More than one million cancer diagnoses were delayed - or never occurred - as a result of the impact of the covid-19 pandemic on the normal functioning of European health services.

Being late, in the case of this disease, can have serious consequences. The medium- to long-term effects deadline are difficult to pinpoint, but could worsen forecasts that point to an increase of more than 20% in cancer deaths in Europe by 2035.

The cutting-edge biomedical research is core topic for the development of more effective diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. In recent years, great advances have been made in the knowledge of cancer biology and technological tools of great analytical capacity have been developed. Without going any further, the European Union has made a very determined effort to promote research in cancer, through its programs Europe's Beating Cancer Plan and EU Cancer Mission.

Advances at research have enabled the development of more personalized and specific therapies, such as those aimed at specific molecular targets or at boosting the anti-tumor immune response. As a result, cancer survival has doubled in the last 40 years to around 60%.

The figures demonstrate the enormous value of research. But society demands even more efficiency in the transfer of basic knowledge to the clinical internship .

Researchers and clinicians often move in different environments, with very different training, way of working and systems of assessment and promotion. This means that the needs of patients, as identified by clinicians, are not always efficiently connected to research and innovation.

The disconnection between basic and clinical science can only be solved by promoting care environments that favor interdisciplinary collaborations and a research of a markedly translational nature. In other words, a research that brings the discoveries made at laboratory to the patient's bedside.

This translational research implies a continuous feedback between the patient and the laboratory that requires proximity between both. In this sense, it seems logical that it should be carried out in environments such as cancer centers, institutions that integrate their care and research activities in a common space.

In these centers, multidisciplinary teams are established to develop cutting-edge preclinical and clinical research based on the latest technologies and scientific evidence available. In addition, their activity is completed with the training and training of health professionals and biomedical researchers.

It is important to note that cancer centers are not a new concept. The first cancer center program was created in the United States as an enactment of the National Cancer Act of 1971. There are currently 72 cancer centers in the U.S., 56 of which are designated as "comprehensive" at grade .

The adjective "comprehensive" refers to reference letter to outstanding leadership skills, interdisciplinary research activity and experience in innovation.

Indeed, cancer centers create suitable environments for the development of a more personalized medicine, based on the characterization of the molecular and genetic profile of tumors. They also promote multidisciplinary collaborations, innovation, technological development , transfer and training.

Its integrative structure favors communication and the establishment of synergies between preclinical and clinical researchers. And its excellent reputation also attracts collaborations with other institutions.

On the other hand, the joint participation of healthcare professionals and researchers gives oncology care areas a more innovative and cutting-edge character. Aware of all these advantages, the European Union has set as one of its objectives that, by 2030, 90% of cancer patients should have access to a comprehensive cancer center.

But what is really interesting is that there are programs of study that the survival of cancer patients is higher in healthcare centers with a high level of research activity.

Everything points to the fact that the synergies required for the development of a quality translational research ultimately result in the improvement of cancer patients' care, treatment and quality of life.

It goes without saying that none of this is possible without adequate resources to support this research. Initiatives such as the World Cancer Day research , promoted by association Española Contra el Cáncer, remind society of the importance of supporting researchers in their fight against this disease with such a high social impact.