On June 15th, we invite you to participate in the information session on the European Research Council, aimed at researchers and research support staff interested in applying for ERC calls.

The event will feature National Contact Points (NCPs), ERC grant recipients, and ERC evaluators and panel members, who will share their experience and recommendations.

The session will provide a practical insight into the application process, evaluation criteria, and keys to preparing a competitive proposal, as well as program updates, including the new ERC Plus grant. Additionally, you can book individual meetings with the NCPs (prior reservation required).

📅 June 15th, 2026, from 09:30 to 13:30 h 📍 Aula Magna – Casa Convalescència, carrer de Sant Antoni Maria Claret, 171, 08041 Barcelona

Register by clicking here.

Check the program by clicking here.

• Supported by the project GPE2025-001630-P, funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033

• Supported by the project STL028/23/000051, funded by Departament de Salut de la Generalitat de Catalunya

On Wednesday, May 20, at 6 pm, Óscar de la Calle, a researcher with the Inflammatory Diseases Group at IR Sant Pau and a specialist in the Immunology Department at Sant Pau Hospital, will give a talk at the Guinardó Civic Centre entitled «How to discover new diseases in the 21st century?».

Science has solved many health-related mysteries, but there are still little-known diseases and others that have not even been identified.

In this talk, we will discuss strategies, tools and technological advances that enable us to identify new diseases, as well as the importance of this process for people who live with symptoms of illness every day but without a clear diagnosis.

Join us to learn about two real-life examples of diseases we have discovered in recent years.

Address: Rda. Guinardó, 113-141 Barcelona 08043

Time: 18:00 h – 19:00 h

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On Tuesday, May 19, at 6 pm, Joana Rossell, postdoctoral researcher with the Endocrinology, Diabetes and Nutrition Research Group at IR Sant Pau, will give a talk at the Navas Civic Centre entitled «Excess sugar has consequences».

Have you ever stopped to think about how much sugar you consume through your diet? Excessive consumption has effects on the body and long-term consequences, as it is a risk factor for the development of diseases such as type 2 diabetes and hepatic steatosis, also known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. But why? What is the harmful effect of this excess?

In this talk, we’ll explore the link between sugar and these health conditions.

Address: Ptge. Torent, 1, 08027 Barcelona

Time: 18:00 h – 19:00 h

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On Wednesday, April 22, at 6 pm, Jose Manuel Soria, head of the Genomics of Complex Diseases research group at the Sant Pau Research Institute, will give a talk at Guinardó Civic Centre entitled «Thrombosis: a silent threat».

Every minute, someone in Europe dies from thrombosis. That is why, as part of World Thrombosis Day, we want to raise awareness of this disease, which is often invisible but has serious consequences. Thrombosis occurs when blood clots form in the veins or arteries, blocking blood flow. This condition can lead to complications such as heart attacks, strokes or pulmonary embolisms, and is the leading cause of death worldwide related to cardiovascular disease.

Address: Rda. Guinardó, 113-141 Barcelona 08043

Time: 18:00 h – 19:00 h

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On Tuesday, April 14, at 6 pm, Romina Miranda-Olivos, a postdoctoral researcher with the Endocrinology, Diabetes and Nutrition Research Group at IR Sant Pau, will give a talk at the Navas Civic Centre entitled ‘The brain’s appetite: the neurobiology of eating behaviour’.

The brain plays a very important role in our relationship with the food we eat. Specifically, it is responsible for controlling appetite and the feeling of fullness through signals that regulate our eating behaviour. However, this behaviour is also influenced by emotional, social and psychological factors that can alter our brain’s natural response, leading to disorders such as obesity and anorexia.

Join us to discover what research reveals about what happens in the brain during these situations of imbalance. We will analyse how these brain circuits are regulated and what treatments exist to counteract these imbalances, emphasising the importance of addressing these behaviours with a holistic approach that promotes a healthier relationship with food.

Address:Ptge. Torent, 1, 08027 Barcelona

Time: 18:00 h – 19:00 h

Sign up

On Tuesday, March 10, at 6 pm, Mayro Cortés, a junior doctor in the Clinical Pharmacology Department at Sant Pau Hospital, will give a talk at the Navas Civic Centre entitled ‘How are adverse drug reactions managed?’.

All medicines can have contraindications and carry a certain risk of causing adverse effects. Do you know what an adverse reaction is and how we manage them, both in hospitals and outside them?

In this talk, we will look at what pharmacovigilance involves, why it is important, and how we can get involved as citizens to identify, as early as possible, serious or previously unknown adverse reactions to medicines that are already on the market.

Address: Ptge. Torent, 1, 08027 Barcelona

Time: 18:00 h – 19:00 h

On Wednesday, February 25, at 7 pm, Teresa Padró, coordinator of the IR Sant Pau research group on biomarkers of cardiovascular disease, will give a talk at the Ateneu El Poblet entitled ‘What does our blood tell us about our cardiovascular health?’.

Blood carries many biological components. The challenge lies in determining which of these components we can detect and measure through a blood test to assess a person’s state of health—what are known as blood biomarkers.

