A project on an innovative tool for cancer surgery, selected in the 2025 CaixaImpulse call
The "la Caixa" Foundation has announced the results of the 2025 call for proposals for its CaixaImpulse program, through which it supports 31 biomedical projects from research centres, hospitals and universities in Spain and Portugal. In total, the organisation will allocate 3.8 million euros to this initiative, which aims to speed up the arrival of these innovations on the market so they can reach the patients who may need them. CaixaImpulse also promotes the creation of new products, services and companies linked to the life sciences and health.
A new light in cancer surgery: helping surgeons remove tumours more safely
Among the projects selected in the call is one coordinated by the Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP) as an Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria (IIS) accredited by Instituto de Salud Carlos III. It is led by Ana Piqueras, specialist in General and Digestive Surgery at the Germans Trias i Pujol University Hospital.
The project focuses on one of the toughest barriers in cancer treatment. Cancer is a major health problem worldwide, and even with the best treatments available, it is difficult to ensure that every cancer cell is completely removed. Usual treatments like surgery, chemotherapy, and other methods often leave some cancer cells behind. These leftover cells can grow again, leading to the disease returning or spreading, which is why treating cancer remains such a challenge.
To tackle this problem, researchers have developed a new tool that attaches to the equipment surgeons already use. This tool stands out because it helps doctors find and remove cancer cells more accurately during surgery, and it also helps destroy any cancer cells that might remain afterward.
The way it works is simple. During the operation, the tool uses a special light that makes cancer cells glow, showing doctors exactly where the cancer is located. This glowing effect allows surgeons to remove the cancer more completely. But there's an extra benefit: after the tumour has been removed, the same light is used again to start a process that helps to damage or destroy any remaining cancer cells. This two-step method is especially useful for hard-to-treat cancers, like those in the pancreas or nearby areas, where it can be very difficult to remove all the cancer with surgery alone.
This new device is being designed to work with tools that hospitals already have so it could become widely used in the future. With this technology, doctors hope to make cancer surgery safer and more successful, lowering the chances of cancer coming back and helping more people enjoy healthier lives.
From cancer to rare diseases: other projects in the spotlight
Another 30 biomedical projects will receive support from the CaixaImpulse Innovation Call 2025. All winning projects - chosen from among 428 applications received - were assessed by six panels of international experts and professionals in the field. Among those selected this year are several that could transform cancer treatment: from non-invasive blood tests for advanced lung cancer to cell-based immunotherapies for aggressive childhood tumours. A new digital solution has also been developed for the treatment of complex wounds, which will enhance support for healthcare professionals. In women's health, an innovative mesh has been created for pelvic organ prolapse, while in the field of genetic diseases progress is being made towards safer RNA-based therapies and the early detection of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
By area of activity, 14 of the selected projects fall within the field of therapies. These are followed by projects related to medical devices, 12 of which stand out for their potential to improve healthcare. In the field of diagnostics, four proposals have been identified with the capacity to transform the early detection of diseases and, finally, one project is focused on digital health.
In terms of funding, the awardees receive between 50,000 and 500,000 euros to develop their projects over the following years, depending on their stage of maturity. In this call, 17 projects entered phase 1 (up to 50,000 euros), 11 entered phase 2 (up to 150,000 euros) and 3 reached phase 3 (up to 500,000 euros). The programme allows projects, once they achieve specific development milestones and following assessment by the evaluation committee, to progress to later phases with greater funding.
Training and expert support for the projects
CaixaImpulse supports biomedical projects in the field of innovation and knowledge transfer, helping researchers to validate their assets and define their exploitation and valorisation strategy in order to bring research results closer to the market. In addition to financial support, they also have access to mentoring, consultancy and guidance from international experts across various areas of the innovation ecosystem.
In addition, the researchers leading projects in phase 2 will receive four weeks of specialised training on technology transfer, intellectual property law, pitching to investors and closing commercial agreements.
In the words of Paola Isetta, deputy director of Fellowships, Research and Innovation at the "la Caixa" Foundation, "The outcome of the 2025 CaixaImpulse call reaffirms the Foundation's commitment to innovation in biomedicine and health. Through an investment of 3.8 million euros, the development of 31 projects in Spain and Portugal is being promoted with the aim of speeding up their arrival on the market to improve patients' quality of life. In addition to financial support, researchers receive mentoring and expert guidance to bring their innovations to market with greater strength".
About CaixaImpulse
The call is carried out in collaboration with Criteria Bio Ventures, CriteriaCaixa's venture capital fund specialising in biotechnology and the life sciences. In Portugal, the call is run in partnership with the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) of the Portuguese Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education, which in this edition is funding two of the Portuguese projects selected in phase 1. The "la Caixa" Foundation launched this programme to support innovation and knowledge transfer in biomedicine and health in 2015. Since then, the organisation has allocated 28.8 million euros to support 263 projects, which have led to the creation of 54 spin-offs, which have in turn secured additional co-financing through other competitive calls or private investors amounting to more than 180 million euros. These are some of the achievements of the first decade of CaixaImpulse, the "la Caixa" Foundation's call for proposals to support health innovation projects, run in collaboration with Criteria Bio Ventures.
About IGTP
The Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP) is a public research centre based in Badalona. Its mission is to generate new scientific knowledge and translate it into practical solutions that improve patient health and healthcare delivery for the wider community. Success in innovation calls such as this one reinforces the institute's strong commitment to applied research and innovation, with the goal of developing tools that support clinical practice and raise standards of care. Such achievements are key to accelerating the uptake of new technologies and contributing to a more competitive and sustainable European healthcare system.