OnCo
institutionsInstitution

Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas (CNIO)

aka Spanish National Cancer Research Centre, CNIO

Spain's national cancer research centre, founded by RAS pioneer Mariano Barbacid and known for oncogene, telomere and senescence biology.

The CNIO was created in 1998 with Mariano Barbacid, who had isolated the first human oncogene (HRAS) in 1982, as founding director; María Blasco (telomeres and telomerase) directed it from 2011 to 2025. Its groups made foundational contributions to KRAS-driven pancreatic and lung cancer models, cellular senescence (Manuel Serrano), replication stress (Óscar Fernández-Capetillo), melanoma metastasis (Marisol Soengas) and structural biology, and its Experimental Therapeutics Programme discovers small molecules for academic and industry partners. Clinical research units embedded in Madrid hospitals, including the H12O-CNIO lung unit and breast and prostate units, translate discoveries into trials. The centre runs a familial cancer clinical unit and a large biobank.

Location
Madrid, ES
Type
research institute
Newsweek 2026 oncology rank
Not in top 300 listing used
OnCo score
#114 · 32 points (0 Newsweek + 0 NCI + 32 from 16 linked objects) · ranking

Programmes

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  • Molecular oncology (RAS, telomeres, senescence)
  • Experimental Therapeutics Programme
  • Clinical research units in Madrid hospitals
  • Familial cancer unit
  • Structural biology

Connected

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