The GIR-Innova program, an initiative of the ITEMAS-Girona Unit to boost health innovation projects in Girona, has recognized eleven projects in its first phase ("Survey"). GIR-Innova aims to promote transformative innovative projects in healthcare, facilitating their transfer. With 29 proposals submitted, the success of GIR-Innova reflects the dynamic health innovation landscape in Girona.
The Girona Innovation Support Unit, ITEMAS-Girona, coordinated by the Girona Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBGI), aims to enhance innovation and transfer in life and health sciences. The unit stems from the Girona Health Innovation Network, a joint initiative of 13 organizations focused on health innovation. ITEMAS-Girona includes nine institutions: IDIBGI, Dr. Josep Trueta Hospital – Institut Català de la Salut (ICS) Girona, Institut d'Assistència Sanitària (IAS), Hospital d’Olot i Comarcal de la Garrotxa Foundation (FHOCG), Maresme and La Selva Health Corporation (CSMS), Salut Empordà Foundation (FSE), Integrated Health Services of Baix Empordà (SSIBE), Albera Salut, and Campdevànol Hospital.
Over the next nine months, supported by IDIBGI, ten selected projects will access resources and services to advance. After this first stage, two projects with the highest transformative potential will be chosen to receive further support, boosting their transfer and impact.
Projects selected by institution
The selected projects address various challenges through innovative approaches in health and technology. In obesity, the IPA project (IDIBGI) develops a compound to treat food addiction and prevent obesity, a condition affecting 30% of the global population. Another project, WAGPED (IDIBGI-IAS), proposes a gamified solution to improve women’s adherence to treatments for emotional disorders.
In oncology, the NGS-MAMA project (IDIBGI-Catalan Institute of Oncology) promotes next-generation sequencing for the diagnosis and monitoring of breast cancer patients. In neuroscience, INSULA (IDIBGI-ICS) works on creating a fetal brain atlas based on ultrasounds to improve the diagnosis of neurodevelopmental disorders.
In rehabilitation and medical technology, REVICTUS (IDIBGI-ICS) applies immersive virtual reality to gamify the rehabilitation of stroke patients with vision loss, while the CERVICARE project (Hospital Trueta) has designed an innovative cervical collar that reduces injuries caused by its use.
Other innovations include the BE WATER project (SSIBE), which validates a thickening product to improve water intake for patients with dysphagia, and ALIMENT-AIH (SSIBE), a system that optimizes hospital food processes by evaluating and monitoring patients' food intake.
In cardiology, the PAI-HF project (CSMS) presents a digital platform for comprehensive care for patients with familial hypercholesterolemia, enhancing diagnosis and personalized treatment. In surgery, the APUNTADOR project (FSE) aims to validate an arthroscopy device that facilitates precise localization of the ideal point to insert surgical instruments, optimizing the field of view and reducing reliance on surgeon experience.
Finally, the EM-LINE project (IDIBGI-ICS-IAS) is a cognitive rehabilitation program that improves language, reading, attention, and memory skills for patients with neurological injuries.
ITEMAS: a national platform for promoting health innovation
The ITEMAS Platform (Platform for the Promotion and Innovation of Industrial Capabilities in the National Health System), funded by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII) and co-funded by the European Union, promotes technology transfer in life sciences. The Girona unit is one of 26 ITEMAS units nationwide, under project number PT23/00084.