Biomarkers are a key tool for the diagnosis and monitoring of cardiovascular diseases, and even for assessing the response to certain treatments. In this talk, we will look at real-life examples with applications in clinical practice, as well as the research currently being carried out to advance our understanding of these indicators.

Address: Carrer de Nàpols, 268 – 270, 08025 Barcelona

Time: 19:00 h – 20:00 h

No registration required.

On Tuesday, February 10, at 6 pm, Susan Webb, former senior consultant in the Endocrinology Department at Sant Pau Hospital and honorary professor in the Department of Medicine at the UAB, will give a talk at the Navas Civic Centre entitled ‘The patient as an expert in their own illness’.

Receiving a diagnosis of a chronic illness raises many doubts and uncertainties and can affect various aspects of daily life. Understanding the patient’s experience and their real-life experience of the illness is essential to achieving high-quality healthcare.

In this talk, we will explore the role of the patient as an expert on their own illness and how educating the patient and those around them is key to understanding the diagnosis, making informed decisions and improving quality of life.

Address: Ptge. Torent, 1, 08027 Barcelona

Time: 18:00 h – 19:00 h

On Thursday, February 5, at 6.30 pm, Maria Borrell, a researcher at CIBERCV in the Molecular and Therapeutic Pathology of Atherothrombotic and Ischaemic Diseases Group at IR Sant Pau, will give a talk at Biblioteca Sagrada Familia entitled “If blood cholesterol reaches the brain, it’s a bad sign. Why?”.

Although we have a fairly good understanding of the mechanisms that regulate blood cholesterol, many questions remain unanswered regarding how it is regulated in the brain. This is particularly relevant when we consider that around 20% of the body’s total cholesterol is found in the head, where it is essential for neuronal function.

In this talk, we will explore the link between abnormal cholesterol levels and cognitive decline, and discover how advances in research are helping us to better understand these processes.

Would you like to find out how research is progressing?

Address: C/ de Provença, 480, 08025 Barcelona

Time: 18:30 h – 19:30 h

On Wednesday, February 4,  at 6 pm, Franco Appiani, a researcher with the Pharmacogenomics and Neurovascular Genetics Group at IR Sant Pau, will give a talk at the Guinardó Civic Centre entitled “Stroke: When blood doesn’t reach the brain”.

Stroke is one of the leading causes of death and disability in Europe. This condition, which affects the blood vessels supplying the brain, can have various causes. Do you know what the main factors are that can trigger a stroke?

Join us for this talk to discover what we know about this disease and reflect on some of the research questions currently being addressed to advance our understanding of what we still do not know.

Address: Rda. Guinardó, 113-141 Barcelona 08043

Time: 18:00 h – 19:00 h

On Tuesday, January 20, at 6 pm, Dani Romero, a nurse in the Oncology Department at Sant Pau Hospital, will give a talk at the Navas Civic Centre entitled “Myths and realities about breast cancer”.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in Catalonia and, although the five-year survival rate for patients is close to 90%, there has been an increase in cases among younger patients.

In this talk, we will analyse the current situation regarding breast cancer both nationally and internationally, debunk some common myths about the disease, and look at what health recommendations can be followed to prevent it and to treat symptoms when they appear.

Address: Ptge. Torent, 1, 08027 Barcelona

Time: 18:00 h – 19:00 h

On Thursday, November 27, at 6.30 pm, Daniel Alcolea, a researcher with the Dementia Neurobiology Group at IR Sant Pau and a neurologist at the Memory Unit of Sant Pau Hospital, will give a talk at Biblioteca Sagrada Familia entitled ‘Biomarkers research’.

What are biomarkers and why are they important? Join us as we explore the latest advances in diagnostic markers for Alzheimer’s disease. Discover the innovative technologies that are transforming our understanding of this disease and bringing us ever closer to better treatments.

Address: C/ de Provença, 480, 08025 Barcelona

Time: 18:30 h – 19:30 h

On Thursday, October 16, at 6.30 pm, José Manuel Soria, head of the Genomics of Complex Diseases research group at the Sant Pau Research Institute, will give a talk at the Biblioteca Sagrada Familia entitled ‘Thrombosis: a silent threat’.

Every minute, someone in Europe dies from thrombosis. That is why, as part of World Thrombosis Day, we want to raise awareness of this disease, which is often invisible but has serious consequences. Thrombosis occurs when blood clots form in the veins or arteries, blocking blood flow. This condition can lead to complications such as heart attacks, strokes or pulmonary embolisms, and is the leading cause of death worldwide related to cardiovascular disease.

Join us at this talk to find out how research is advancing our understanding and treatment of this vascular disease.

Address: C/ de Provença, 480, 08025 Barcelona

Time: 18:30 h – 19:30 h

On Tuesday, November 18, at 6 pm, Teresa Padró, coordinator of the IR Sant Pau research group on biomarkers of cardiovascular disease, will give a talk at the Navas Civic Centre entitled ‘What does our blood tell us about our cardiovascular health?’.

