This Saturday took place the open day of the fifth edition of Sinergia, the celebration of health research and innovation in L’Hospitalet. More than 300 people came to the Bellvitge Campus to take part in the everyday work of that IDIBELL, the Catalan Institute of Oncology, the Bellvitge University Hospital, the University of Barcelona and the Hospital Sant Joan de Déu do to improve people’s health. Throughout the morning, a gymkhana, an escape room, guided tours in the facilities and workshops for the general public brought the science of Bellvitge closer to all visitors. The day culminated in a final concert where everyone enjoyed the performance of the music band Dorigen.

During the guided tours, the participants had the opportunity to visit IDIBELL’s laboratories and experience the research first hand. At the end of each visit, an informative talk on stem cells, diabetes and pancreatic cancer was offered by Meritxell Rovira, and another on 3D technology in the operating room of the hand by Núria Adell and Trinidad Arenas, both with a great attending success.

Another activity, already a classic and also achieving a remarkable participation was the IDIescape, the escape room in the laboratories. Participants used their wit and scientific skills to discover how to create a medical treatment, only in this way they managed to overcome the escape room.

This year, Parc de Bellvitge hosted more activities than ever for people of all ages: workshops for families, a gymkhana around the neighborhood, a Zumba masterclass and a dance therapy session. Young and old, friends and families, scientists and non-scientists, everyone enjoyed all the activities that could be carried out thanks to the collaboration of different entities in the neighborhood.

Before the grand finale of the event, Dr. Gabriel Capellá, IDIBELL director, and David Quirós, deputy mayor of L’Hospitalet, highlighted the joining forces of all the Bellvitge Campus institutions, one of the most important biomedical hubs in the country, and the relevance of carrying out these type of activities to bring science closer to the citizens.

Finally, the entire audience was able to enjoy the music of Dorigen, who played the “Symphony of Heroes”, an album they have made in collaboration with brain tumor patients that seeks to raise awareness of the importance of continuing research in this area to continue moving forward.

Sinergia is the Festival of research and innovation in health in L’Hospitalet, led by the City Council of L’Hospitalet and framed in the strategic project 4locaLHealth: Research, Innovation and Health in the territory through personalized medicine (PECT, co-financed with ERDF European funds).

The Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL) is a biomedical research center created in 2004. It is participated by the Bellvitge University Hospital and the Viladecans Hospital of the Catalan Institute of Health, the Catalan Institute of Oncology, the University of Barcelona and the City Council of L’Hospitalet de Llobregat.

IDIBELL is a member of the Campus of International Excellence of the University of Barcelona HUBc and is part of the CERCA institution of the Generalitat de Catalunya. In 2009 it became one of the first five Spanish research centers accredited as a health research institute by the Carlos III Health Institute. In addition, it is part of the “HR Excellence in Research” program of the European Union and is a member of EATRIS and REGIC. Since 2018, IDIBELL has been an Accredited Center of the AECC Scientific Foundation (FCAECC).