'Consorci Oncològic Integral Nord Catalunya' launched: a strategic alliance to bring european excellence in cancer care closer to nearly two million people

• Six leading institutions are joining forces across healthcare, research, education and innovation to create one of southern Europe's strongest cancer ecosystems
• The new Consorci Oncològic Integral Nord Catalunya aims to achieve European certification as a Comprehensive Cancer Consortium and join the European network of excellence in oncology

Barcelona, 21 September 2026. The Institut Català d'Oncologia (ICO), Germans Trias i Pujol University Hospital, Dr Josep Trueta University Hospital, the Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP), the Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute (IJC) and the Girona Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBGI) are establishing a strategic alliance that will lead to the creation of the Consorci Oncològic Integral Nord Catalunya (NordCat-CCC). The initiative aims to become a European benchmark for comprehensive cancer care within the framework of the Joint Action EUnetCCC, which has already selected the consortium as a pilot for the certification process.

The new consortium will serve nearly two million people across the Metropolitana Nord and Girona health regions. It has been created with the aim of delivering more coordinated, equitable and high-quality cancer care by bringing healthcare, research, innovation and training together within a single collaborative structure. Medical oncologist Ricard Mesia will be the director of the new consortium.

A model aligned with Europe's cancer strategy

This key initiative is aligned with the objectives of Europe's Beating Cancer Plan and the Joint Action EUnetCCC, which is promoting the creation of a European network of Comprehensive Cancer Centres to ensure that, by 2030, 90% of European cancer patients are cared for in organisations of this kind.

The Consorci Oncològic Integral Nord Catalunya aims to achieve European certification as a Comprehensive Cancer Consortium and become an international centre of reference capable of integrating the highest standards of healthcare, research, education and innovation, alongside cancer prevention and control.

"The increasing incidence of cancer and the longer life expectancy of cancer patients as a result of new treatments require new models of collaboration that allow us to place the full healthcare, scientific and technological potential of the system at the service of patients through teamwork between professionals from different institutions. In this respect, the Consorci Oncològic Integral Nord Catalunya represents a commitment to moving towards more integrated, innovative and equitable oncology care and to providing a response commensurate with the challenge we face," said Joan Brunet, director of the Institut Català d'Oncologia.

Àngels Morales, managing director of Dr Josep Trueta University Hospital in Girona and the Institut d'Assistència Sanitària (IAS), highlighted that the creation of the Consorci Oncològic Integral Nord Catalunya "will allow us to bring together capabilities, knowledge and talent to move towards a model of cancer care based on excellence and aligned with the most advanced European standards". She added: "For Trueta, being part of this alliance is an opportunity to consolidate northern Catalonia as a leading hub for comprehensive cancer care and to ensure that the nearly two million people living in the area can access the best possible cancer care, research and innovation close to home."

Josep Maria Mòdol, managing director of Germans Trias Hospital (Can Ruti), stressed that "this alliance demonstrates that the Catalan health system already operates as an interconnected network prepared to provide the best possible care throughout the territory, prioritising patients' needs and enabling each centre to focus on the areas where it can contribute the greatest value". He added: "We are proud that this model can serve as an example and a standard for other European regions in the transformation of cancer care."

A unique healthcare and research ecosystem

The combined capabilities of the institutions behind the initiative create one of Catalonia's most significant cancer care and research ecosystems. This level of activity will help strengthen coordination between professionals and accelerate the translation of scientific advances into clinical practice.

Precision medicine and innovation for patients

The Consortium will develop shared platforms in strategic areas including tumour genomics, digital pathology, integrated biobanks, molecular tumour boards and advanced data analysis systems. These infrastructures will support the development of increasingly personalised medicine and enable treatments to be tailored to the specific characteristics of each patient.

The Consorci Oncològic Integral Nord Catalunya will also strengthen participation in clinical trials and translational research, helping scientific advances reach clinical practice more rapidly.

In this regard, Jordi Barretina, director of the IGTP, highlighted that "the creation of the Consorci Oncològic Integral Nord Catalunya allows us to consolidate an integrated cancer ecosystem in which healthcare, research, innovation and training work together in a coordinated way for the benefit of patients. Bringing together the capabilities of hospitals, research institutions and health regions offers us a unique opportunity to accelerate translational research, facilitate the transfer of scientific knowledge into clinical practice and move towards more personalised, equitable and accessible cancer care for everyone."

Marga Nadal, director of IDIBGI, said that the project "represents a major opportunity for Girona and Badalona to combine their capabilities to promote research excellence that translates into improvements for patients".

Speaking on behalf of the IJC, its director, Ari Melnick, highlighted the institution's contribution to the new ecosystem: "As a founding member of the Consorci Oncològic Integral Nord Catalunya, the Josep Carreras Institute brings its expertise as a leading centre for research into and treatment of blood cancers to a broader cancer network, working alongside other institutions to share knowledge and experience. We are confident that, through this collaboration, the advances we generate for patients with blood cancers will also benefit patients with other types of cancer, helping to ensure that progress in cancer research reaches patients more effectively."

A territorial network to ensure equity

The new consortium will strengthen the existing network of hospitals across the territory. The hospitals currently integrated into the network are Hospital de Santa Caterina, Hospital de Palamós, Hospital de Figueres, Hospital Sant Jaume de Calella, Hospital d'Olot i Comarcal de la Garrotxa, Hospital Comarcal de Blanes, Hospital de Mataró, Hospital Municipal de Badalona and Hospital de l'Esperit Sant.

This structure brings highly complex cancer services closer to all citizens, regardless of where they live, helping to ensure more accessible care and continuity of care.

The initiative therefore covers the Barcelona Metropolitana Nord and Girona health regions of the Servei Català de la Salut. Candela Calle, managing director of Metropolitana Nord, said: "This is a highly relevant and strategic project because it involves two health regions and highlights the need for a comprehensive model of cancer care based on excellence. It is a good example of the importance of alliances and networked working."

Jaume Heredia, managing director of the Girona Health Region, added: "The Nord Catalunya Comprehensive Cancer Consortium Alliance is a very important step for Catalonia that will have a direct impact on the health of one in four Catalans. It demonstrates the potential of working as a network, which will allow us to improve quality and territorial equity, advance personalised medicine and speed up the incorporation into clinical practice of advances generated by research."

A strategic commitment to the future

The creation of the Consorci Oncològic Integral Nord Catalunya represents a decisive step towards consolidating a comprehensive cancer care model based on cooperation between hospitals, research centres and healthcare institutions. This model of care, promoted by the Institut Català d'Oncologia since its inception in collaboration with the institutions that make up the alliance, demonstrates that the system is already working to the standards that Europe has set for the future of cancer care.

Through this alliance, Catalonia strengthens its position in European oncology and makes a strategic commitment to advancing towards more personalised, innovative and person-centred medicine.