidad de Alicante and Elena Ronda, Professor of Preventive Medicine and Public Health of Universidad de Alicante.