The CaixaResearch Institute, Spain's first immunology research centre, officially opened its doors in Barcelona on Friday, 24 April 2026. The new facility, a flagship project for the "la Caixa" Foundation, is also the first of its kind in Spain and Portugal, and one of the first in Europe.
King Felipe VI presided over the inauguration ceremony, alongside Catalan President Salvador Illa and Isidre Fainé, president of the "la Caixa" Foundation. Neither the King nor President Illa spoke at the event. Isidre Fainé highlighted the project's faithfulness to the founding values of "la Caixa", established 120 years ago by Francesc Moragas, who was deeply concerned with health issues. Moragas's vision led to institutions such as the Santa Madrona Clinic, the Santa Llúcia Shelter for the blind, and the Anti-Tuberculosis Institute.
Fainé also recalled the Foundation's strong commitment to science, including its support for infectious disease research at IrsiCaixa, cancer research at the Vall d'Hebron Oncology Institute, and studies on how climatic and social factors affect health at the Global Health Institute. He expressed confidence in the scientists joining the new project and urged young people to avoid "apathetic and sterile scepticism" and instead contribute to "humanity's progress."
Advancing Immunology Research
Josep Tabernero, head of the Institute's Scientific Committee, outlined the institution's goals. He explained that it will adopt a cross-disciplinary scientific approach to better understand the immune system and its impact on various diseases. Tabernero emphasised the concept of excellent and collaborative science, stating that the centre "does not intend to operate alone but to collaborate with a series of research institutes that generate synergies." According to the Foundation, the Institute aims to directly improve people's lives by rapidly translating major discoveries into new medicines.
The inauguration was also attended by former Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, reflecting the centre's ties with the Portuguese scientific community. Other notable attendees included Spain's Minister of Health, Mónica García, Catalonia's Minister of Research, Núria Montserrat, and the president of the Barcelona Provincial Council, Lluïsa Moret. Javier Godó, editor of La Vanguardia and vice-president of the Foundation, was also present, along with civil society figures such as Josep Sánchez Llibre, president of Foment del Treball, and Josep Santacreu, president of the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce.
Collaborative Scientific Community
The project has focused from the outset on creating a team of professionals who connect disciplines and work without rigid divisions. The CaixaResearch Institute currently has five research groups, with a sixth, focusing on ageing and its link to the immune system, set to join immediately. Argentinian biochemist Gabriel Rabinovich, known for discovering the functions of galectins, leads a team that will study how to manipulate this mechanism to open new therapeutic avenues for cancers and inflammatory conditions.
Neurologist Josep Dalmau, who will remain affiliated with Hospital Clínic, is another senior researcher, recognised for discovering several autoimmune encephalitis syndromes. Gemma Moncunill will work on vaccines and infectious diseases. Héctor Huerga, an expert in studying mutations in blood stem cells, will lead another group. María Martínez López specialises in immune cells found in the skin and mucous membranes, which help predict threats. Maria Mittelbrunn from the Severo Ochoa Centre for Molecular Biology will soon join to study the ageing of the immune system.
State-of-the-Art Facilities
The building itself was designed with a unique character. Located next to Collserola Park, it has no visual impact on the surroundings and meets all sustainability criteria. The 20,000 square metre facility comprises two buildings, situated directly opposite Cosmocaixa, another scientific reference point for CaixaBank. The centre, which involved an investment of €100 million, is equipped with leading-edge facilities and will have the capacity to host 500 professionals, mostly scientists, who will conduct cross-disciplinary research to decipher the keys of the immune system. The CaixaResearch Institute has a budget of €10 million for this year.
