Minister Diana Morant refuses to fulfill with María Blasco, director of the CNIO | Science | EUROtoday

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The Minister of Science, Innovation and Universities, Diana Morant, refuses to fulfill with the director of the National Cancer Research Center (CNIO), as confirmed to this newspaper by a spokesperson.

The director of the CNIO revealed as we speak that she had requested a Morant assembly to debate the disaster that the biggest most cancers analysis heart within the nation goes by means of, and to convey her battle with the present supervisor, in opposition to whom she attacked this Tuesday at a convention press.

The Ministry of Science confirms having obtained Blasco’s request and guidelines out holding it till what is determined on the subsequent assembly of the middle’s board of trustees, chaired by the Secretary of Research, Eva Ortega Paíno, and which is predicted to be held on January 29.

The Government’s refusal coincides with the receipt of two inner studies from the CNIO, one ready by the supervisor, the opposite by scientists from the middle itself, which maintain Blasco chargeable for the middle’s decline, as this newspaper revealed. The Ministry additionally already is aware of the small print of at the least 10 complaints of harassment, abuse of energy, mistreatment and even racist insults which have been registered in opposition to the director of the CNIO from 2013 to the current. The final of them, which is being processed, was filed this month.

María Blasco defended her administration this Tuesday in a press convention held as we speak within the CNIO meeting corridor and to which the middle’s workers weren’t invited. The 59-year-old biologist from Alicante has disassociated herself from the disaster that the middle she has run since 2011 goes by means of and has attacked her supervisor, Juan Arroyo. “The things that are accused of me are not within my competence,” Blasco mentioned as we speak in a press convention held on the heart’s headquarters in Madrid.

Blasco has assured that he’s getting ready a criticism “before the Prosecutor’s Office [General del Estado]” for the alleged “bicephaly” that the middle has suffered since she took over. The scientist has declined to supply extra particulars about this demand.

The director of the CNIO has mentioned that she is just chargeable for the group’s scientific technique, and that it’s Arroyo who controls revenue, bills and hiring.

“I have not harassed anyone in my life,” Blasco mentioned in regards to the complaints, including that he’s the sufferer of a defamation marketing campaign in opposition to him and in opposition to the middle he directs. “I can say that throughout my life I have been able to suffer this harassment sometimes, that women especially suffer from it, especially those of us who are in a position of power. “I think I am being harassed now, and it is not the first time,” he added.

Asked if she goes to resign, Blasco mentioned: “Right now, in the midst of this campaign of hoaxes and misinformation, I think what I have to do is defend the CNIO and finish my work.” The scientist has assured that she is “very concerned” that 24 scientific leaders, half of all these within the heart, have demanded her dismissal and the choice of a brand new director to the Ministry of Science, which Morant directs. Blasco has been open to “answering and solving anything.” The director has additionally learn an announcement: “I don’t want to fight the battle in the media,” she mentioned on the press convention. “The only battle I want to fight as scientific director of the CNIO is the battle of cancer research. I have dedicated my entire life to research, it is my mission and my only competence. “Those who have supposedly dedicated themselves to something else are the ones who must leave the center.”

https://elpais.com/ciencia/2025-01-21/la-ministra-diana-morant-rechaza-reunirse-con-maria-blasco-directora-del-cnio.html