The 4th IGTP Retreat establishes itself as a key space to foster scientific collaboration at the Can Ruti Campus

• IGTP reaffirms its scientific excellence with reaccreditation as an Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria (IIS)
• More than 150 researchers participate in a day combining scientific sessions, networking, and an in-depth debate on integrating the gender perspective into research

The Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP) has brought together more than 150 researchers from the Can Ruti Campus today for the 4th Retreat, a day that has become the main annual meeting point for the scientific community at the Can Ruti Campus. Held at the Badalona International Business Centre (BCIN), the event combined high-level scientific sessions with networking spaces, promoting interdisciplinary collaboration and, this year, specifically highlighting the importance of integrating the gender perspective into research.

During the opening session, IGTP's director Jordi Barretina emphasised the strategic value of the Retreat for the institution: "It is a unique opportunity to foster collaboration among our researchers and establish new avenues to advance research to address global health challenges. This event reflects IGTP's commitment to translational research and collaborative innovation."

IGTP's scientific director, Julia García-Prado, highlighted the retreat's role in creating connection spaces for researchers across different areas and programmes: "These kind of events are essential for connecting researchers from different disciplines and accelerating knowledge. This year, there is a special focus on the importance of incorporating the gender perspective in biomedical research." She also added: "Today's presentations by the scientific community have shown that science at the IIS-IGTP, on the Can Ruti Campus, is currently very strong, with great opportunities to generate multidisciplinary projects with significant social impact."

During the welcoming session, the directors highlighted IGTP's recent achievements, including reaccreditation as an Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria (IIS) by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III, a significant milestone that strengthens the institute's commitment to research excellence. They also mentioned the successful completion of the CERCA evaluation process, with final results still pending confirmation.

The program was designed to showcase the broad scientific scope of the Can Ruti Campus, highlighting advancements across various disciplines:

• Presentation of the Program in Public Health and Primary Care (CORE): Jordi Casabona (CEEISCAT-IGTP) and Rosa García (IDIAP Jordi Gol) shared research advancements that have a direct impact on community health.
• Report on the Program in Translational Cancer Research (CARE): Eduard Serra, Arola Fortian, and Anna Martínez Cardús (IGTP) presented progress in translational oncology research, focusing on new therapies and diagnostics.
• Scientific-Technical Platforms of IGTP: Carol Gálvez, the facilities coordinator, led an interactive session that included a quiz to promote awareness of these essential infrastructures for research.

• Spaces for reflection and debate: A roundtable discussion on the gender perspective in research, moderated by Cristina Agustí (CEEISCAT). The discussion included notable experts such as Blanca Coll-Próxima (Hospital Clínic), Jorge Carrillo (IrsiCaixa), Brenda Biaani (Research Support Unit - USR, Metropolitana Nord, Mataró), Anna Gilabert (Institut Guttmann), and Xavier Farré (GCAT'Genomes for Life), generating enriching ideas to integrate this perspective into various scientific disciplines.
• Parallel scientific communication sessions: Researchers from across the campus presented their work in areas such as neuroscience, infectious diseases, cancer, and regenerative therapies. The campus researchers showcased their work in various fields:
  • Neuroscience and ageing: Moderated by Javier Solana (Institut Guttmann), with presentations by: Mateus Serra (Consorci Sanitari del Maresme): "Trends in the Epidemiology of Frailty in Catalonia"; Eduard Moreno-Gabriel (IDIAP Jordi Gol): "Implementation of Euthanasia in Catalonia: Impact on Professionals and Development of Best Practices"; Rosalia Dacosta (IDIAP Jordi Gol): "Reduction of Cortical Thickness and Its Correlation with Cognitive Dysfunction in the Post-COVID-19 Condition: Perspectives of Long-term Follow-up"; and Alexandra Cunyat (Institut Guttmann): "Pregnancy and Motherhood in Women with Spinal Cord Injury. A Qualitative Study".
  • Infectious diseases and hepatic and digestive tract diseases: Moderated by Raquel Guillamat (IGTP), featuring presentations by Irene Latorre (IGTP): "Elucidating the Divergence Between Local and Systemic Immune Responses to Mycobacterium tuberculosis"; Fabiana Ganem (CEEISCAT-ICO-IGTP): "Sentinel Schools Project: Health Research With and For the Educational Community of Catalonia"; Alicia Lacoma (IGTP): "Impact of Environmental Factors on Pulmonary Infections: A Focus on Air Pollutants and Their Interaction in Host-Pathogen Relationships"; and Paula Viñas (CSdM): "Impact of Oropharyngeal Dysphagia in Students with Multiple Disabilities Enrolled in a Special Education Centre of the Maresme Foundation".
  • Cancer, cardiovascular, immunology, and inflammation: With Arola Fortian (IGTP) as moderator, presentations included Georgina Iraola (IGTP): "VasCraft: New Decellularised and Re-endothelialised Human Vascular Graft Produced Through Tissue Engineering for Use in Arterial Bypasses"; Maria Saigí (ICO-IGTP): "ImmunoLung: Genetic and Molecular Determinants of Immune Response and Immune Evasion in Lung Cancer"; and Vicenç Ruiz de Porra (IGTP): "Predictive Signature of Response to Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Based on mRNA Profiles of Tumour-Educated Platelets in Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer".

Recognising scientific excellence

Another highlight of the day was the awarding of prizes for the best scientific presentations. This recognition highlights the impact and quality of the research conducted on campus. Prior to the award ceremony, Bernat Coll, a product specialist from the Research Unit of Diagnóstica Longward, the sponsor of the 4th Scientific Retreat, presented some of the work carried out by the company in the area of spatial biology.

The winners of this edition were:

• Best Strategic Abstract: Maria Saigí, B·ARGO – ICO/IGTP. ImmunoLung: Genetic and molecular determinants of immune response and immune evasion in lung cancer
• Best Poster Abstract: Adrià Bernat, B·ARGO – IGTP. Unravelling PARP inhibitor resistance mechanisms in ovarian cancer
• People’s Choice Best Poster: Gemma Casals, UGC – IGTP. Testing the potential of antisense gene therapy for inducing a milder phenotype on NF2-related Schwanomatosis in an iPSC-based cell model

The day concluded with an informal cocktail session, facilitating networking among participants and providing a key opportunity to establish connections and explore new avenues for collaboration.

With this 4th Retreat, IGTP reaffirms its commitment to scientific excellence and interdisciplinary collaboration, consolidating its position as a reference centre for translational research.

The Scientific Committee of the Retreat is composed of:

• Jordi Barretina, Director of the IGTP
• Julia Garcia Prado, Scientific Director of the IGTP and Principal Investigator of the Immune Evasion and Vaccines (VIRIEVAC) Research Group at IrsiCaixa
• Cristina Agustí, Senior Researcher at CEEISCAT - IGTP
• Arola Fortian, Scientific Coordinator of the Translational Oncology Research Group at IGTP and CARE member
• Raquel Guillamat, Principal Investigator of the Translational Pulmonary Immunity Research Group at IGTP
• Javier Solana, Research Director at the Institut Guttmann

The Retreat was sponsored by: