The Luis Carlos Sarmiento Angulo Cancer Treatment and Research Center (CTIC) achieved first place in Colombia within the health sciences sector of the Nature Index, an international indicator that evaluates the scientific production of institutions based on publications in high-impact journals. The result positions this entity as one of the main generators of scientific knowledge in the country, with recognition in the global academic community.
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The executive director of the CTIC, Rafael Antonio Sánchez París, pointed out that this result has a special meaning for the country. “This is really a very significant issue for a country like Colombia where the contribution to global science, particularly in health, has not been so significant. This is how all of Latin America produces more or less 2.7% of the global academic publications associated with cancer, and of this percentage Colombia participates with approximately 14%,” he stated.
The manager explained that this contribution has been increasing during the last decade, especially in pathologies such as cervical carcinoma, gastric carcinoma, breast cancer and lung cancer, as well as other non-gynecological tumors. “We have increased the production of knowledge associated with them,” he indicated.
Rafael Sánchez, director of the CTIC Foundation. Photo:MILTON DIAZ. CEET
What the Nature Index measures
This indicator does not correspond to a traditional ranking of hospitals nor does it only measure the volume of publications. Instead, it is a tool that analyzes the quality, impact and real contribution of institutions in scientific research, using strict criteria that seek to identify relevant contributions at the international level.
Among these criteria, the Nature Index exclusively considers articles published in a select group of highly influential scientific journals. These publications are recognized for their rigorous editorial processes and for their role in the generation of new knowledge, which raises the standard of evaluation and limits measurement to contributions with a high level of academic demand.
In addition, the index incorporates a metric called “Share”, which allows determining the effective participation of each institution in scientific articles. Unlike other systems that count only the number of publications, this approach allocates credit proportionally based on the level of contribution of researchers, providing a more accurate view of each organization’s true impact.
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The analysis is also organized by specific areas of knowledge, including health sciences. This segmentation makes it easier to identify the contribution of institutions in specific fields, such as oncological research, an area in which the CTIC has consolidated its work. Under these parameters, the presence of the entity in the index reflects its capacity to produce relevant knowledge in cancer with standards comparable to those of academic and scientific institutions at an international level.
In the list corresponding to Colombia in health sciences, in addition to the CTIC, other institutions in the country appear that also register scientific production in this indicator. Among them are the Santa Fe de Bogotá Foundation, the Colombian Cardiovascular Center Clínica Santa María (VID Cardio Clinic), the San Ignacio University Hospital, the La Costa Clinical Research Center, the Colombia University Clinic and the University of La Sabana, through its university clinic. These entities occupy, in that order, the following positions in the measurement, which shows a diverse participation in national scientific production in health.
The center is positioned as a reference in cancer research. Photo:Photo: Mauricio Moreno. THE TIME.
The recognition becomes relevant to the extent that the Nature Index not only evaluates research activity, but also its quality, visibility and impact within the global scientific community. The result, according to Sánchez París, supports the institutional model of the CTIC, which integrates clinical care with research and innovation as the central axes of its operation.
In this sense, the director of the CTIC highlighted the importance of network research to achieve this type of results. According to him, the articulation between basic and transfer research allows the generation of information with global impact, particularly on critical variables such as mortality. Added to this, he stated, is the availability of advanced molecular tests, which open the door to developments in fields such as precision oncology and translational research.
“It is a very significant recognition for the CTIC, considering the short time it has been in operation compared to other health and academic centers in the country,” he added. In his opinion, this positioning strengthens the ability to establish international alliances with regional and global research groups, which facilitates progress in the generation of knowledge and access to more advanced treatments.
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The director also highlighted the collaboration with networks such as the Latin American lung cancer research consortium, as well as with university entities from countries such as Canada and Australia, which reinforces the international nature of the scientific work carried out by the institution.
Two key publications related to cancer
Regarding the specific results that support the presence of the CTIC in the Nature Index, Sánchez París explained that the reported impact is concentrated in two publications. The first is focused on gynecological cancer, particularly ovarian cancer, with a focus on functional preservation associated with different treatments. The second addresses non-small cell lung cancer, in a therapeutic modality related to a specific genetic alteration known as ALK.
These publications are derived from lines of research that prioritize, on the one hand, transfer research in primary chest tumors and, on the other, surgical intervention in the gynecological-oncological field, especially in cancers such as ovary, cervix and endometrium.
The measurement highlights the quality and impact of its scientific publications on cancer. Photo:iStock
The positioning of the CTIC is also interpreted as progress in the consolidation of Colombia within the global health research ecosystem. The inclusion in this indicator shows that it is possible to develop high-impact science from the country, articulating clinical, academic and technological capabilities around complex problems such as cancer.
In this context, the achievement not only has institutional implications, but also projects the capacity of the Colombian health system to participate in international scientific production scenarios. The visibility provided by the Nature Index contributes to strengthening the country’s presence in research networks and consolidating its reputation in the academic field.
Finally, the CTIC reiterated that it will continue to strengthen its commitment to research as a driver of transformation in oncological care. The entity stressed that these types of results reinforce its commitment to generating knowledge that has an impact both nationally and internationally, in line with its purpose of improving the quality of life of patients and contributing to scientific development in the field of cancer.
EDWIN CAICEDO
Environment and Health Journalist
@CaicedoUcros
