1. THE ORIGIN IF THE INCLINICA FOUNDATION

Since 1985, a group of Asturians involved in the medical and health technology field have been carrying out intense, unremunerated research work in two areas in the vanguard of medicine: bronchial asthma and lung cancer.

Unfortunately, at the beginning of 2005, one of the founder patrons, Sr D. Gerardo Collantes Martínez, died after a long illness. His technical contribution and open-minded work towards integration made him an outstanding figure in the Foundation, whose loss it will be hard to make up for.

In the year 2000, to galvanise its tasks and projects, this same group of doctors and specialists, with the support of businessmen and professionals in the region, set up the "INCLINICA Foundation for Clinical, Pneumological and Carcinogenic Research". The Foundation, which exists to serve as a formal channel for the participation of the Asturian society in such an ambitious project, will celebrate its fifth year of existence in 2005, having attained results that we consider of great value.

2. RESEARCH INTO TUMOUR CELLS

The challenge facing the Foundation in this field has been to carry out cultures of tumour cells, and to this end a unique system of autonomous cameras has been designed that permits each and every one of these to be followed, without prejudicing the development of the rest. (This system enjoys a patent in favour of the entity).

At the present time the search is under way for a medium for cultivating and keeping alive cell tumours, with variants such as explants and support cultures (fibroblast). The inverted microscope allows a daily control of cell survival.

In the case of perfusion cultures, investigation will continue with the same system, but with variations in the placement or distribution of the tumour cells within the capsule.

3. PROTOZOAL FORMS IN THE AIRWAYS

The research team of the INCLINICA Foundation has made a finding of the greatest importance, which may radically change the treatment of bronchial asthma. Micro-organisms with protozoa characteristics have been observed that appear in the respiratory tract, principally in asthmatics, but also in other pathologies (this micro-organism has been given the name Vetusta Jacobi ). The high frequency of appearance of these micro-organisms in asthma, together with other more indirect data, suggests the possible implication of these micro-organisms as a causal agent of asthma.

This discovery is beginning to gain international recognition among the scientific community; however, much work remains to be done to characterise the micro-organisms observed.

4. MEANS AT THE DISPOSAL OF THE INCLINICA FOUNDATION

From its inception, the INCLINICA Foundation has been fortunate to count on selfless contributions from various enterprises and professionals in the region, thanks to which it has been able to set up a laboratory that consists basically, at the present time, of cell culture, microscopy and filming equipment, together with complementary technical material. It has also had sufficient resources to acquire the necessary consumables.

To date however, INCLINICA has been unable to have installations of its own, or to build a permanent work team. A solution to this situation is urgent, as the level and complexity that the research has attained necessitate external collaboration with other complementary research teams, which in turn makes it essential to acquire the permanent means referred to.

5. FINAL CONSIDERATIONS

The INCLINICA Foundation is made up of a team of medical doctors, professionals and technical workers who selflessly give up their time without remuneration.

The achievements of the Foundation benefit society as a whole. In no case will they be communicated or distributed for profit, nor ceded to enterprises or organisations that pursue such an aim.

For all these reasons, the involvement of the society in the project of the INCLINICA Foundation must be as intense as the state of the research requires, so as to assist, as far as possible, in mitigating the consequences of such widespread and serious illnesses as cancer and bronchial asthma.