NEWS

17/06/2025

IR Sant Pau Drives Health Innovation with the 2nd Edition of INNOPAU

The Sant Pau Research Institute (IR Sant Pau) held its annual Innovation Day 2025 this Tuesday, a flagship event that showcases the talent, creativity, and commitment of the center’s professionals to health innovation. During the event, and as part of the second edition of the INNOPAU program, this year’s winners were announced.

The project CUMADE received the first prize and will be awarded €50,000 to continue its development. The second prize, endowed with €15,000, went to project CHYMERA. Both awards were made possible through the support of the Private Foundation of the Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau. Projects CUMADE and CHYMERA also received special mentions as the most disruptive initiatives, with €8,000 each in funding provided by the ITEMAS platform of the Carlos III Health Institute (ISCIII). Finally, project RADAR was selected by Padcelona for the development of a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) in Digital Health.

During the event, the six finalist projects were presented, selected for their capacity to innovate from clinical knowledge and practice. All of them address real challenges identified within the hospital and propose concrete, applicable solutions with the potential to significantly impact patient quality of life and the efficiency of the healthcare system.

• MARPRESING
  Leads: Jessica Marin, Ana Marin, and Oliva Ros, from the Digestive Endoscopy Unit.
  A medical device that applies external abdominal pressure during colonoscopy. It improves procedure efficiency, enhances patient comfort, and reduces the risk of work-related injuries among healthcare staff.
• CUMADE
  Leads: Dabit Arzamendi, from the Hemodynamics Unit, and Abdel Hakim Moustafa, from the Dimensions Lab.
  An innovative solution that combines precision engineering and 3D printing to design customized devices that address complex issues like leaks in cardiovascular implants. It represents a new paradigm in personalized structural medicine.
• RADAR
  Leads: Carlen Reyes, Jara González, Elisabet Rayó, and Helena Serrano, from the Sardenya Primary Care Team (EAP Sardenya).
  A digital platform that analyzes clinical and pharmacological data to detect potential adverse drug reactions in real time in primary care. It aims to improve patient safety and optimize therapeutic decision-making.
• DAMMPIS
  Leads: Ariadna Bellès, Carles Subirà, Jaume Baldirà, Matias Flores, and Rosa Oms, from the Intensive Care Unit.
  An integrated sensor system that prevents the accidental removal of medical devices in critically ill patients. It provides real-time alerts and helps reduce serious complications, enhancing safety and efficiency in intensive care units.
• CHYMERA
  Leads: Josep Munuera, Daniel Caballero, Lydia Canales, and Lucía Borrego, from the Diagnostic Imaging Department.
  An AI-based tool that automates quality control of chest X-rays, reducing variability and preventing repeat imaging. It improves efficiency and safety in high-demand environments such as hospital emergency departments.
• AQUAFLOW
  Leads: Sandra Peña, Esther Franquet, Piedad Arias, and Mireia Plans, from the Nephrology Department of the Puigvert Foundation.
  A specialized water belt for people with peritoneal dialysis catheters, allowing safe and hygienic immersion in water. It addresses an unmet need and helps improve the autonomy and quality of life of kidney patients.

The projects were developed throughout the INNOPAU program, an incubator driven by IR Sant Pau that supports teams in transforming innovative care ideas into viable projects. During the program, participants take part in various training modules and receive specialized guidance in key areas such as intellectual property management, fundraising, healthcare regulations, business modeling, and strategic project development.

The culmination of the program is Innovation Day, held on June 17, where teams present their progress to the broader innovation ecosystem. The event also serves to connect professionals with strategic players such as representatives from the pharmaceutical industry, investment funds, technology centers, and other key stakeholders in the health sector.

The day also featured a roundtable discussion on “New Technologies and Transformation in Health,” with participation from professionals across clinical, research, tech, and business domains, as well as dedicated networking spaces to foster collaboration among ecosystem players.

A Strategic Commitment for Sant Pau

With strong support from the Foundation and IR Sant Pau, the institution is positioning innovation as a strategic pillar for transforming the healthcare system. Beyond research, innovation is a key tool for anticipating emerging social challenges, adopting new technologies, and improving the quality of care in tangible ways.

For Sant Pau, innovation means listening to professionals, identifying opportunities from clinical practice, and providing the support and tools to help their ideas grow. It means investing in a more efficient, personalized, and sustainable healthcare model. Ultimately, it means transforming knowledge into impact.

With events like Innovation Day, Sant Pau reaffirms its leadership as a pioneering institution in translational research and health innovation, positioning itself as a hub of excellence in the development of solutions that put people at the center.