Overview
- The Ministry of Science said Monday that Raúl Rabadán has decided not to assume the scientific directorship of the Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas and described the choice as regrettable.
- The ministry has summoned the CNIO patronato for 8 June to decide measures that will guarantee the duties of the scientific director are fully covered while the post remains vacant.
- Rabadán had been chosen unanimously by the patronato after an international search on 4 September and was expected to take up the role on 1 May before withdrawing.
- The vacancy comes as the CNIO completes more than a year of governance turmoil that included the removal of former scientific director María Blasco, managerial resignations, a harassment complaint by the former secretary general, and anticorruption diligences opened on 26 November into alleged public contracting irregularities.
- Cristina Navarro Enterría was ratified as director of management on 10 April, but researchers, staff morale and continuity of key projects risk disruption while leadership and the Fiscalía Anticorrupción inquiry remain unresolved, making the patronato’s 8 June decisions critical for the centre’s short-term stability.