”La Caixa” Foundation has published the resolution for the 2024 CaixaImpulse Innovation call, which supports 29 new biomedical projects from research centers, hospitals and universities in Spain and Portugal. The aim of the program is to accelerate these innovations arrival to the market and thus bring them closer to the patients who may need them. Likewise, CaixaImpulse Innovation encourages the creation of new products, services and companies related to life sciences and health.
The winning projects – out of more than 400 applications received – have been evaluated by six panels of international experts and professionals in this field. Among those selected, four IDIBELL researchers will receive funding to promote the following research and innovation projects:
- Artificial intelligence to predict the course of multiple sclerosis and be able to apply personalized treatments early, led by Pablo Naval Baudín, from IDIBELL, the Bellvitge University Hospital and the Institute of Diagnostic Imaging (50,000 euros).
- Development of a non-invasive method to detect endometrial cancer from urine samples, led by Laura Costas, from IDIBELL and the Catalan Institute of Oncology (50,000 euros).
- First immunotherapy for inflammatory bowel disease, led by Josep M. Aran, from IDIBELL (500,000 euros).
- NeurAntigen, a precise and rapid diagnostic test for autoimmune encephalitis, led by Eugenia Martínez Hernández, from the August Pi i Sunyer Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBAPS) – Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, in consortium with Antonella Consiglio, from IDIBELL (150,000 euros).
Training and expert support for projects
CaixaImpulse Innovación supports biomedical projects in the field of innovation and transfer by helping researchers validate their assets and define their exploitation and valorization strategy to bring the projects closer to the market, so, in addition to economic support, they will also obtain mentoring, consulting and support services by international experts in different areas of the innovation ecosystem.
According to Ignasi López, director of the Area of Partnerships with Research and Health Institutions at “la Caixa” Foundation: “The result of this call reflects not only the abundance, but also the exceptional quality of the innovation projects in biomedicine and health in Spain and Portugal. We are proud to be able to support them, offering both the necessary financial aid and the tools for them to reach the market with strength and security”.
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).