The minister for Research and Universities, Joaquim Nadal i Farreras, and the new director of CERCA, Laia Pellejà, visited IDIBAPS last Monday, April 22nd, a CERCA centre for biomedical research and translational research of excellence, linked to the Hospital Clínic and the University of Barcelona.
A welcoming committee led by Elías Campo, director of IDIBAPS and made up of David Badia, manager of IDIBAPS; Michela Bertero, director of strategy at IDIBAPS; Josep Mª Campistol, general director of the Hospital Clínic Barcelona; Raquel Sánchez-Valle, medical director of the Hospital Clínic Barcelona, greeted the Minister and the Director upon their arrival.
The day then continued with discussions involving the Minister, the Director of CERCA and the IDIBAPS Management Committee, and a visit to the laboratories, to gain first-hand experience of the centre’s research. Minister Nadal stressed that "IDIBAPS' commitment to scientific excellence, health research and innovation is exemplary. In many diseases that affect our society, the centre has managed to ensure that the advances made in the laboratory are transferred to patients, also with the support of cutting-edge scientific services”. Along these lines, the Minister and the Director of CERCA were able to learn about the research carried out by the “Cellular immunotherapies for cancer” group led by Sònia Guedan, a pioneering and innovative group focused on cellular immunotherapy, or CAR T-cell therapy, for haematological and solid tumours. There was also a presentation of the Magnetic Resonance Imaging Platform led by Emma Muñoz, which highlighted the projects in which they collaborate in neuroscience and cardiology, both in animal models and humans.
Our researchers are internationally recognized for their pioneering contributions that allow us to advance the frontiers of scientific knowledge”, says the Director Elías Campo. “This results in an impact on health and society, as shown by the guidelines published each year, over 1,500 active clinical trials and the 12 active spin-offs, all outcomes that arise from the pioneering research by IDIBAPS and the Campus Clínic”.
