Barcelona celebrated an important milestone in the scientific field by laying the foundation stone of the CaixaResearch Institute, a pioneering research center in immunology.
The event, which took place on October 31, 2023, was attended by the mayor of Barcelona, Jaume Collboni, the president of the “la Caixa” Foundation, Isidre Fainé, and Josep Tabernero, director of the scientific project.
This institute, backed by an investment of close to 100 million euros from the “la Caixa” Foundation, will become an epicenter of international reference in the field of scientific research focused on immunology.
Its main objective will be to study the processes of the immune system in relation to common diseases, such as neurological, oncological and infectious diseases, as well as to examine the environmental factors that influence the immune system.
Immunology research in Spain
At the opening ceremony of the construction, Josep Tabernero highlighted the importance of immunology in modern biomedicine. Since the immune system is the body’s natural defense against infection and disease, immunotherapy has proven to be an effective medical treatment that seeks to strengthen and guide the immune system.
It has already been used to treat certain types of cancer and autoimmune diseases, and has been implemented in the creation of messenger RNA vaccines, including those developed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tabernero emphasized that immunology is a complex discipline that requires continuous research. Currently, only 25% of cancer patients benefit from these therapies, highlighting the need for progress in this area to treat a broader spectrum of patients.
The CaixaResearch Institute will provide scientific teams with cutting-edge tools, state-of-the-art technology and a world-class research environment to advance in this direction.
Barcelona: leader in immunology research
The ‘La Caixa’ Foundation stresses that the CaixaResearch Institute seeks to position Barcelona and Spain as leaders in immunology research and to attract outstanding international talent. Dr. Antoni Ribas has been appointed chairman of the entity’s advisory committee.
It is expected that by 2025, when the institute becomes operational, it will have at least 500 professionals, including scientists, technical and administrative staff, working in its facilities.
The center is being built on a site opposite Cosmocaixa, next to Barcelona’s Ronda de Dalt. During the groundbreaking ceremony, historical artifacts were placed in a time capsule.
In his speech, Jaume Collboni thanked Barcelona for having been chosen to host this project and highlighted the importance of research for the country’s development.
Isidre Fainé, president of the “La Caixa” Foundation, stressed the importance of joining forces to promote innovative solutions to the challenges in the field of health.
