Dr Cristina Monforte-Royo and Dr Joaquim Julià-Torras, co-directors of the WeCare Chair, together with their team, participated in the 15th International Congress of the Spanish Society for Palliative Care (SECPAL), held in October. The congress brought together healthcare professionals and researchers to share knowledge and address current challenges in palliative care.

Both researchers took part in the pre-congress course "Desire to hasten death: assessment and clinical support", which focused on the management of these situations in patients with advanced illness.

Dr Cristina Monforte-Royo also participated in the round table "Current teaching in palliative care: the experience of university chairs", a forum for dialogue on the role of university chairs in the education of future professionals in this field.

Joaquim Julià-Torras, meanwhile, chaired the session "Tips for setting up a research centre", which featured Dr Sebastiano Mercadante, an internationally recognised authority in cancer pain and palliative care. The session explored the challenges of conducting research in clinical settings, from establishing and consolidating teams to ensuring the continuity of research activity and its integration with the care of patients and their families.

Aina García presented the findings of a systematic review and meta-ethnography examining the experiences of 696 nursing professionals in countries where euthanasia or assisted dying has been decriminalised.

Blanca Goñi presented a study conducted during her predoctoral research stay in Dublin in collaboration with Our Lady’s Hospice and University College Dublin. Based on interviews with 20 specialist nurses, the study examines how healthcare professionals experience their first encounter with patients and their families.

Doctoral researcher Raquel Ibáñez, meanwhile, interviewed screenwriter Nacho Solís during the presentation and screening of the short film Piedra, Papel, Tijera (Rock, Paper, Scissors) creating a space for reflection on the diversity of experiences associated with the end of life. This contribution brought a complementary perspective to issues surrounding palliative care, connecting research and academic analysis with audiovisual storytelling and its potential to address complex human experiences.

Through its participation in the SECPAL 2026 congress, the WeCare Chair reinforces its commitment to advancing research, generating knowledge and educating healthcare professionals, with the aim of responding to the real needs of patients, their families and healthcare professionals.