Fellowship Program for Medical Oncologists

environment that combines excellence in patient care with clinical and translational research.

The program is part of a strategy to promote young talent in clinical research, in line with the priority areas of the Andalusian Plan for Research and Innovation in Health and with the post-residency training standards recommended by SEOM and ESMO.

The two-year program has a dual objective: to enhance the clinical competence of young oncologists and to facilitate their integration into the field of advanced clinical research. The fellow's time will be balanced, with approximately 30% dedicated to clinical practice and 70% to direct participation in clinical trials and research projects. This structure aims not only to develop technical skills but also to cultivate a critical and scientific perspective on medical practice.

The training program will be organized around a set of clinical, methodological, and research competencies defined according to European standards (ESMO/ANECA), with progressive objectives that allow for the evaluation of skills and knowledge acquisition throughout the program. The program will also guarantee the beneficiaries' continued employment within the Andalusian healthcare system, allowing them to maintain their active professional accreditation throughout their training period.

During their stay, beneficiaries will be fully integrated into the clinical team of the Medical Oncology Department at HURS, participating in outpatient consultations, multidisciplinary sessions, and hospital activities, with a special emphasis on the management of patients enrolled in clinical trials. On the research side, they will actively participate in the development of ongoing clinical studies, collaborate in the design of new academic protocols, and receive specific training in Good Clinical Practice (GCP), research methodology, applied statistics, and scientific writing. The curriculum will also include training in clinical trial management and monitoring, scientific integrity, data protection, biobanks, and the ethical and regulatory aspects of biomedical research. The teaching methodology will combine in-person sessions, practical workshops, and online training, in line with recommendations for clinical-research specialization programs.

The program will feature a dual mentoring system. Each fellow will be assigned a clinical tutor—a member of the Medical Oncology Department—and a research tutor—from GC06—who will monitor their progress and provide personalized guidance for their training. Participants will also have access to IMIBIC's training programs and can attend national and international courses, seminars, and conferences to enhance their academic and scientific development. Each fellow will have an Individual Development Plan (IDP), developed in collaboration with their tutors, outlining the semester-long training objectives and competencies to be acquired. Tutors must demonstrate solid clinical and research experience (at least five years of clinical practice and three recent indexed publications), thus ensuring qualified supervision.

Over the course of two years, each recipient will be encouraged to develop a personal research project, framed within one of the Service's or Institute's active lines of research. This project may serve as the basis for a future doctoral thesis or for the generation of new clinical knowledge. At the end of the grant period, participants must submit a final report detailing the results of their work, publications, presentations, and projects undertaken.

Each participant will be encouraged to complete the program with at least one conference presentation and one manuscript submitted or in preparation, thereby strengthening their competitiveness for programs such as Río Hortega, Juan Rodés, or SAS Actions.

The selected candidates will receive specific training in writing competitive projects and applying for national and international research grants, including calls from ISCIII, ESMO and Horizon Europe.

Participation criteria and requirements.

The program is open to medical oncologists who have obtained their degree and who demonstrate an interest in and motivation for clinical research. Prior participation in clinical trials, completion of master's degrees or courses in research methodology, and involvement in scientific projects or publications will be highly valued.

A minimum level of scientific English equivalent to B2 or higher (CEFR) is recommended, enabling the critical reading of biomedical literature and participation in international forums. Prior experience with clinical databases, biological sample management, or clinical trial platforms will also be considered an asset.

Applicants must submit their application along with an updated curriculum vitae, a cover letter outlining their educational interests and reasons for participating in the program, and at least one letter of recommendation from a tutor or academic supervisor to the following email address: convocatorias.personal@fibico.org. The subject line of the email must include the reference B001/2026; applications that do not include this reference in the subject line will not be evaluated.

The evaluation committee may request a personal interview to assess the candidate's suitability for the program profile.

The application period will be open permanently. Applications will be evaluated based on a transparent scoring system that will consider academic and scientific merits, clinical experience, the cover letter, and the personal interview. Candidates may optionally submit a brief proposal for a line of research or area of interest, which will allow their research potential and suitability to the program's lines to be assessed.

