Research

At Fundación Occident, we promote different research projects in the fields of biomedical science, food and nutrition, as well as research into cardiovascular and oncological diseases.

In support of research, the foundation hosts its Research Awards, which are aimed at acknowledging the excellence and level of research achieved by Spanish researchers in the fields of nutrition and diet, with an impact on health, within their scopes of basic, clinical, epidemiological and technological research.

Convinced of the importance of encouraging interaction in the field of research with the purpose of contributing to the advancement of science, our Foundation collaborates with several scientific bodies, which many renowned doctors attend as part of the Fundación Occident Visiting Researchers programme.

The Fundación Occident Visiting Researchers programme involves a highly prestigious international visiting professor spending several months at one of the country’s leading research centres. These stays allow, on the one hand, to deepen the scientific relationship of the host research group with the visiting researcher's group and, on the other hand, to initiate new lines of action based on the generation of new scientific interests.

This initiative awards a research grant to internationally renowned scientists, enabling them to travel to Spanish research centres and undertake a stay of several months.

During the grant, they can, on one hand, deepen the scientific collaboration between the host research group and the researcher’s home institution, and on the other, initiate new lines of work based on innovative scientific interests.

In 2009, we started a solid relationship with the Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas (National Cancer Research Centre, CNIO), which is, both nationally and internationally, a public institution of reference in research, diagnosis and cancer treatment; in 2013, with the Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (National Centre for Cardiovascular Research, CNIC) in order to encourage the advancement of studies in the field of cardiology and its transfer to treating patients; and most recently, in 2014, we began collaborating with the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (Canary Islands Astrophysics Institute, IAC), which is a research centre international in scope with observatories in Tenerife and Gran Canaria.

Fundación Occident partners with the Gasol Foundation to jointly prevent childhood obesity and promote healthy habits among young people.

As a universal ally of the Gasol Foundation, Fundación Occident is also a main contributor to the PASOS Study, a landmark report that assesses the lifestyles and health of children, adolescents and their families in Spain.