I would like to begin this editorial by congratulating all the people who are part of the VHIR and who together have made 2023 an extremely productive year despite being a year of changes. Changes resulting from the arrival of a new management team and an organisational restructuring, which have undoubtedly led to a renewal in the direction of the institution.
However, we remain committed to our institution’s mission of promoting and managing research in close collaboration with the Vall d’Hebron Hospital. This is why we can be proud of our high-level clinical, translational and basic research, which covers all areas of human health and disease and all stages of life, from before birth to old age. And this is our essence, which we always keep in mind: we do research with impact to improve the health of everyone
As we move into 2023, I would like to begin by highlighting two notable institutional milestones this year, namely the CERCA evaluation and the first phase of reaccreditation as a research institute by the Carlos III Institute of Health (Instituto de Salud Carlos III). As you know, the CERCA evaluation, an entity that brings together all the research centres in Catalonia, is carried out periodically with the spirit of contributing to improve our institutions. In this evaluation, VHIR was awarded with a B+, which indicates a high degree of scientific excellence, with great recognition to the growth of the institution in recent years and encouraging us to continue with the same trend. Likewise, in 2023, we submitted all the documentation to ensure the reaccreditation of the HUVH Health Research Institute, of which the VHIR, HUVH, VHIO, UAB, IDI and BST form part. The resolution will be communicated to us in 2024.
As I said, scientific production in 2023 was very high. We had more than 1,500 scientific publications, 25% of them in D1 and with a leadership percentage that has increased to 50%. These cover all areas of biomedicine. We have also obtained more than 200 competitive projects, participating in all types of national and international calls for proposals. It is worth highlighting 2 unique calls for 2023, which were launched in an exceptional way by the Carlos III Health Institute: CERTERA, a call for the creation of a network consortium for the development of advanced therapies at national level. And FORTALECE, a call to strengthen strategic research lines and groups in research centres. Our institution was awarded in both calls, receiving more than 5 million euros to offer a programme of expansion and services in advanced therapies in CERTERA and to promote research in precision medicine and innovative therapies in FORTALECE.
It should be noted that at VHIR we have a clear focus on responsible research and innovation, and so this year we have continued to promote open science policies, participated in several working groups on research impact assessment, and promoted initiatives to develop projects with citizen participation.
Our clinical trials activity continues to grow, consolidating our position as a national and international reference centre. It is worth mentioning that we have expanded the areas involved, with an important entry of clinical trials in paediatrics and rare diseases, as well as in medical devices. Also noteworthy is our role in innovative clinical trials, which is reflected by our increasing involvement in early-stage clinical trials and innovative therapies or solutions, such as our participation in a CA to evaluate the efficacy of CarT cells in lupus (we were the first centre to enrol a patient), or in an clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy and adherence to treatment using 3D-printed candy-shaped drugs in the paediatric population.
Finally, we remain extremely active in innovation. We have a successful model in this area, with a portfolio of 16 active spin-offs and start-ups and two successful ones. I would like to highlight the great success this year in raising both competitive funds for transferable projects or for the spin-offs themselves, as well as funding obtained in the 8 investment rounds in which we have participated, from which we were able to obtain more than €34 milion.
The excellence of our researchers is reflected in the number of awards received by our scientific community this year, again in different biomedical specialities. At the institutional level, I would like to highlight two awards: the Narcís Monturiol Plaque, awarded by the Department of Research and Universities, in recognition of the scientific and technological merit of the institution; and the Joan Roget knowledge Transfer Prize, awarded by the department itself and, more specifically, by the Directorate General for Knowledge Transfer and Society (DGTSC).
Finally, I would like to mention a major project that will be with us in the background throughout 2023 and will shine in its own right in 2024. This project is none other than the new research building, whose construction is on schedule for 2023 and is expected to be completed in the summer of 2024. This year we have been planning the layout of the new space, taking the opportunity to carry out a strategic reorganisation of the research groups. The opportunities offered by the new building are many: its open spaces will help us to facilitate synergies between groups, we will offer more research space with better equipment, and we are confident that it will be an important source of attracting and retaining research talent. In addition, we plan to include unique spaces in the new building, such as an Innovation Hub, to facilitate research with impact as a result of public-private collaboration.
I am looking forward to 2024 with great energy to face new challenges and contribute to making research even more excellent. In 2024 we will be 30 years old as an institution, and this will be the ideal occasion to recognise and celebrate the entire history of science in our institution. I invite you all to join us in this celebration.
Thank you very much to all of you who are part of the VHIR community.