Selection Criteria.

The selection of beneficiaries will be carried out by a joint committee comprised of representatives from the Medical Oncology Department and IMIBIC. The evaluation will consider the following aspects:

• The candidate's educational and academic background, including their MIR (Medical Residency) record and scientific merits.
• Clinical experience and the level of autonomy achieved during residency.
• The ability to integrate into multidisciplinary teams and collaborative work.
• Research potential and the motivation expressed in the personal statement.
• The overall impression from the personal interview, if conducted.

The committee will seek to ensure the selection of candidates with a well-rounded profile, combining clinical sensitivity, scientific rigor, and a commitment to continuous learning.

The members of the selection committee will sign a declaration of confidentiality and absence of conflicts of interest, in accordance with the principles of transparency and good governance in the evaluation of public programs. The indicative weighting of the criteria may be distributed as follows: academic merits 40%, clinical experience 30%, research potential 20%, and personal interview 10%.

Evaluation and Monitoring.

The progress of the participants will be monitored every six months through evaluation meetings with their assigned tutors. These meetings will assess the activity carried out in the clinical setting, participation in clinical trials, scientific output, and the degree of fulfillment of individual objectives. This continuous evaluation process will allow for adjustments to the training plan and ensure a personalized and high-quality learning experience.

The evaluation system will include quantitative indicators (number of patients included in trials, presentations, publications, training credits) and qualitative indicators (autonomy, leadership, interpersonal skills). At the end of the program, an external evaluation will be conducted by a scientific committee appointed by IMIBIC and the Reina Sofía Hospital, which will issue an overall performance report. Participants who successfully complete the program will receive a Diploma of Advanced Training in Clinical and Translational Oncology, endorsed by IMIBIC and the Medical Oncology Service of HURS.

Funding and Endowment.

The program will last two years and will have an annual grant of up to €45,000.00 gross, allowing full dedication to training and research activities. The grant will also cover expenses related to specific training, attendance at conferences, and participation in scientific meetings related to clinical research. Administrative management of the grants will be carried out through FIBICO/IMIBIC, in accordance with the regulations governing recruitment and human resources in biomedical research, and through the HURS Human Resources Department, in accordance with applicable regulations.

The grant will include Social Security contributions and employment coverage in accordance with current legislation, guaranteeing conditions comparable to those established for post-training research contracts. A specific allocation will be designated for training expenses, travel, publications, and conferences. The distribution of these funds will be communicated annually to the beneficiaries based on criteria of transparency and equity. This allocation is estimated to be up to €3,000.00, subject to budgetary availability.

Institutional Purpose.

With this initiative, IMIBIC, through GC06 and the Medical Oncology Clinical Management Unit, reaffirms its commitment to promoting young talent and developing an oncology model that integrates clinical care with applied research. The scholarship program aims to train a new generation of oncologists with critical thinking skills, a research-oriented vision, and ethical commitment, capable of leading future clinical and translational projects that improve the quality of life of cancer patients and the excellence of the healthcare system.

Furthermore, the program will contribute to strengthening the critical mass of clinical researchers in the Andalusian healthcare system, encouraging the participation of its graduates in competitive calls for proposals such as Río Hortega, Juan Rodés, and the SAS Clinical Researchers Actions.

IMIBIC will establish a graduate tracking system to evaluate the medium- and long-term impact of the program in terms of publications, competitive projects, and clinical-research leadership.

Expected Results and Impact Indicators

The program will be evaluated globally using objective indicators, such as:

• Annual scientific output (publications and presentations).
• Number of active research projects with beneficiary participation.
• Graduate placement rate in competitive programs (Río Hortega, Juan Rodés, SAS).
• Level of satisfaction among tutors and participants.

The systematic measurement of these indicators will document the program's quality and sustainability, facilitating its accreditation by agencies such as SEOM or ANECA.