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IGTP marks 30 years of research and scientific collaboration at its annual symposium

- Campus Can Ruti, Conferences, Institutional, Success Stories
  • IGTP has marked its 30th anniversary during the Annual Symposium, reviewing the Institute's scientific trajectory and looking ahead to the future of research and innovation at the Can Ruti Campus.
  • Over 200 researchers from the IIS IGTP community have taken part in presentations, debates and networking spaces to foster collaboration.

The Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP) held its annual scientific meeting today. This fifth edition, under the title "IGTP Annual Symposium: 30 years of Research and Networking across the Campus", had a special character as it was framed within the context of the Institute's 30th anniversary.

The symposium brought together more than 200 researchers from the Can Ruti Campus at the Badalona International Business Centre (BCIN). Among the attendees were both IGTP members and affiliated researchers from other institutions linked through the Institute's accreditation as a Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria (IIS) by Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII).

The day served to highlight the interdisciplinary research carried out on the campus through talks, round tables and poster sessions. This year's program not only focused on the present but also reflected on the evolution of research at the IGTP and shared future perspectives across different fields, while promoting collaboration among researchers to foster scientific excellence and translate results into better health outcomes.

30 years of shared history

The welcome session was led by the IGTP management team. Jordi Barretina, director general, highlighted this anniversary as an opportunity to look back and value the path travelled: "During these 30 years we have grown as an institution, consolidated our research and innovation, and above all, contributed to generating knowledge that impacts people's health. This symposium is also a look to the future, to continue moving forward with the same vocation for service and spirit of collaboration that have defined us from the beginning".

For her part, Júlia García-Prado, scientific director, emphasised the strength of the Can Ruti Campus scientific community and the importance of advancing research and innovation together under the IIS IGTP alliance: "Our greatest asset is the unique ecosystem where research, innovation, healthcare and teaching coexist and reinforce each other to accelerate the search for scientific and innovative solutions to major health challenges. With this forward-looking vision and aiming to generate impact beyond our campus, we seek to expand our international projection and strengthen collaborations with research centres around the world".

Next, a teaser of the special 30th anniversary video was shown, which will be released in full in the coming weeks. The video reviews the Institute's most significant milestones and pays tribute to the people who have been part of its story over three decades.

Afterwards, José Navas Palacios, director of the Institute for Research and Innovation in Life and Health Sciences in Central Catalonia (IRIS-CC), reviewed three decades of medical research in Badalona. Thanks to his close connection with the Can Ruti Campus, having held leading positions at the Germans Trias i Pujol University Hospital (HUGTiP), Institut Català de la Salut, the Department of Health and ISCIII, he provided a privileged insight into the scientific evolution of the area and its key role in the country's healthcare progress.

Before the break, researchers Noemí Párraga (IGTP) and Ariadna Huertas (HUGTiP-IGTP) led an interactive quiz that tested attendees' knowledge about the 30-year history of the IGTP. The activity revisited key moments, curiosities and shared milestones in a dynamic and engaging way.

Past, present and future

The symposium included three sessions to review scientific advances from the past three decades and reflect on the challenges and opportunities for the future. This section also featured video messages from institutional representatives who joined in celebrating the IGTP's 30-year history.

The first session, moderated by Ramon Bartolí (IGTP), focused on the origins and transformations of the IIS IGTP, comparing its evolution in different fields. Magí Farré (HUGTiP-IGTP) and Sebastián Videla (IGTP) discussed clinical trials; Pere-Joan Cardona (HUGTiP-IGTP), Míriam Gironès and Sara Capdevila (CMCiB-IGTP) addressed preclinical research; and Ricardo Pujol-Borrell (former UAB-HUGTiP-IGTP) and Eva Martínez-Cáceres (HUGTiP-IGTP) spoke about immunology.

The second session featured a series of selected abstract talks, moderated by Santiago Roura and Noemí Párraga (IGTP). Presentations included: Elisenda Arqué (IGTP) "Impact of meteorological factors on Legionella colonisation of water systems and the incidence of Legionnaires' disease", Daniel Santana (HUGTiP) "RUSH-PoC: Rapid Unveiling for Ischemic Stroke in pre-Hospital settings using a Point of Care Test", Laura Fernández (CEEISCAT ICO-IGTP) "Estimating HIV incidence using a longitudinal assessment of routine community-based testing data across the WHO European Region: Insights from the COBATEST Network", and Carolina Armengol (IGTP) "Proteomic landscape of paediatric and adult liver cancer".

Finally, the third session explored IGTP's transversal programs and future strategic lines. Moderated by Cristina Agustí (CEEISCAT-ICO-IGTP), it featured talks by Mireia Margelí (ICO-IGTP) on the Translational Program in Cancer Research (CARE); Javier Solana (Institut Guttmann) on artificial intelligence serving researchers and patients; Cinta Folch (CEEISCAT-ICO-IGTP) on the Program in Public Health and Primary Healthcare (CORE); and Marcel·la Franquesa and Marta Sanroque (IGTP), introducing a new transversal program on advanced therapies through an innovative glaucoma research example.

The biomedical research at the Can Ruti Campus, ready for new challenges

In the afternoon, the symposium continued with a round table on the future challenges for biomedical research at the Can Ruti Campus, moderated by Cristina Vilaplana (HUGTiP-IGTP). Participants included Jordi Ara (HUGTiP), Lilibeth Arias (IGTP), Núria Izquierdo (IrsiCaixa), Mònica Millán (HUGTiP-IGTP) and Manel Puig (HUGTiP-IGTP), who shared their views on the main challenges research will face in the coming years.

To close the event, awards were presented for the best scientific presentations, recognising the impact and quality of the research conducted on campus. The winners were:

  • Best Communication: Daniel Santana (Núria de Gregorio collecting on behalf), Neurovascular Research Group
  • Best Scientific Abstract: Noemí Tomsen, Consorci Sanitari del Maresme
  • People's Choice Best Poster: Rubén Romero, Institut Guttmann

The event concluded with an informal cocktail that encouraged networking among participants and helped strengthen connections and create new opportunities for collaboration.

As part of its 30th anniversary, this fifth Annual Symposium has consolidated IGTP as a leading reference in biomedical research and scientific cooperation at the Can Ruti Campus, reaffirming its commitment to advancing health and society.

The organising committee of the Annual Symposium:

The event was sponsored by: