Main characteristics of current biomedical research, in Chile Principales características de la investigación biomédica actual, en Chile

Abstract

Background: Biomedical research is a fundamental tool for the development of a country, requiring human and fi nancial resources. Aim: To defi ne some current characteristics of biomedical research, in Chile. Methods: Data on entities funding biomedical research, participant institutions, and the number of active investigators for the period 2007-2009 were obtained from institutional sources; publications indexed in PubMed for 2008-2009 were analysed. Results: Most fi nancial resources invested in biomedical research projects (approximately US$ 19 million per year) came from the "Comisión Nacional de Investigación Científi ca y Tecnológica" (CONICYT), a state institution with 3 independent Funds administering competitive grant applications open annually to institutional or independent investigators in Chile. Other sources and universities raised the total amount to US$ 26 million. Since 2007 to 2009, 408 investigators participated in projects funded by CONICYT. The main participant ins