Blood carries many biological components. The challenge lies in determining which of these components we can detect and measure through a blood test to assess a person’s state of health—what are known as blood biomarkers.

Biomarkers are a key tool for the diagnosis and monitoring of cardiovascular diseases, and even for assessing the response to certain treatments. In this talk, we will look at real-life examples with applications in clinical practice, as well as the research currently being carried out to advance our understanding of these indicators.

Address: Ptge. Torent, 1, 08027 Barcelona

Time: 18:00 h – 19:00 h

On Tuesday, October 7, at 6 pm, Pau Riera, hospital pharmacist and researcher at IR Sant Pau within the Genetic Diseases group, will give a talk at the Navas Civic Centre entitled ‘When the efficacy and toxicity of a treatment depend on your genes’.

It is well known that medicines do not work the same for everyone, but do you know why? Genetic factors are decisive in the response to drug treatment and explain much of this variability between individuals.

In this talk, we will explore the clinical relevance of pharmacogenetics, the discipline that studies the influence of DNA variations on drug response and toxicity.

Furthermore, we will look at some examples that have already been implemented in hospitals and which contribute to progress towards increasingly personalised medicine, leading to a more effective and safer use of medicines.

Address: Ptge. Torent, 1, 08027 Barcelona

Time: 18:00 h – 19:00 h

On Wednesday, October 22, at 6 pm, Beatriz Bardaji, coordinator of studies and clinical trials and postdoctoral researcher at the Puigvert Foundation and IR Sant Pau, will give a talk at the Guinardó Civic Centre entitled ‘The kidneys: much more than a filter’.

The kidneys, although often described as filters for removing waste, do many other things. They also have essential hormonal and regulatory functions for life. In this talk, we will explain how this very important organ works and why it is key to our health.

Come and discover why the kidneys are much more than a filter!

Address: Rda. Guinardó, 113-141 Barcelona 08043

Time: 18:00 h – 19:00 h

On Wednesday, June 25, at 7 pm, Gerard Muñoz-Pujol, postdoctoral researcher at IR Sant Pau within the DNA Repair Syndromes and Cancer Predisposition research group, will give a talk at the Ateneu El Poblet entitled ‘DNA scissors: how do we edit the genome in the laboratory?’.

Many diseases have a genetic origin, but the exact cause is often unknown, making diagnosis a real challenge and forcing people to endure a diagnostic odyssey. To diagnose such a disease, it is necessary to analyse DNA to detect the responsible mutations. However, we often encounter variants of uncertain significance, where we do not know if they are actually the cause of the disease. How can we prove it?

In this talk, we will explore how research helps to identify potential genetic alterations in some of these diseases using genome sequencing technologies, and how we use genetic editing tools such as ‘DNA scissors’, also known as CRISPR technologies, to generate genetically edited cell models and study these mutations.

Address: Carrer de Nàpols, 268 – 270, 08025 Barcelona

Time: 19:00 h – 20:00 h

No registration required.

On Thursday, June 19, at 6.30 pm, Sònia Benítez, researcher at IR Sant Pau within the Cardiovascular Biochemistry Group, will give a talk at Biblioteca de la Sagrada Familia entitled ‘The benefits of the Mediterranean diet on cholesterol’.

Our diet and lifestyle can act as protective factors or cardiovascular risk factors, depending on our habits. Do we exercise regularly? Do we eat a healthy diet? The advantage of habits is that they can be changed, and so we can work on them to prevent the development of diseases such as atherosclerosis, a degenerative process affecting the blood vessels characterised, amongst other things, by the build-up of cholesterol and triglycerides.

Dietary fat is transported through the blood by particles called lipoproteins, better known as ‘good’ cholesterol (HDL) and ‘bad’ cholesterol (LDL). However, it is not just the quantity, but also the quality that determines the progression of cardiovascular diseases.

Join us to discover what atherosclerosis is and how to prevent cardiovascular diseases by regulating blood cholesterol levels through the Mediterranean diet and other healthy habits!

Address: C/ de Provença, 480, 08025 Barcelona

Time: 18:30 h – 19:30 h

On Thursday, May 15, at 6.30 pm, Marina Rojo and María Antentas, researchers at the Sant Pau Research Institute, will give a talk at Biblioteca Sagrada Familia entitled ‘Excess sugar has consequences’.

Have you ever stopped to think about how much sugar you consume through your diet? Excessive consumption has effects on the body and long-term consequences, as it is a risk factor for the development of diseases such as type 2 diabetes and hepatic steatosis, also known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. But why? What is the harmful effect of this excess?

In this talk, we’ll explore the link between sugar and these conditions, and compare 3D models of a healthy liver and one with fat accumulation to see the differences. You’ll also take part in a collaborative activity to classify various foods according to their sugar content. It’s surprising just how much some of them contain!

Join us and discover how to reduce the amount of sugar in your daily life without giving up the pleasure of eating!

Address: C/ de Provença, 480, 08025 Barcelona

Time: 18:30 h – 19:30 h