CONACYT, IMSS to Develop Biomedical Technology

The Mexican Institute of Social Security (IMSS) and the National Council of Science and Technology (CONACYT) just signed an agreement to develop biomedical technology and support scientific research. This collaboration will help the development of vaccines, biopharmaceutical products and medical devices for the IMSS’s health care centers. The project is designed to strengthen scientific and technological sovereignty within the health system. 

“IMSS is a leader in health research. This agreement will allow us to boost basic scientific research projects as well as essential clinical research,” said Zoé Robledo, Director, IMSS.

The alliance aims to study the most prevalent diseases in Mexico, such as chronic and cardiovascular illnesses. Between Jan. and Aug. 2021, heart diseases, diabetes and pulmonary chronic illnesses were three of the 10 main causes of death in Mexico. IMSS has implemented several strategies to address these diseases. For example, the institute recently introduced the Protocols of Integral Attention (PAI) for Chronic Diseases and Complications to train medical professionals in prevention, early detection and diagnosis.

“Under CONACYT’s coordination, the development and use of technological and innovative resources will be supported. They will be created and manufactured in Mexico for their implementation in IMSS’s health services,” said María Elena Álvarez, Director, CONACYT. The institution has boosted biomedical technology since the beginning of the current administration, said Álvarez, which helped support the health system through the provision of mechanical invasive ventilators for severe COVID-19 cases. “Without CONACYT, Mexico would not have had the data that we needed for decision making regarding the contagions and the vaccination campaign,” said Robledo.

CONACYT also used biomedical technology to support the development of the Patria vaccine, which aims to make Mexico’s vaccination campaigns self-sufficient, as was announced in Jan. 2021. President Andrés Manuel López Obrador later said that 30 percent of Patria vaccines will be distributed to countries in need. Guatemala, Paraguay, Bolivia, Argentina, Cuba and Ecuador have shown interest in participating in the vaccine’s Phase III clinical trials, as reported by MBN.

“If the news continues being positive, it is very likely that during the second half of 2022 there will be a Phase III clinical trial and, at that moment, the vaccine could be used generally. Its main use could be as a universal booster, given that we have the primary scheme covered,” said Deputy Minister of Health Hugo López-Gatell.