Further recognition from ITEMAS-ISCIII for the QUIRUCOMP project, which develops carbon-fiber surgical instruments, prompted a visit today by clinical researchers to the Advanced Manufacturing Center (CFA) to work on advancing the project toward industrial-scale production.
Medical staff from the Puerta del Mar University Hospital (HUPM) and researchers from the Cádiz Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation (INiBICA) visited the facilities of the Advanced Manufacturing Center (CFA) in Puerto Real today. The meeting aims to strengthen ties between the biomedical sector and Cádiz’s cutting-edge industry to advance the QUIRUCOMP project, which stems from a collaboration between Titania Aero, INiBICA, and the University of Cádiz, funded by the CTA, following the project’s success in the “Pitch Competition” of the ITEMAS Platform (Platform for the Revitalization and Innovation of the National Health System’s Industrial Capabilities) of the Carlos III Health Institute. At that event, QUIRUCOMP was selected as one of three winning initiatives out of 13 finalists from across Spain, in recognition of its high potential for market transfer and its impact on patients.
From the aerospace industry to the operating room
The QUIRUCOMP project, led by Dr. Pablo Andrés Cano, a Specialist Physician (FEA) in Traumatology and Osteoarticular Surgery and principal investigator of INiBICA’s emerging EM12 research group, proposes a revolution in medical instruments. The initiative replaces traditional steel with composite materials (carbon fiber), commonly used in the aerospace industry.
This makes it possible to create custom tools that are radiolucent (they do not interfere with X-rays or surgical arcs), much lighter, and more ergonomic. These features reduce surgeon fatigue and improve intraoperative precision, resulting in safer and more efficient surgeries for the patient.
A Strategic Alliance in the Bay of Cádiz
Today, the INiBICA delegation was welcomed by Francisco Javier Romalde Quintana, FIDAMC’s Operations Manager at the CFA. The visit provided an opportunity to explore the capabilities of the CFA’s state-of-the-art machinery, which is key to the validation and future manufacturing of these medical devices.
In addition to Dr. Cano, the visit was attended by Dr. Borja Sanz, a resident in neurosurgery and researcher with INiBICA’s CO5 consolidated research group (whose presence underscores the cross-disciplinary applicability of this technology to other complex specialties such as neurosurgery) and Paula Castro, a specialist at INiBICA’s Office of Innovation and Knowledge Transfer, who is responsible for managing the commercialization of these results.
Statements
After the tour, Dr. Pablo Andrés Cano remarked: “This recognition from ITEMAS confirms that we are on the right track. Today’s visit to the CFA is essential because, to bring this innovation from the drawing board to the patient, we need industrial partners with the technological capabilities that Cádiz offers. We want carbon fiber to save lives, not just to fly.”
For his part, Francisco Javier Romalde of the CFA highlighted the center’s versatility: “The CFA was founded to support the shipbuilding and aerospace industries, but projects like this one demonstrate that advanced manufacturing cuts across sectors. Making our equipment and expertise available to the public health sector is a natural and necessary step for the region’s industrial base.”
About INiBICA and QUIRUCOMP
The project is being carried out in collaboration with the University of Cádiz (UCA) and with the support of companies in the sector, such as Titania Aero. INiBICA thus continues its mission to transform scientific knowledge into real-world solutions that improve citizens’ quality of life, in line with the Andalusian Regional Government’s health innovation strategies.
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