Mercedes Vanaclocha-Espi

I have been a Doctor at the Universitat d'Alacant since June 2019, I have been working on my doctoral thesis in the Department of Community Nursing, Preventive Medicine and Public Health and History of Science at the Universitat d'Alacant. Previously I graduated in Statistical Sciences and Techniques and a Master's degree in Biostatistics. I have taken specialist courses in biostatistics (Spatial-temporal analysis of epidemiological and environmental problems: a Bayesian approach) and public health (Exploring responsible research; Public speaking for researchers and scientists; How to write a scientific paper; Evidence in health promotion and prevention; How to fund a research project). My research has focused on improving cancer prevention from a public health perspective. I have extensive experience in the use of mathematical and computer tools for the application of advanced statistical techniques in this field. I have generated ideas reflected in research projects that have been funded by competitive entities. Specifically, I proposed the need to adapt endoscopic follow-up in people with adenomas detected in screening programmes, and in this line I am Principal Investigator (PI) of a project financed by the Carlos III Health Institute (PI20/01225). Part of the results obtained during my career have been reflected in scientific publications (co-author of 25 articles in journals indexed in the JCR, including 9 first quartile publications, 6 of them as main author or correspondence author) and disseminated through conferences at scientific congresses (29 presentations at national and international conferences).At the national level, I am an active member of the National Network of Screening Programmes and the Working Group on Screening of the Spanish Society of Epidemiology, where we work and disseminate scientific knowledge on cancer prevention. I participate in international programmes, such as the International Cancer Screening Network, participated in the Joint Action "European Partnership for Action Against Cancer" and in the European H2020 project "EU-topia (towards improved cancer screening)". The main contributions to society have been: providing scientific evidence (scientific articles), participating in scientific communication activities aimed at the general public (III and IV Meeting of Cancer Researchers in the city of Alcoy, Breast Cancer Prevention Day in the city of Valencia), artistic and scientific communication events (FISABIO's "Women Scientists and Artists" Festival in 2018 and 2019), STEM awareness campaign aimed at students (FISABIO Challenge 2018) and finally, press releases and news on the Fisabio website. I contribute to the training of young researchers, specifically I am the director of two doctoral thesis entitled: "Post-polypectomy surveillance of adenomas in a colorectal cancer screening programme" and “Análisis de la relación entre la actividad física y el cáncer de mama desde una perspectiva de género y equidad”, both in the PhD programme in Clinical and Community Nursing at the University of Valencia and Community Nursing of the University of Valencia.