Barcelona's Vall d'Hebron Hospital inaugurates a new facility that will host 1,000 researchers

This week, the Vall d'Hebron Institute of Research (VHIR) in Barcelona inaugurated a new 16,792-square-metre facility designed to advance research efforts. The building will house the 2,000-strong VHIR team, encompassing researchers, research support staff, administrative personnel, and maintenance and service workers. Of these, 1,000 are dedicated investigators.

“With this space we aim to develop advanced therapies and attract and retain talent”

Begoña Benito, VHIR’s Director

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The facility will also include a cyclotron to enable the development of new diagnostic tools and personalized treatments based on radioisotopes, as well as state-of-the-art technologies in gene therapy and other advanced therapeutic approaches.

Salvador Illa, President of the Government of Catalonia, presided over the opening ceremony, which also included the Minister for Research and Universities, Núria Montserrat; the Minister of Health, Olga Pané; and the Director of the VHIR, Dr. Begoña Benito, among other leading figures and representatives from the pharmaceutical industry.

President Illa praised the new space for its “modern architecture, patient-oriented applied research, and its connection and proximity to the public”. He added that the event “provides an opportunity to raise our collective voice in support of research”.

Dr. Begoña Benito, VHIR’s Director, emphasized that “This space is where we aim to solve future challenges that require the development of advanced therapies as well as leveraging data and artificial intelligence in research".

She further noted, “Another key goal for this new facility is to attract and retain national and international talent”.

The VHIR will also host an Innovation Hub, a pioneering initiative to foster public-private partnerships and disruptive projects aimed at transferring knowledge through the creation of companies. The hub will attract investors and biotechnology and pharmaceutical firms that want to boost part of their activity together with Vall d'Hebron research groups.

The facilities required a total investment of €43 million, financed through European funds, Catalan government funding, donations, and the center’s resources.

Source: Vall d'Hebron Institute of Research (VHIR)