Sinergia will open access to the cutting-edge biomedical research carried out by the Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL) in L’Hospitalet, in collaboration with citizens and healthcare institutions in the Bellvitge neighborhood — one of the country’s most active biomedical and healthcare hubs. The event will simultaneously animate two locations: the laboratories at Hospital Duran i Reynals and Bellvitge Park, one of the city’s green lungs. The Sinergia festival is organized by IDIBELL with support from the City Council of L’Hospitalet and the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology (FECYT).
Step into the Labs and Meet Our Researchers
At Hospital Duran i Reynals, visitors can take part in IDIescape, an escape room set inside the IDIBELL labs, where participants must find a cure for a threatening infection by applying the scientific method and progressing through different stages of biomedical research. There will also be guided tours of the center’s scientific and technical services, along with two public talks: one by Julián Cerón on the gene-editing tool CRISPR, and another by Isabel Fabregat on basic liver cancer research — a field she will explore from both a scientific and artistic perspective. These activities require prior registration via the website sinergia.idibell.cat.
Family workshops, physical activity and Freestyle in Catalan at Bellvitge Park
Bellvitge Park will host the most festive and playful side of the day, with activities for families, seniors, and young people: science workshops for all ages, a fitness masterclass, a Catalan rap freestyle show by the artistic collective Catalunya Freestyle, and more surprises to discover science’s most exciting face.
In the workshop area, throughout the morning and for all ages, visitors will be able to explore the educational card game Papillomattack, build DNA chains, explore an ambulance from the inside, learn how cancer is attacked with nanotechnology, how the immune system fights pathogens… even find out the biological age of their lungs and how tobacco affects them.
From the stage in the park, the Sergio Manzano Municipal Sports Center will lead a session at 11 a.m. titled “Living in Motion,” aimed at seniors who want to start physical activity in a safe and enjoyable way, with gentle exercises that promote emotional well-being and quality of life. The session will be preceded by a short talk from researcher Paula Jakszyn, leader of the +ACTIVO project. At 12:30 p.m, the Catalunya Freestyle rap collective will present a science-meets-hip-hop performance, with freestylers Yung Rovelló, Marina, Majaraca, and Geri, featuring DJ Fat Chets and hosted by Markus FM.
Children and adults, friends and families, scientists and non-scientists — everyone is invited to take part in this event, which this year also counts on the collaboration of local organizations such as the Sergio Manzano Municipal Sports Center, Bellvitge High School, and healthcare institutions including the Medical Emergency System (SEM), the Spanish Association Against Cancer, the Catalan Institute of Oncology, and the Bellvitge University Hospital. Full schedules and activity details can be found at sinergia.idibell.cat.
New audiovisual series: [RE]Accions Bellvitge
To highlight the human side of science and research, this year’s digital component will launch a new audiovisual series titled [RE]Accions Bellvitge. Each episode of the first season will feature a meeting between an IDIBELL scientist and another individual, revealing the scientist’s more personal side and how it intertwines with their professional path. The conversations will take place in IDIBELL’s facilities and will be published soon on the Institute’s social media channels.
The Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL) is a research center established in 2004, specializing in cancer, neuroscience, translational medicine, and regenerative medicine. It has a team of more than 1,500 professionals who, across 73 research groups, publish over 1,400 scientific articles annually. IDIBELL is a joint venture involving the Bellvitge University Hospital and the Viladecans Hospital of the Catalan Health Institute, the Catalan Institute of Oncology, the University of Barcelona, and the L’Hospitalet de Llobregat City Council.
IDIBELL is a member of the International Excellence Campus of the University of Barcelona HUBc and is part of the CERCA institution of the Government of Catalonia. In 2009, it became one of the first five Spanish research centers accredited as a health research institute by the Carlos III Health Institute. Additionally, it is part of the European Union’s HR Excellence in Research program and is a member of EATRIS and REGIC. Since 2018, IDIBELL has been an Accredited Center of the AECC Scientific Foundation (FCAECC).