30 years of IrsiCaixa: the legacy of past pandemics to face those of the future

Founded in 1995, the year with the highest number of AIDS-related deaths in Spain—almost 6,000—IrsiCaixa, a center promoted by the "la Caixa" Foundation and the Department of Health of the Government of Catalonia, has witnessed two devastating pandemics: HIV and COVID-19, responsible for 40 million and 7 million deaths worldwide, respectively. Now, 30 years after IrsiCaixa's establishment and five years after the global impact of COVID-19, the world remains a fertile ground for the spread of infectious diseases. Do we have the tools to combat future pandemics? What are the current research lines to address them? To explore these questions, IrsiCaixa has gathered key figures from its 30-year history at the Palau Macaya for a commemorative event focused on the present and future challenges of infectious disease research.

"This celebration allows us to remember where we came from, honor the efforts made during the most difficult times, and look toward the future. The accumulated experience has provided us with tools not only to tackle new infectious diseases but also to advance research into other conditions, such as cancer and Alzheimer's", highlighted IrsiCaixa Director Bonaventura Clotet during the event.

Over the past 30 years, the "la Caixa" Foundation has contributed more than 38 million euros to the development of IrsiCaixa’s research and innovation. "IrsiCaixa has always been an inspiration for the 'la Caixa' Foundation. With its creation in collaboration with the Government of Catalonia, we pioneered public-private research partnerships—an approach that is common today but was exceptional 30 years ago. Furthermore, it has been a source of inspiration in our journey as an institution committed to research, where we have maintained sustained support leading to the establishment of the CaixaResearch Institute, dedicated to immunology", explained Josep Maria Coronas, General Director of the "la Caixa" Foundation.

600,000 AIDS deaths annually: eradicating HIV remains a global challenge

In the early years of IrsiCaixa, HIV infection was a death sentence. "We started with the goal of achieving basic milestones: establishing a method to evaluate treatment efficacy –viral load– and reducing the adverse effects of early drugs, which had a severe impact on patients’ physical and mental health", recalls Clotet.

The arrival of highly effective treatments marked a turning point, preventing HIV infection from inevitably progressing to AIDS. However, social stigma persists. Today, nearly 40 million people live with HIV, with over 600,000 deaths and 1.3 million new infections each year. "Curing this disease remains a priority for those of us researching this infection," stated Javier Martínez-Picado, principal investigator at IrsiCaixa and ICREA professor.

IrsiCaixa has played a key role in identifying and studying most of the known cases of HIV cure, such as the London, Düsseldorf, and Geneva patients. These cases, resulting from stem cell transplants to treat blood cancer, have demonstrated that an external intervention can eliminate the virus from the body. Additionally, the center has developed the HTI therapeutic vaccine, the most advanced Spanish HIV vaccine, which has shown one of the clearest efficacies in activating the immune system in people with HIV, according to results published in Nature Medicine in 2022.

Furthermore, IrsiCaixa has made progress in a preventive vaccine and has studied exceptional patient profiles to identify weaknesses in the virus and open new paths toward an HIV cure.

Lessons from two pandemics, applicable to other diseases

With over 1,300 articles in high-impact journals, a team that has grown from four people to over 120, and more than 100 active projects annually, IrsiCaixa has accumulated deep knowledge of infectious diseases and the immune system. "This allowed us to react quickly five years ago when the first COVID-19 cases appeared in Catalonia", explained Julià Blanco, principal investigator at IrsiCaixa and IGTP, during the event's discussion panel. "We faced another infection with no available treatment. However, we rapidly activated numerous research collaborations and led or participated in multiple international clinical trials that helped change the public health emergency", added Roger Paredes, principal investigator at IrsiCaixa and head of Infectious Diseases Unit at the Germans Trias Hospital.

IrsiCaixa’s experience was crucial in the development of the HIPRA vaccine, the first Spanish vaccine approved by the European Medicines Agency, as well as in the creation of a vaccine and antibodies in collaboration with the Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (IRTA-CReSA) and the Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC-CNS). This strategic alliance has combined human health, animal health, and supercomputing.

"The tools developed, such as technologies to assess immune response and new vaccine platforms, can be applied to numerous diseases", highlighted Blanco. Currently, this knowledge is being used to develop vaccines against the West Nile virus, respiratory syncytial virus, and even cancer. "Vaccines activate the immune system to fight what we want to eliminate, whether viruses, parasites, or cancer cells", explained Núria de la Iglesia, principal investigator at IrsiCaixa, in reference to her cancer research.

Additionally, IrsiCaixa is investigating whether endogenous retroviruses –remnants of viruses integrated into our DNA– could be key to combating Alzheimer’s disease.

Preparing for future pandemics

During the event, discussions covered emerging pandemics, such as avian influenza, which has started affecting other animal species. "We must monitor them closely and maintain the surveillance and research collaboration structures established during COVID-19", recommended Nuria Izquierdo-Useros, principal investigator at IrsiCaixa.

Izquierdo-Useros is working on developing broad-spectrum antiviral drugs capable of blocking multiple viruses simultaneously. "If we had had effective drugs at the beginning of COVID-19, we would have saved many lives", she explained. Specifically, she is researching drugs that act on human cells used by viruses to replicate, an approach that could be crucial in future pandemics.

IrsiCaixa marks 30 years with a commitment to the future, consolidating its position as a leader in infectious disease and immunity research. With a history of success in combating past pandemics, the institution prepares to tackle global health challenges and contribute to innovative solutions for future health emergencies. Its ability to innovate and anticipate new challenges will remain essential for improving global health and the well-being of future generations.