Biology and Evolution of Microorganisms

The Biology and Evolution of Microorganisms Group, whose head is Dr. Rafael Cantón and which is made up of nine other principal investigators as well as numerous pre- and post-doctoral researchers, technicians and other healthcare personnel, has participated in the last 5 years in 17 national and international research projects and in 15 contracts with pharmaceutical companies or companies dedicated to in vitro diagnostics. During this period of time this work has resulted in more than 190 publications in national and international journals with a high impact index and more than 11 doctoral theses. Likewise, more than 400 communications have been presented at numerous national and international congresses. And all this always seeking the highest excellence in the fields of population biology, antibiotic resistance, respiratory infection, microbiota, metagenomics and HIV.

2025 Activity indicators

6 competitive European projects: JPIAMR; HE, ERC-StG, EU4HEALTH
18 competitive national public projects: ISCIII, CAM, MICIIN
17 private projects led
5 clinical studies led
12 competitive HR contracts
77 publications
FI: 310.90
Publications in Q1: 37 (48%)
Publications in D1: 16 (21%)
5 doctoral theses supervised and defended
3 awards and 2 recognitions
Project evaluators: 8 PIs
Editorial committee members: 7 PIs
1 Spanish trademark registration and software registration (M4263261 and 2404247750786-2ETRXK) for EPIMOLBIO and one European patent application entitled "European priority application aptamers against HIV proteins" (EP24383092.4)
3 clinical guidelines/consensus documents, 1 report and 2 research or health strategy agenda documents.
1 month stay in a foreign center:
- Alexander Von Humboldt Institute of Tropical Medicine of the Cayetano Heredia Peruvian University (Peru)
3 visitors hosted and 6.2 months stay:
- Valdecilla Research Institute (IDIVAL)
- University of Sao Paulo (Brasil)
- Veterinary University of Vienna (Austria)

Milestones

Fundraising through competitive calls for international projects (KAIROS HADEA/2025/CPN/0006) and national projects from ISCIII (PI25/00257, PI25/00913, PI25/01119), MINECO/MICINN (END-RAM) including HR (1 Rio Hortega (CM25/00031), CAM Predoctoral (PIPF-2023/ SAL-GL-30595), CAM Research Assistant (PEJ-2024-AI/SAL-GL-31755)) and agreements with pharmaceutical, biotechnology and diagnostic companies (BD, CEPHEID, SHIONOGI, BIOMERIEUX) and Foundations (Alonso Family, Eugenio Rodríguez Pascual Foundation, Soria Melguizo Foundation (BactHeCom)), La Caixa Foundation (CaixaResearch Health 2025 - HR25-00303 and Ramón Areces Foundation (doctoral thesis grant 2025).
Recognition of its researchers for the best published work, "Best Paper Award Antimicrobial Resistance in the Global Health Network (Microorganisms)"; 1st prize and runner-up prizes at the 3rd IRYCIS Doctoral Student Research Conference (JOINED IRYCIS 2025); inclusion of 3 of its researchers in the "top 2% scientist" global list according to Stanford University and in the Best Scientists in the World 2025/2026 Ranking (Research.com).
Appointment of one of its Principal Investigators (Dr. M.T. Coque) as Coordinator of Area 2 of IRYCIS (Microbiology, Immunology and Infection) and appointment of Dr. P. Ruiz-Garbajosa as Vice President of the SEIMC.
Development of clinical trials for the validation of in vitro diagnostic tests (IVDR) according to EU Regulation 2017/746 and Food and Drug Administration regulations.
International cooperation in Africa and Latin America. Participation in HIV/AIDS counseling programs, a research project on childhood HIV, and training of healthcare professionals in the area of diagnosis.

Bibliometrics

	Articles	Accum. IF	Mean IF	Articles Q1 or Q2	% in Q1 or Q2	Articles D1	% in D1
2021	108	686.36	6.60	80	74	19	18
2022	114	856.67	8.16	85	75	15	13
2023	92	699.12	8.32	67	73	19	21
2024	99	519.90	6.05	71	72	24	24
2025	77	310.90	4.78	61	79	16	21
	490	3072.95	6.78	364	74	93	19