Interviews
MAUCO – THE FIRST CANCER COHORT AND BIOBANK IN THE COUNTRY, OPERATES AT MOLINA HOSPITAL
- January 30, 2023
- Publicado por: ACCDIS
- Category: ACCDiS in Media Featured news
Next to the Hospital de Molina on Luis Cruz Martínez Avenue 2780 is located the teaching module of the Catholic University of Maule, space in which the MAUCO project has been operating since 2014, initiative led by researchers from the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, the u. of Chile and the UCM, as a central project of the first Advanced Center for Chronic Diseases in Chile (ACCDiS ).
Interested in this initiative and how to project this work to the south central macro zone, the Science Seremi arrived at the MAUCO offices, Technology, Knowledge and innovation, Sofia Valenzuela, who was able to know the work carried out by the human team led in the field by Dr.. Laura Andrea Huidobro, professor of the Department of Preclinical Sciences of the Faculty of Medicine of the UCM.
After the visit, The authority commented that the Mauco project "is an excellent initiative that has allowed a screening of health and chronic diseases with at least 10 thousand inhabitants of the local population ... In fact, is an excellent contribution and example of how scientific knowledge is transferred directly to the population and in this case has allowed to improve the quality of life of many neighbors of Molina and we hope that it can continue over time due to the social impact it has, which is very high", said.
"From the Ministry of Science we are happy to see this type of project because it fulfills an important axis of the government of President Gabriel Boric, On the one hand, The democratization of knowledge that is generated in universities so that it reaches communities directly and on the other hand is an initiative in regions to contribute to decentralization", added the Seremi.
Community Impact
In its execution, The MAUCO study compromised the health assessment of 10,000 people between 38 and 74 years old, Inquiring about the factors that influence or prevent the development of cardiovascular diseases, Diabetes, Obesity, respiratory diseases, Dementia and cancer in the population.
About this action, Dr. Catterina Ferreccio, MAUCO project director, deputy director of the Advanced Center for Chronic Diseases and professor at the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, He explained that "to date we already have a tremendous biobank and a population information bank.. We have incorporated new projects according to what people are living, the biggest of the new ones is to study the COVID virus and its relationship with vaccinations. We are the first to have information about what happens with asymptomatic infections and vaccine protection.", said.
This is how the MAUCO team also raised the concern of not only knowing the things that determine chronic diseases and cognitive impairment., Dementia and cancer, but also to do something and evaluate intervention strategies in this population. "We completed just the first year of a study nested in MAUCO where a group of people were trained in physical activity and healthy eating with intensive intervention.. What we have gained is a lot of enthusiasm to continue, People say that since the first week of intervention they have felt better", highlighted.
The result of this last action has been radical., registering a 50% decrease in patients with diabetes in the intervention group compared to the control group, Now the challenge is to get other local actors to offer this permanent possibility in the time of training in physical exercise and food in the commune.
Oncology and science
In his visit to Molina the Seremi of Science commented that one of the lines that precisely wants to promote is the scientific work in oncology, question that for Dr. Ferreccio, It is very important. "In particular, her proposal to make a cancer center for us is very important since it is the reason why we are in Molina., is the commune with the highest prevalence rate of this disease in Chile. It was a very productive meeting with the UCM cancer team", said.
In the same vein., the director of the Hospital de Molina, Nilton Palacios Maldonado, said about MAUCO that "it is a very important action because it has generated a greater synergy between the Catholic University of Maule, MAUCO and Molina Hospital. These types of alliances are generating development in the communities, not only in research but in field intervention, So I am very happy for today's day, that allows us to continue advancing in this direction".
Among the improvements that the hospital has experienced for the benefit of the community can be mentioned the increase in research capacities, increased chance of taking exams, Increased diagnostic complexity, new specialties and the long-awaited dream of having an endoscopy unit at the Molina hospital, born with the support of the UCM and MAUCO.
On behalf of the Cancer Center of the UCM, its director Dr. Raul Silva Prado, He stressed that "what has been proposed is an alliance that allows generating a joint work of different institutions from different regions. We are all concerned about similar goals, trying to address the cancer problem in the best possible way from their regions (…) The invitation is to deepen the joint work both in research and in other initiatives that allow to better serve the community", said.
Credit: DIRCOM UCM. https://portal.ucm.cl/noticias/hospital-molina-opera-la-primera-cohorte-biobanco-oncologico-del-pais