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Awards

Manuel Salmeron receives the George Winter Award 2026

Manuel Salmeron, director and ICREA Research Professor at the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), received the George Winter Award 2026 in recognition of his outstanding contribution to biomaterials research. The European Society for Biomaterials’ (ESB) most prestigious individual honour was officially presented to Salmeron, he stated on Tuesday, 8 September 2026, during the ESB 2026 conference held in Antwerp, Belgium.

IBEC participates in three projects that have contributed to COVID-19 advances driven by La Marató 2020

On 18 June, the results were announced for the 36 research projects funded by La Marató de 3Cat through its 2020 special call for proposals dedicated to tackling the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). The Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC) participated in three of these projects, which aimed to deepen our understanding of the disease and improve its diagnosis and clinical monitoring.

Amayra Hernández-Vega receives a grant from the Pasqual Maragall Foundation to advance research on the early stages of Alzheimer’s

IBEC researcher Amayra Hernández-Vega has been awarded a grant from the Pasqual Maragall Researchers Programme to lead a project focused on studying the earliest stages of Alzheimer’s disease. The study will combine in vitro and human models of familial Alzheimer’s disease to identify age-related factors and potential inhibitors that could slow the early progression of the disease. The project was presented at an informative session on sleep and brain health, which was attended by around 500 people.

IBEC strengthens its international leadership with the HE-mPOwer project

The Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC) has received funding through the Spanish State Research Agency’s 2025 call for proposals for the preparation and management of European projects and attraction of international talent. This funding will allow IBEC to launch the HE-mPOwer project, a strategic initiative designed to strengthen the institute’s internationalisation and increase its competitiveness within the Horizon Europe programme.

IBEC receives funding from the ‘la Caixa’ Foundation’s Health Research 2025 Call to study new treatments for spinal cord injuries

Zaida Álvarez Pinto, a Principal Investigator at IBEC, will lead a biomedical research project that was selected in the 2025 edition of the ‘la Caixa’ Foundation’s Health Research Call for Proposals. The project, which will be carried out in consortium with IDIBELL, the University of Barcelona, the National Spinal Cord Injury Hospital Foundation and the Spinal Cord Injury Foundation, will focus on the development of a new platform for testing treatments for spinal cord injuries.

IBEC research takes third place in the 2025 Vanguardia de la Ciencia Awards

A study led by IBEC has won the 3rd Vanguardia de la Ciencia 2025 Prize. The research, led by Samuel Sánchez Ordoñez and with Meritxell Serra-Casablanca as lead author, proposes an innovative bladder cancer therapy based on nanorobots loaded with radiopharmaceuticals. These nanorobots are capable of moving around the bladder using urine as a source of energy.

IBEC secures funding for three research projects from La Marató de 3Cat

Two research groups from the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC) have been selected to participate in three projects under La Marató de 3Cat’s 2024 call for proposals, which focuses on respiratory diseases. This funding will support research into diagnosis and clinical prediction, with the aim of improving respiratory health.

LUMIRIS, an IBEC spin-off, wins the Digital Entrepreneur Award in the Revelation category

Samuel Ojosnegros (left) and Anna Seriola (right) receive the award from Jorid Borda (centre). / Image: Catalunya Ràdio

The 7th edition of the Premis Emprenedors Digitals (Digital Entrepreneur Awards), organised by the Catalunya Ràdio programme, took place on Wednesday 18 June at the Antigua Fábrica Damm in Barcelona. The award recognises companies that have demonstrated exceptional growth and innovation in their field.