The end of February 2020 marked the deadline for submitting projects for the Hestia 2020 research grants. As in the previous two years, the objective of these scholarships was to support research aimed at improving assistance in the social and mental health fields. 4 scholarships of € 4,000 were open to any institution in the Spanish state, and the remaining 4 (2 of € 4,000 and 2 of € 2,000) were reserved for professionals from the Hestia Alliance Group. The total budget endowed this year has been of € 28,000.
A total of 41 projects have been received and evaluated, 32 in the open chapter, and 9 in the chapter reserved for the Hestia Alliance. Of the set of projects, 21 corresponded to the social health field, and 20 to the mental health field. 75% of the projects presented in the open chapter were multicenter (with a total of 43 institutions participating in one or more projects), and 87.5% multidisciplinary (with a total of 141 researchers). 66% of the participating institutions have their headquarters in Catalonia, and the rest in other communities of the Spanish State (Andalucía, Asturias, Castilla La Mancha, Castilla León, Madrid, and Murcia).
The evaluation team, chaired by Dr. X. Corbella, director of the Hestia-UIC Chair, and formed by Dr. M. Fernandez Castañer, collaborating member of the Chair, Dr. Susana Subirá, Director of the Hestia Foundation, Dr. Àngels Cañas, member of the Corporate Management of the Hestia Alliance Group and Mrs. Eva Luque, General Director of the Hestia Alliance Group, carried out the first screening of projects based on their healthcare interest, innovation, multicentricity, multidisciplinary, and methodological rigor followed by the final selection, weighing these and other aspects of the projects. The projects finally selected in the two categories are listed below. We want to highlight the excellent level of most projects, especially at the methodological level, with experimental or quasi-experimental designs in 40% of them and congratulate the set of researchers who have applied for scholarships.
Finally, we want to highlight the progressive weight of women in the research projects presented. 66% of the projects presented are led by women, and their participation as collaborating researchers is a large majority.
The appearance of the Covid-19 pandemic, its serious effects on the health system, and the consequent isolation measures have made it impossible to schedule and deliver the scholarships based on initial forecasts. The winning researchers have been informed electronically of the result of the call, but the presentation of the projects and the delivery of the aid will not take place until the universities and health centers recover a certain degree of normality.
OPEN SCHOLARSHIPS (Endowed with € 4,000)
1. Title: Health + Social Integration Model
Principal Investigator: Ester Gavalda Espelta. Graduate nursing and master’s degree in gerontology and health
Institution: Terres de l’Ebre Territorial Management. I.C.S.
Other participating institutions: Amposta City Council
2. Title: Centennial Dodgers: Can we preserve functional capacity through a Multifactorial Fall Prevention Pilot Program for people over 65?
Principal Investigator: Joaquín Antonio Álvarez Gregori. Doctor in medicine. Optional Specialist in the Emergency Area.
Institution: Management of Integrated Care in Talavera de la Reina (Toledo). SESCAM.
3. Title: Program of Prevention and Intensive Intervention in suicidal behavior: effectiveness of a multidisciplinary program.
Principal Investigator: Miguel Guerrero Díaz. Bachelor of Psychology. Specialist Psychologist in Clinical Psychology. Master in Suicidal Behavior
Institution: Malaga Mental Health Area. SAS.
Other participating institutions: H.U. Virgen de la Victoria. H. Costa del Sol. Malaga.
4. Title: Systematic Detection and CriBage of the degree of FRAgility in patients admitted to the Short-stay Emergency Unit (DESCIFRA)
Principal Investigator: Josep Anton Montiel Dacosta. Doctor of medicine and surgery. Internal Medicine specialist.
Institution: Hospital de la Santa Cruz y San Pablo. Barcelona.
SCHOLARSHIPS RESERVED FOR HESTIA ALLIANCE
1. Title: Close Friend Project (ACE). A Bidirectional Recovery Opportunity
Principal Investigator: Javimar Suárez Jesús. Psychiatrist
Institution: Hestia Clínica Coroleu. Hestia Duran i Reynals
Endowment: € 4,000
2. Title: Impact of new hormonal treatments on the cognitive state and quality of life of elderly patients with metastatic prostate cancer.
Principal Investigator: Nadia Rodriguez Dechichá. Psychologist.
Institution: Hestia Duran i Reynals
Endowment: € 4,000
3. Title: Continuity of socio-sanitary care for the patient with Heart Failure after discharge from the acute care hospital: A clinical and social challenge
Principal Investigator: Jonathan Franco Vanegas. Doctor in medicine. Internal Medicine specialist.
Institution: Hestia Duran i Reynals
Endowment: € 2,000
4. Title: Design of a program for health education at the socio-health center of Hestia Balaguer: physical exercise, a priority and a benefit
Principal Investigator: Annabel Altisent. Nursery grade
Institution: Hestia Balaguer
Endowment: € 2,000