The Carlos III Health Institute to Fund the mICardiApp Project Developed by UCA Researchers 19 January 2026
The digital tool, promoted by the Cádiz Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation (INiBICA), is aimed at patients with heart failure
The Cádiz Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation (INiBICA) has been awarded a Health Research Project funded by the Carlos III Health Institute (ISCIII), led by the Campo de Gibraltar West Health Management Area of the Andalusian Health Service and the Bay of Algeciras Campus of the University of Cádiz. This initiative will enable the clinical validation of mICardiApp, a pioneering digital tool designed for patients with heart failure. The project involves professionals from the Cardiology Clinical Management Unit of Punta Europa University Hospital, teaching staff and researchers from the Algeciras Faculty of Nursing (PAIDI Group CTS1019), as well as other UCA research groups (CTS158, TIC195 and FQM243).
The project is led by principal investigators Pilar Bas Sarmiento and Eduardo Sánchez Sánchez and has been selected in the 2025 call of the Strategic Action in Health (AES), one of the most competitive funding programmes within Spain’s national health R&D&I system. The study proposes the clinical validation of mICardiApp through a randomised trial, with the aim of strengthening clinical follow-up and improving the quality of life of people living with heart failure.
mICardiApp is a mobile health application that, in addition to enabling clinical monitoring, incorporates health literacy strategies to facilitate patients’ access to, understanding of and application of relevant information about their condition. The tool includes advanced self-management modules for controlling diet, physical activity, identifying warning signs and symptoms, medication adherence and emotional management. It also integrates gamification dynamics and personalised challenges designed to maintain motivation and encourage sustained use of the application.
The study funded by the Carlos III Health Institute will assess the effectiveness of this application in a real clinical practice setting. The aim is to determine whether the use of mICardiApp significantly reduces hospital readmission rates and mortality associated with heart failure, while also easing the burden on the healthcare system and improving both patient health outcomes and overall patient experience.
This project had already received prior support from Andalusia FEDER funds and from the University of Cádiz’s own funding programme. With the new funding from the Carlos III Health Institute, it has now reached the level of nationally recognised research excellence. This achievement positions Punta Europa University Hospital and the Algeciras Faculty of Nursing as benchmarks in healthcare innovation and nursing care within the Spanish context.
Heart failure is currently the leading cause of hospitalisation among people over the age of 65 in Spain, representing a major challenge for the healthcare system. In response to this reality, the research team proposes a shift in the care model, moving from passive care towards greater patient empowerment.