The Cabildo of Tenerife, through IMETISA, and the University of La Laguna have signed two agreements to create University Chairs focused on Telemedicine, Artificial Intelligence, and Diagnostic Imaging. The agreements, signed on June 16, 2026, aim to promote clinical innovation and specialised training on the Island.
The University of La Laguna (ULL) and the Tenerife Medical Institute (IMETISA), a public health entity participated by the Cabildo of Tenerife and the Canary Health Service, have sealed two agreements that will give rise to new University Chairs focused on digital health and cutting-edge medical technology. The agreements were signed on June 16, 2026, by the rector of ULL, Francisco Javier García Rodríguez, and representatives of IMETISA.
Two chairs for the healthcare of the future
The first of the chairs will focus on Telemedicine and Diagnostic Imaging, a field that has gained enormous prominence since the pandemic and allows for remote consultations and diagnoses. The second will address Artificial Intelligence applied to medicine, a discipline that promises to revolutionise everything from early disease detection to the personalisation of treatments.
Both initiatives, according to sources from the Cabildo, aim to strengthen clinical innovation and applied research on the Island, as well as train future professionals in these cutting-edge areas. The agreements include the execution of joint projects, the organisation of seminars, and the mobility of students and researchers between ULL and IMETISA.
A boost to specialised training
For ULL students, especially those from the faculties of Medicine, Nursing, and Computer Engineering, these chairs represent a unique opportunity to train in technologies that are already transforming the healthcare sector. Students will be able to undertake internships at IMETISA, which has state-of-the-art equipment in diagnostic imaging and telemedicine systems.
The rector of ULL, Francisco Javier García Rodríguez, highlighted during the signing that these chairs will allow for attracting talent and retaining it in the Canary Islands, preventing brain drain to other communities or countries. “We want our graduates to be leaders in 21st-century digital healthcare,” he stated.
For his part, the president of the Cabildo of Tenerife emphasised that public-private collaboration is key to modernising the island's healthcare system. “These chairs will not only generate knowledge but will also improve care for Tenerife patients,” he noted.
Applied research in the service of the patient
One of the most concrete objectives of the chairs is to develop artificial intelligence tools to help interpret imaging tests, such as MRIs or CT scans. This would reduce diagnosis times and increase accuracy, directly benefiting users of the Canary Health Service.
Additionally, telemedicine projects will be promoted so that patients in rural or hard-to-reach areas of Tenerife can be attended to by specialists without the need to travel. Telemedicine has already been successfully tested on the Island during the pandemic, and now an academic and research framework is sought to be established.
The agreements have an initial duration of four years, with the possibility of extension. During this time, the creation of research scholarships and pre-doctoral contracts for young Tenerife scientists is anticipated. The chairs will begin to operate effectively in the academic year 2026-2027, with the offering of the first seminars and projects.
For the residents of Tenerife, this news represents a commitment to a more modern and accessible healthcare system. The training of specialists on the Island will prevent them from having to travel to the mainland for advanced treatments or to train in these technologies. The Cabildo expects that the first tangible results, such as new telemedicine applications, could be available within two years.
You may also like
