The new Cancer Center is jointly driven by Hospital Clínic Barcelona, the University of Barcelona, and IDIBAPS.
This organizational and multidisciplinary structure allows cancer to be tackled from all angles, guaranteeing personalized care based on the best scientific evidence. Moreover, It facilitates the rapid incorporation of innovation and new diagnostic tests, while promoting the development of new therapies, including cellular immunotherapies, and training programmes for current and future professionals.
At the same time, the Cancer Center at Campus Clínic is establishing itself as a benchmark for attracting and retaining national and international talent, creating an environment conducive to scientific and medical progress. This model also encourages the active participation of patients and non-profit organizations committed to the fight against cancer.
Leadership and governance of the Clinic Barcelona Comprehensive Cancer Center
The new Campus Clínic Cancer Center was created under the impetus of the newly created Governing Council, which brings together the three key institutions on the Campus: the Hospital Clínic Barcelona, the University of Barcelona and IDIBAPS. This body is chaired by Dr. Josep Maria Campistol, director general of the Hospital Clínic, with Dr. Elías Campo, director of FRCB-IDIBAPS, as vice-chair. Dr. Joan Guardia, rector of the University of Barcelona, and Dr. Antoni Castells, healthcare director of the Clínic also form part of this body. The Governing Council guarantees a shared strategic vision and a cohesive management for the development of the Campus Clínic Cancer Center.
The executive leadership is provided by Dr. Aleix Prat, director of the Clínic Institute of Cancer and Blood Disorders, who serves as director of the center. He works in coordination with Dr. Meritxell Mollà, head of the Clinic Radiation Oncology Service and the clinical director of the new center, who is responsible for coordinating care activities and guaranteeing the highest quality care; Dr. Álvaro Urbano-Ispizua, who is the center’s director of teaching and is in charge of promoting the training of current and future students and professionals; and Dr. Elías Campo, the center’s research director, who is in charge of leading scientific and translational initiatives.
The Executive Committee of the Clínic Barcelona Comprehensive Cancer Center, chaired by Dr. Antoni Castells, and is made up of three directors, along with other key directors from the Campus Clínic. They include Dr. Raquel Sánchez-Valle, medical director of the Clínic; Ms. Saray Alen, nursing director; Dr. Faust Feu, head of Quality Management; and Dr. Michela Bertero, strategy director at IDIBAPS. This interdisciplinary team guarantees cross-cutting and collaborative management. This organizational model allows for effective coordination between the different areas, and establishes the Campus Clínic Cancer Center as an international benchmark in the treatment and study of cancer.
Dr. Aleix Prat, director of the Clinic Barcelona Comprehensive Cancer Center
Dr. Aleix Prat, director of the Campus Clínic Cancer Center and of the Institute of Cancer and Blood Disorders, is a key figure in the transformation of the Campus into a benchmark in oncology. Between 2014 and 2022, he led the Medical Oncology Service, promoting the integration of clinical trials with healthcare practice and developing a global strategy against cancer. He currently combines his role as director of the Institute and the 4C Barcelona with his work as an associate professor at the University of Barcelona and head of the IDIBAPS Translational Genomics group. With an outstanding international track record in breast cancer, he has led innovations in genomics and targeted therapies, contributing to the advancement of precision oncology.
The heart of the cancer center: the functional units
The functional units are the central focus of the Clínic Barcelona Comprehensive Cancer Center. They are designed to tackle each type of cancer adopting a coordinated and personalized strategy. These units bring together professionals from different areas, such as medical and surgical treatment, radiation therapy, diagnostic imaging, pathology and other specialties, as well as highly specialized nursing teams. Its aim is to guarantee comprehensive care that includes all aspects of diagnosis, treatment and follow-up, also promoting the integration of research and teaching into the care process.
Moreover, the Campus Clínic Cancer Center has very important cross-cutting areas that reinforce its multidisciplinary and innovative vision. These include the Oncoimmunology Unit, devoted to developing and applying new technologies based on the immune system to tackle different types of tumour; Hereditary Cancer, which includes genetic diagnosis in the prevention and treatment in order to offer personalized care to patients and families with hereditary predisposition to cancer; and the Molecular Tumour Board, which facilitates personalized therapeutic decisions based on an exhaustive analysis of the molecular biology of the tumour, thus promoting the use of precision medicine in clinical practice.
“This multidisciplinary and cross-cutting approach guarantees precision medicine that combines innovation, clinical experience and a constant commitment to research and training, establishing the Campus Clínic Cancer Center as a national and international benchmark in the fight against cancer”, says Aleix Prat.
Scientific leadership through 25 high-impact research groups
The center has 25 research groups that tackle the main challenges in oncology, from the development of new treatments and diagnostic tests to the understanding of the biological mechanisms of cancer. These groups include experts in clinical practice, translational research and basic sciences, working in a coordinated manner to guarantee a real impact on patients.
The Clínic Barcelona Comprehensive Cancer Center accreditation process at European level
The center has received a preliminary designation as a Comprehensive Cancer Center by the Organisation of European Cancer Institutes (OECI), and is in the process of obtaining the accreditation as a certification that recognizes the highest standards in oncology care, research and innovation. This recognition will raise the profile of the 4C Barcelona as a benchmark center on an international scale.
Metrics that define the center’s impact
The current figures for the Clínic Barcelona Comprehensive Cancer Center are as follows:
- Annual budget for cancer care: €133.2 million
- Annual budget for cancer research: €37.3 million
- Total number of hospital beds for cancer patients: 143
- Number of new patients treated each year: 6,500
- Annual scientific publications: 451
- Active clinical trials (open to recruitment): 359
- 25 translational research groups that tackle the main challenges in oncology
- 15 functional units that guarantee integrated and personalized care
- Five University of Barcelona chairs dedicated to cancer
Commitment to the future of oncology
"The Campus Clínic Cancer Center is presented as a model of international excellence that combines care, research and training under one roof. With a vision shared by leading institutions, patients, professionals and organizations, this project aims to contribute to transforming research, care and teaching in oncology to address present and future challenges in a comprehensive manner”, explains Dr. Antoni Castells, healthcare director of the Clínic and president of the Executive Committee of the Clínic Barcelona Comprehensive Cancer Center.
With its official inauguration, the Campus Clínic Cancer Center reaffirms its commitment to excellence and innovation, moving towards a future where oncology is more personalized, integrated and based on the best scientific evidence.
