Spanish biomedical research foundation specializing in cancer immunotherapy, RNA biology, and epigenetics, with expanding work in neurodegeneration and RNA therapeutics.
FIMA (operating as CIMA - Centro de Investigación Médica Aplicada) is a biomedical research foundation in Pamplona, Spain, focused on translating laboratory discoveries into clinical applications for cancer and neurological diseases. Their core strength lies in cancer immunotherapy — particularly natural killer cell therapies and CAR/TCR engineering — alongside deep expertise in RNA biology, epigenetics, and chromatin regulation. They bridge fundamental molecular research with therapeutic development, working across oncology, hematological malignancies, and increasingly neurodegenerative and cardiovascular disease.
CINK focused on NK cell immunotherapy for hematological and metastatic cancers; EN_ACTI2NG and Tumor-Treg-Targeting advanced CAR/TCR engineering; PROCROP targeted ovary and prostate cancer cross-priming.
NonChroRep (ERC-funded, EUR 2M) investigated lncRNA roles in chromatin replication; cONCReTE developed cancer RNA therapeutics; DESTINATION explored RNA nanotechnology delivery; LINKER studied transcriptional rewiring in hematological malignancies.
CINK, LINKER, and SyLeNCe all addressed leukemia or hematological cancer biology from different angles — immunotherapy, computational methods, and tumor microenvironment.
TARGEPILIVER characterized epigenetic targets in hepatic fibrosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, connecting their epigenetics expertise to liver pathology.
AND-PD investigated anxiety comorbidity in Parkinson's disease using neurophysiology and brain imaging; CRUCIAL studied microvascular mechanisms in vascular dementia and heart failure.
In the early H2020 period (2015–2018), FIMA concentrated heavily on cancer immunotherapy — NK cells, tumor immunology, and immuno-oncology training networks — alongside foundational work in epigenetics and chromatin biology. From 2020 onward, the focus broadened significantly: RNA biology became a central theme (RNA therapeutics, RNA nanotechnology, mRNA origami), while entirely new lines appeared in neuroscience (Parkinson's disease, brain imaging) and cardiovascular research (vascular dementia, heart failure). This evolution suggests a deliberate expansion from a cancer-immunotherapy-and-epigenetics core toward RNA-based therapeutic platforms and disease areas where their molecular biology expertise can open new clinical frontiers.
FIMA is pivoting toward RNA-based therapeutic technologies and expanding into neurodegenerative and cardiovascular disease, making them an increasingly versatile partner beyond oncology.
FIMA balances leadership and partnership equally — coordinating exactly half their projects (6 of 12), which signals both the confidence to lead and the flexibility to contribute as a specialist. With 66 unique consortium partners across 15 countries, they maintain a broad European network rather than relying on a tight circle of repeat collaborators. Their participation in multiple MSCA training networks (ETN, RISE, IF) shows a strong commitment to researcher mobility and collaborative talent development, making them a well-connected and accessible partner.
FIMA has collaborated with 66 distinct partner organizations across 15 countries, indicating a well-developed pan-European network. Their participation in MSCA training networks further extends their reach into academic and clinical institutions across the continent.
FIMA stands out as a Spanish research foundation that combines deep cancer immunotherapy expertise with strong RNA biology and epigenetics capabilities — a combination that positions them at the intersection of two of the fastest-moving fields in biomedicine. Their ERC-funded NonChroRep project (EUR 2M) demonstrates research excellence at the individual PI level, while their MSCA network participation shows institutional capacity for training and knowledge transfer. For consortium builders, FIMA offers a rare profile: a non-university research center with both the scientific depth to lead fundamental projects and the translational orientation to connect findings to clinical applications.
