FUNDACION CENTRO DE CIRUGIA DE MINIMA INVASION JESUS USON

Their core work

The Jesús Usón Minimally Invasive Surgery Centre is a specialized research foundation in Cáceres, Spain, focused on advancing minimally invasive surgical techniques and medical device validation. They serve as a preclinical and clinical testing facility for new surgical instruments, endoscopic systems, smart catheters, and implantable devices. Their work bridges the gap between medical device prototypes and clinical deployment, providing surgical expertise and animal model validation for EU-funded medical technology projects. They bring hands-on surgical knowledge to consortia developing next-generation interventional tools — from photonics-based endoscopes to intelligent catheter systems.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

The centre's H2020 participation began in 2015 with reproductive health research training (REP-BIOTECH as a third party), then shifted toward medical device development. From 2017 onward, they engaged directly as a participant in technology-driven projects — first photonics-based endoscopy (PICCOLO) and then smart catheter pilot lines (POSITION-II). The trajectory shows a clear move from supporting doctoral training toward active involvement in medical device prototyping and validation.

Moving toward smart implantable devices and interventional cardiology technology, positioning themselves as a preclinical validation partner for medical device pilot lines.

How they like to work

They have never coordinated an H2020 project, consistently joining as a participant or third party — indicating they contribute specialized surgical and preclinical expertise rather than leading consortia. With 70 unique partners across 15 countries from just 3 projects, they operate within large, diverse consortia typical of medical device innovation actions. This suggests they are a trusted specialist contributor that large consortia recruit for their unique surgical validation capabilities.

Despite only 3 projects, they have built connections with 70 partners across 15 countries, reflecting participation in large medical technology consortia with broad European reach. Their network spans research institutions, medical device companies, and universities across Western and Southern Europe.

What sets them apart

Few research centres in Europe combine surgical expertise with medical device validation under one roof. Located in Cáceres, they offer preclinical testing infrastructure — including animal models and surgical training facilities — that medical device developers need before clinical trials. For consortium builders, they fill a critical gap: the partner who can actually test your prototype in a realistic surgical environment.

Highlights from their portfolio

• PICCOLO
  Largest funding share (€440,450) — developing a multimodal photonics endoscope for colon cancer, combining optics innovation with clinical surgical validation
• POSITION-II
  Pilot line project for next-generation smart catheters and implants, placing the centre at the manufacturing-to-clinic transition for interventional cardiology devices