FutureMeds, a rapidly growing site network, which recently expanded into Spain by establishing a Dedicated Research Site within Clínica DKF's facility, has announced the appointment of Rocio Diaz Sanchez as the Managing Director of FutureMeds Spain. This key appointment is set to play an instrumental role in bolstering FutureMeds’ efforts to accelerate patient access to new treatments in the country and across the globe.
FutureMeds appointed Rocio Diaz Sanchez as Managing Director of FutureMeds Spain. She will be responsible for growing the site network’s footprint in the second-largest and fourth-most populous country in the European Union.
An accomplished chemist, Rocio Diaz holds a Master's degree in Advanced Health Management and Health Economics. With over 20 years of experience, Rocio began her career managing projects funded by the European Commission and later specialised in clinical research and development.
Prior to joining FutureMeds, she played a pivotal role in the growth and expansion of clinical research at Quironsalud, a leading private group of hospitals in Spain. Rocio’s primary goal is to bring the best treatment options to patients, and through her unwavering commitment to excellence, she aims to make significant contributions to society.
“From the moment I met Rocio, I was impressed by her. I am thrilled that she will be joining our team to lead our operations in Spain. She is an ideal addition to our Management Team and a strong candidate for the role of Managing Director of our Spain operations. With our plans for rapid growth in Spain, Rocio's expertise will be crucial.”
- Dr Radoslaw Janiak, CEO of FutureMeds
When we asked Rocio what drew her to FutureMeds, she mentioned three main factors: the company’s purpose of providing the right care to every patient regardless of location, the expertise and professionalism of the leadership team, and their honesty, motivation, and passion.
Rocio’s vision for FutureMeds Spain
In FutureMeds colours, Rocio will focus on opening clinical research sites and partnering with specialised centres to offer innovative treatments to the Spanish population and help tackle some of the local challenges.
Discussing the current clinical research landscape in Spain, Rocio highlighted that Spain is a world reference in clinical trials. As the number of clinical trials authorised in recent years is on a growth curve (12.5% increase since 2018), she strongly believes that it is the right time to establish specialised study sites and attract professionals dedicated to advancing clinical research.
“During the first stage of FutureMeds expansion in Spain, our main goal is to establish and run three Dedicated Research Sites in different regions. We have already started with our first centre in Madrid.”
- Rocio Diaz Sanchez, Managing Director of FutureMeds Spain
She also underscored the importance of local expertise and understanding of the Spanish healthcare system, particularly the dual insurance system, which has a big impact on wellbeing of patients and the Spanish society. Combining efficiency, sustainability, and access to new treatments in a feasible way is a tough challenge in the country. Through clinical trials, FutureMeds Spain will be able to offer patients access to the most innovative treatments without additional cost to the public or private healthcare providers.
“FutureMeds is well-positioned to make a monumental impact in the Spanish clinical research sector, revolutionising patient care and access to innovative treatments. We are here to help people to improve their quality of life through health outcomes and we will achieve it by creating strong relationships and working together with the stakeholders that invest in biomedical research and development.”
- Rocio Diaz Sanchez, Managing Director of FutureMeds Spain
The FutureMeds network's growing presence in the country will also provide the highly qualified Spanish principal investigators, research nurses and study coordinators with more opportunities and enable FutureMeds Spain to build an excellent team, who can develop new skills, build their careers, and help patients access new treatments.
One of the main challenges going forwards can be shifting the preexisting professional mindset of the clinical development process in the country. In Rocio’s experience, trial activity, in most cases, is considered an extra secondary activity on top of providing patient care. Although specialised, dedicated clinical research teams are currently a rarity in Spain, providing highly skilled professionals with the necessary resources, frameworks, and systems would ensure the shift toward a more efficient, productive model.
“FutureMeds’ network will provide the investment to create Dedicated Clinical Research Sites all around the country, attracting the best professionals interested in being part of this international consortium that will improve the performance of clinical trials in the coming years.” added Rocio.
About FutureMeds
FutureMeds is a fast-growing independent Dedicated Research Site Network supporting pharmaceutical companies, Sponsors and CROs and contributing to research to find effective treatments and medications for all patients who need them.
FutureMeds’ Dedicated Research Site teams strive to accelerate study timelines, streamline processes, lower costs and improve data quality to help accelerate patient access to new treatments.
Through acquisitions and a strategic focus on patient experience, FutureMeds has developed qualified patient pools across Europe that enables faster patient enrollment and strong retention and help generate more accurate results.
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