Picks of May: highlights in health research, digitalization and investment
May was marked by the historic WHO agreement to strengthen global preparedness for future pandemics, as well as uncertainty triggered by new tariffs announced by President Trump in the United States. Meanwhile, healthcare digitalization, investment in innovation, and the leadership of the BioRegion continue to drive the sector forward. Below, we’ve rounded up this month’s key highlights.
Biomedical research in Catalonia has experienced an especially active and transformative month. Hospital de Bellvitge has successfully removed, for the first time, a previously inoperable pancreatic cancer thanks to a pioneering surgical technique that opens new possibilities for patients with advanced tumors. Meanwhile, researchers at IRB Barcelona and CRG have identified a DNA “barcode” that can detect blood aging starting at age 70 — a discovery that could revolutionize how age-related diseases are diagnosed and treated. In oncology, IRB Barcelona has also developed a new tool that reveals how tumors reprogram key genes to resist chemotherapy, deepening our understanding of treatment resistance and paving the way for more personalized therapies. Additionally, IDIBELL has rediscovered denosumab — a drug previously used for osteoporosis — which could play a significant role in treating breast cancer. An international study led by the Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP) and the GCAT project has, for the first time, identified a significant genetic association with long COVID, linked to the FOXP4 gene. This finding sheds new light on the biological mechanisms and risk factors behind this complex condition. GoodGut (part of the Hipra group) has developed a microbiota test that reduces false positives in colorectal cancer screening by 18.4%. We close this section with news about the future Hospital Clínic: the Catalan Government has announced that construction is set to begin in 2030, with a planned investment of €1.7 billion. We close this section with the announcement of the construction of the new Hospital Clínic, which the Generalitat plans to begin in 2030 with an investment of €1.7 billion, and with the news that companies based at the Parc Científic de Barcelona raised €124.7 million in 2024, consolidating the park as a driving force for biomedical innovation in Catalonia.
- Several noteworthy reports were published this month: on one hand, the latest Farmaindustria report, released to mark Clinical Trials Day, highlights Spain’s — and, by extension, Catalonia’s — leadership in clinical research in Europe, with a record 930 authorized trials in 2024 and pharmaceutical R&D investment rising to €1.533 billion. On the other hand, ACCIÓ has published the Digital Health in Catalonia Report, in collaboration with Barcelona Health Hub and Biocat, showcasing an ecosystem of nearly 400 companies and a strong focus on innovation, interoperability and personalized medicine — all aimed at improving accessibility, efficiency and patient empowerment. Finally, the final tally for the 2024 3Cat Marató, dedicated to respiratory diseases, has been published, raising €10,074,597 to boost research and prevention of these conditions in Catalonia.
- The push for healthcare digitalization is also being reflected in clinical care. Groundbreaking results from the Bellvitge University Hospital, IDIBELL, and CIBERCV have demonstrated how telemedicine can transform the management of chronic heart failure: combining telemonitoring and teleintervention reduces cardiovascular mortality by 54%, thanks to daily, personalized follow-up via a mobile app. At the same time, home hospitalization continues to gain momentum in Spain, with Catalonia’s model serving as a national benchmark, particularly due to the integration of home care into chronic care strategies and the strong involvement of primary care services.
- In the field of healthtech, this month the Barcelona Supercomputing Center has launched OneCareAI, a new spinoff focused on stroke prevention through artificial intelligence and supercomputing applied to data collected from wearable devices such as smartwatches. Developed within the framework of the Innostroke project, this technology enables early, personalized, and real-time detection of stroke risk.
- Neurotechnology and translational research have also taken center stage this month. INBRAIN has received €4 million in funding from the PERTE Chip initiative to accelerate the development of graphene-based brain-computer interfaces, with promising applications for treating neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s and epilepsy. Meanwhile, Gate2Brain has validated its drug delivery platform for crossing the blood-brain barrier and secured over €700,000 from the CDTI to advance a new therapy for high-grade pediatric brain tumors, in collaboration with India. This peptide-based technology enables efficient, non-invasive drug delivery to the central nervous system, paving the way for innovative treatments for various neurological and oncological conditions.
- Public funding has also given a strong boost to other high-impact health projects: Reig Jofre and Oryzon have each received over €13 million in support to develop advanced therapies and drugs for rare diseases, while Minoryx has secured nearly €27 million to advance treatments for the central nervous system. These investments are part of the PERTE for Health initiative and the European Med4Cure program.
- As for Catalan pharma, Almirall is strengthening its commitment to research with an investment of €60 to €80 million in four new Phase II clinical trials for the treatment of dermatological diseases. This push will enable the company to continue its double-digit growth and solidify its leadership in dermatology. Esteve and Grifols are also consolidating their growth: Esteve closed the year with a record profit of €75 million and is preparing new acquisitions and plant expansions, while Grifols increased its revenue by 7.4% and strengthened its cash generation capacity, confirming positive forecasts for 2025.
In terms of funding and venture capital operations, a standout is the €58 million investment round led by Ysios Capital in Austrian biotech company ReproNovo, which will open a subsidiary in Barcelona to drive the clinical development of two innovative drugs for male and female fertility. Meanwhile, Seqera has closed a $26 million Series B round to scale its bioinformatics software platform, and BIOM has announced a new investment to advance its bioinspired materials biotechnology. HLAnalytics has raised €750,000 in a seed round to expand its artificial intelligence platform for operating rooms, and Heura has secured a €20 million loan from the European Investment Bank to accelerate the development of new plant-based food products.
- All of this contributes to consolidating Barcelona’s position as the fifth leading startup hub in the European Union in 2025, according to the international StartupBlink ranking — trailing only Paris, Berlin, Stockholm and Amsterdam. The report highlights Catalonia’s capital as the third strongest ecosystem in the pharmaceutical industry and the second in Europe for digital health. According to the publication, Catalonia now boasts over 2,285 startups — a 9% increase from the previous year — generating more than 22,800 highly skilled jobs.
- In the area of recognitions and appointments, a standout is the selection of Andreu Mas-Colell as one of the three expert advisors to the Bank of Spain, along with the appointment of Arantxa Sanz as Director General of Catalonia.Health, Susana Puig as the new Director of IDIBAPS, Yolima Cossio as the new Director of Digital Strategy and Data at Sant Joan de Déu Hospital, and Raquel Gil as Barcelona’s new Fifth Deputy Mayor. This month, La Vanguardia and the Catalunya La Pedrera Foundation announced the eight finalists for the La Vanguardia de la Ciencia awards — a selection we highly recommend exploring, as it shines a spotlight on women scientists leading groundbreaking research. We close with a special tribute to Jacint Corbella, a key figure in the history of medicine in Catalonia, who passed away this May.