IDIBELL has renewed this year three ISO certifications that accredit the quality and solidity of the work processes of the different research support services of the institute. The Business Development and Innovation Area, the IDIBELL-HUB-ICO Biobank and the Clinical Research Unit in Clinical Trials (UICEC) have passed their respective external audits with excellent results, reinforcing the institution’s commitment to continuous improvement, trust and impact of the quality of the biomedical research carried out there.
Although each certification responds to a different reality and objectives, they all share the same purpose: to ensure that the services that support research teams, from the laboratory to their market leap, when appropriate, operate in accordance with recognized international standards, with standardized and traceable processes aimed at offering maximum value to the research community and society.
Innovation: a consolidated model to transform research into impact
The Business Development and Innovation Area has renewed the certification of its management system and is taking the step towards the new ISO 56001:2024, the world’s first certified standard specifically for innovation management. This certification establishes a global framework for implementing, maintaining, and improving innovation systems in a structured manner, aligned with the objectives of organizations. By surpassing it, it supports IDIBELL’s ability to identify, develop and transfer research results with the potential for clinical and social impact, “and it does so especially in scientific areas that are strategic for us, such as oncology, neurosciences and translational and regenerative medicine, areas with a high potential to generate new diagnostic and therapeutic solutions”, explains María J. Guilera, head of Innovation at IDIBELL.
The audit concluded with a particularly outstanding result: zero non-conformities, a rare milestone that confirms the maturity and solidity of the implemented model. “The report also highlights strengths such as project evaluation processes, innovation portfolio management to market transfer and the ability to attract partners and collaboration opportunities,” says Miguel Souto, Director of Innovation and Business Development at IDIBELL.
For IDIBELL, “having a certified innovation system represents a clear differentiating advantage: it places us among the small group of biomedical research institutes in Spain that have one,” says Gisela Gallego, Head of Business Development at IDIBELL. This recognition facilitates participation in competitive R+D+i calls, helps attract new partners and investors, and reinforces the confidence of companies, funders and other agents in the innovative ecosystem. In addition, it fosters an internal culture oriented towards creativity, collaboration and continuous improvement.
Biobank: quality and traceability at the service of research
The IDIBELL-HUB-ICO Biobank has successfully passed the ISO 9001:2015 recertification audit, without any non-conformity, reaffirming its commitment to quality in the management of biological samples and associated data. The milestone recognizes and corroborates that the Biobank’s processes are documented, standardized and subject to constant review to ensure their efficiency and reliability. This is especially relevant in an environment where sample quality and traceability are critical factors for the success of research projects.
“Quality is not only about guaranteeing the traceability and reliability of the samples we make available to the research community, but also about constantly reviewing how we work to make it better each time,” says Laura Arregui, coordinator of the Biobank. “This certification recognises this commitment to excellence, but also to a more efficient and sustainable management of resources. In recent years we have promoted measures to reduce energy consumption, optimize freezing equipment and minimize waste, always maintaining the highest standards of quality and safety.”
The renewal of ISO 9001 reinforces the confidence of researchers, hospitals and institutions that deposit or use samples from the Biobank, while facilitating participation in national and international collaborations and competitive projects. The combination of scientific rigour, regulatory compliance, management efficiency and commitment to continuous improvement make the Biobank a key infrastructure to support biomedical research of excellence at the Bellvitge Health Campus.
UICEC: quality assurance in independent clinical research
The Clinical Research Unit in Clinical Trials (UICEC) has renewed its ISO 9001:2015 certification after passing the external audit without any non-conformity. The certification supports the quality management system that the Unit applies in all its clinical research support services, including project coordination, monitoring, pharmacovigilance and administrative management of clinical trials.
This recognition confirms UICEC’s ability to support research teams in the development of independent clinical studies. “Our work makes it easier for research professionals at the Bellvitge Health Campus to promote non-commercial research studies, independent of pharmaceutical companies, with guarantees, and to participate in multicentre projects, both national and international”, explains Pilar Hereu, director of the UICEC. “With this certification, we demonstrate that we can do so in accordance with the quality and safety standards required in clinical research, which is essential.”
The UICEC is part of the SCReN Platform of the Carlos III Health Institute and the European ECRIN infrastructure, two networks that promote international collaboration and access to large clinical research projects. During 2025, the Unit supported 40 independently promoted clinical trials, consolidating its role as an essential structure for the development of quality clinical research.
The Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL) is a research centre created in 2004 and specialising in cancer, neuroscience, translational medicine and regenerative medicine. It has a team of more than 1,500 professionals who, from 73 research groups, publish more than 1,400 scientific articles per year. IDIBELL has the support of the Bellvitge University Hospital and the Viladecanos Hospital of the Catallán Health Institute, the Catallán 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 HUBc of the University of Barcelona and is part of the CERCA institution of the Generalitat de Catalunya. In 2009 it became one of the first five Spanish research centres accredited as a health research institute by the Carlos III Health Institute. In addition, it is part of the European Union’s Excellence in HR Research programme and is a member of EATRIS and REGIC. Since 2018, IDIBELL has been an Accredited Centre of the AECC Scientific Foundation (FCAECC).