An official investigation blames María Blasco for abuse of energy on the CNIO | Science | EUROtoday

María Blasco allegedly dedicated abuse of energy as director of the National Cancer Research Center (CNIO), based on an investigation commissioned by the Government following a criticism from an worker. The unique criticism was for alleged office harassment, CNIO sources clarify. This newspaper has been capable of converse with the complainant, whose identify responds to the acronym JGM, who has assured about Blasco: “He is a person known for yelling and mistreating his workers.”

The case dates again to the winter of 2023, when a number of staff of the middle criticized the CNIO Arte challenge, created by María Blasco, for allegedly advocating pseudoscience on social networks. In a tweet from the CNIO, the artist Amparo Garrido, chosen to make a journey funded by the most cancers middle and produce a piece, stated that she would measure her telomeres earlier than and after the journey. “Meditation, a work by @ampigarridoart about healing, nature, telomeres, stress. Inspired by Liz Blackburn #NobelPrize, for #cnioarte2023″, said the message, which was criticized by both CNIO workers and external cancer experts.

The director allegedly had a “list” made of people that had criticized the challenge and pressured them to delete their vital messages. “You are potentially significantly damaging the public image of the institution where you work,” stated an inside e-mail from the CNIO communications director to one of many researchers. “Even if you were thinking about leaving, I would like to point out that colleagues will continue to work at the CNIO (…) Again, if your desire is to express something to someone, perhaps as a trained and well-rounded person you should first go to “Who do you want to question, before shouting in public,” the letter continued, summoning him to a meeting with María Blasco. The letter reminded him of the existence of an internal rule that says that “the social media accounts of CNIO employees should not conflict with the interests of the institution and should not incur undue competition with the CNIO.”

The worker in query by no means attended that appointment. He reported the case to the CNIO works council and despatched a letter to the middle supervisor wherein he accused Blasco of “harassment.” “I want to communicate […] “that I have felt harassed by the scientific director of the center, Dr. María Blasco Marhuenda, after making legitimate use of my freedom of expression on social networks,” said the letter, dated July 2023, and to which this newspaper has had access. .

Following the complaint, the Government launched an independent investigation, complying with the harassment protocol that was placed in the hands of a law firm. After interrogating those involved in the case, the report concludes that there could not have been workplace harassment, since there was no continuous pressure over time, but there was “abuse of power” on the a part of the director, as sources affirm to this newspaper. educated about analysis.

The director of the CNIO declined to reply this newspaper’s questions concerning the case, or whether or not her intention to not resign, expressed on Friday, nonetheless stands.

The complainant, JGM, who doesn’t need to give his identify for concern of reprisals from Blasco, reproaches: “At the CNIO there is no internal democracy at all. Any complaint you have, they don’t listen to it. The management is completely dissociated from the needs of the researchers. If you make the mistake of complaining about any type of problem, you will receive retaliation. “They have turned the CNIO into a very toxic place.”

The CNIO, which on paper is the biggest most cancers analysis middle in Spain, goes by a vital financial and structural state of affairs. It has a deficit of 4.5 million euros. In addition, it drags infrastructures so out of date that they’re irreparable. This reference middle has nearly 700 employees and manages a funds of about 40 million euros. Of its 4 confocal microscopes, an important instrument for most cancers analysis, just one works, as this newspaper revealed. The drawback has existed no less than since 2022, when 12 CNIO group leaders reported the state of affairs each to María Blasco and to the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, led by Diana Morant, with out the state of affairs having been resolved.

Cleaning issues

There is one other huge drawback: the washing practice on the animal facility, the place there are some 30,000 analysis mice, has damaged down and is unimaginable to restore. This system cleans and sterilizes the animal cages, that are very treasured for the cutting-edge analysis carried out on the CNIO. Animals are particularly weak to infections, as demonstrated by an outbreak of C. bovisa bacterial an infection that covers the pores and skin of mice with scales. The cleansing of the animal facility has needed to be entrusted to exterior employees on an emergency foundation, though its effectiveness is much from what was desired, CNIO sources clarify.

In the midst of this example, a part of the workers has protested the existence of a program like CNIO Arte. This exercise was created by María Blasco in order that the CNIO may fee and purchase artworks impressed by scientific themes, with the monetary assist of the Banco Santander Foundation. Since its creation, this system has had a price of 877,787.99 euros, based on a Transparency report superior by Abc, and confirmed by this newspaper. This quantity contains 291,979.35 euros for the acquisition of artworks, and 585,106 euros for personnel who partially work on this challenge. The program included journeys to the Arctic or Mozambique for Blasco and different companions, which value 6,503 and 5,542 euros, respectively. Regarding the revenue from this program, the report particulars that it obtained 85,000 euros from the Banco de Santander Foundation; 600,000 euros in donations, and 13,216 euros from the sale of photogravures in 2019. The unique concept of ​​this program was for the CNIO to promote the artworks commissioned from artists for a worth better than the fee, which might assist finance it, CNIO sources clarify. One of the massive issues is that till now hardly any works have been offered, the identical sources acknowledge.

Blasco blames the Ministry of Science for the dearth of ample funds to amass new tools. Although the dearth of microscopes has existed since 2022, there may be nonetheless no risk of buying a brand new one, so the middle should hire one in every of these services. This won’t even cowl half of the models that have been initially there. The director of the CNIO isn’t contemplating resigning from her place. On Friday he indicated that his place is dependent upon the middle’s board of trustees, chaired by the Secretary General of Research, Eva Ortega-Paíno. The governing physique meets right this moment, Tuesday. In it Blasco should clarify his administration of the final 12 months.

Do you’ve got extra details about this case or different comparable ones? You can write to us at ndominguez@elpais.es.