• The event, organized by the Girona Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBGI), brings together experts, entrepreneurs, and institutions to highlight innovation and technology transfer in health in the Girona region.
Girona has become the meeting point for health, research, and entrepreneurship professionals at the First Health Innovation Conference, held this Thursday, March 13, at the Josep Irla Auditorium at the Generalitat headquarters in Girona. Organized by the Girona Biomedical Research Institute Dr. Josep Trueta (IDIBGI) as part of the Girona unit of the ITEMAS Platform, the event has focused on the major challenges and opportunities offered by health innovation in the Girona region, with the Health Campus as a horizon, including the creation of companies based on scientific knowledge and the incorporation of advanced therapies.
Success Stories: The Impact of 'Spin-offs' on Health Innovation
One of the highlighted sessions was the roundtable discussion on the experience of four co-founders of emerging companies originating from biomedical research institutes (spin-offs). The session addressed the process of creating these companies, the challenges and lessons learned, leadership, and the founders' perspectives on success in this sector.
Two doctors and entrepreneurs from the University Hospital of Girona Dr. Josep Trueta participated in the debate: cardiologist Jaime Aboal, CEO and co-founder of MyoSafe Innovations (a spin-off of IDIBGI, IDIAP Jordi Gol, and the University of Girona), and the Coordinator of the Innovation Unit IAS-ICS Girona and gastroenterologist Xavier Aldeguer, co-founder of Goodgut (a spin-off of IDIBGI and UdG). The roundtable also included representatives from two other Catalan spin-offs: Esther Riambau, CEO and co-founder of Oniria Therapeutics (a spin-off of VHIO, UB, and ICREA), and Alicia Martínez, CEO and co-founder of Time is Brain (a spin-off of IGTP). They all shared their perspective on the transition process from a research project to a business venture and encouraged research and healthcare professionals to follow this path. The discussion was moderated by the coordinator of the ITEMAS Platform, Lluís Blanch.
The Challenge of Incorporating Advanced Therapies in the Girona Health Region
Another key topic of the conference was the discussion on incorporating advanced therapies in the Girona Health Region. Moderated by Robert Fabregat, director of BIOCAT, the roundtable brought together different stakeholders to analyze infrastructure challenges, adoption, and territorial equity in access to these cutting-edge therapies.
The CEO of Theriva Biologics, Manel Cascalló, shared his experience in developing oncolytic viruses for cancer treatment and highlighted the benefits of implementing innovative therapies, both for patients and the positive impact on the healthcare ecosystem. Meanwhile, the director of the Institute of Health Assistance and the University Hospital of Girona Dr. Josep Trueta, Àngels Morales, provided the institutional perspective on how these therapies are integrated into the healthcare system and emphasized the importance of bringing them closer to patients while ensuring maximum safety. The medical director of the Hospital of Olot and Comarcal de la Garrotxa, Lluís Ramió, highlighted the customization possibilities that advanced therapies offer for treating diseases such as multiple sclerosis. The debate also featured Begoña Matesanz, a biologist and person living with multiple sclerosis, who stressed the importance of involving patients in the entire innovation process.
Boosting Innovation Projects with the GIR-Innova Program
Towards the end of the conference, the selection of the ten projects participating in the first phase of the GIR-Innova Program was presented. This initiative, led by the ITEMAS-Girona Unit, aims to support innovative projects with transformative potential in health. From IDIBGI's Innovation and Transfer Department, its head, Aaron Vilalta, and ITEMAS technician, Albert Verdaguer, introduced the program and the selected projects, which come from healthcare institutions across the Girona region and will have access to resources and support to facilitate their transfer and application in the healthcare system.
Commitment to Health Innovation
The event also featured IDIBGI director, Marga Nadal, who emphasized: "In the Girona region, there is great potential for health innovation, with projects that can have a real impact on the quality of life and patient care," adding, "We must work to ensure these advances reach everyone, with territorial equity that prevents unnecessary travel and guarantees equal access to new therapies and technologies throughout Catalonia."
Meanwhile, the director of the Girona Health Region, Jaume Heredia, highlighted the importance of strengthening health innovation as a driver of change and improvement for society, stating that "the Health Campus will be the perfect ecosystem for these fields to converge and create synergies." Heredia reaffirmed the commitment of the Girona Health Region "to continue supporting research, innovation, and knowledge transfer, because only then can we move towards a more effective healthcare system adapted to our population's needs."
The conference, sponsored by Friselva, IDIBGI's patron company, underscored the key role of technology transfer and institutional collaboration in accelerating the implementation of innovative solutions in the healthcare system.
The ITEMAS Platform (Platform for the Dynamization and Innovation of the Industrial Capabilities of the National Health System), funded by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII) and co-financed by the European Union, promotes technology transfer in life sciences. The Girona unit is one of the 26 ITEMAS units across the country, under project PT23/00084.
About IDIBGI
The Girona Biomedical Research Institute Dr. Josep Trueta (IDIBGI) conducts translational research to improve people's health and care. IDIBGI is organized into 24 research groups distributed across five scientific areas (Cardiovascular and Respiratory, Metabolism and Inflammation, Neurosciences, Oncohematology, and Mental Health), bringing together more than 400 professionals, including healthcare workers and basic researchers in the Girona region.
IDIBGI is a public sector foundation under private law of the Government of Catalonia, and its board of trustees includes the Departments of Health and Research, the Catalan Institute of Health (ICS) Girona, the Institute of Health Assistance (IAS), the Catalan Institute of Oncology (ICO) Girona, and the University of Girona. IDIBGI is a CERCA center (Catalan Research Centers).
