Who we are

IrsiCaixa was created as a private non-profit foundation in 1995 with the support of “la Caixa” Foundation and the Ministry of Health of the Autonomous Government of Catalonia.

Its director is Dr Bonaventura Clotet, who is also president of the Fight Infections Foundation and the Catalan Health Institute (ICS) Clinical Director for Infectious Diseases for the Barcelona Northern Metropolitan Area.

IrsiCaixa is located in the Germans Trias i Pujol University Hospital, next to the Fight Infections Foundation, which makes for a unique model of collaboration between researchers, healthcare providers, patients, and community representatives. This transfer of knowledge between key stakeholders makes for novel solutions that facilitate progress towards eradication of HIV/AIDS, as well as better treatment for emerging infectious diseases and studies of the microbiome and cancer.

IrsiCaixa’s 12 research groups and around 100 staff coordinate with research and healthcare centres around the world in carrying out translational research. The resulting publications are among those with the highest impact factors in the field of infectious diseases.

IrsiCaixa's scientific strategy focuses on studies of the immune system as the central axis of human health. With more than 25 years’ experience in this field, IrsiCaixa has become a pioneer in the development of immunotherapies and vaccines to boost the immune system, reinforcing its capacity to fight off infectious and related diseases. IrsiCaixa's strategic research lines also address basic research into how diseases work and what effect they have on the human body, as this kind of deep and detailed knowledge is crucial to applied and translational research.

IrsiCaixa places special emphasis on the provision of formal training for young scientists and on innovation and on transfers of knowledge generated in its laboratories. IrsiCaixa also coordinates educational programmes and participatory programmes aimed at promoting health and wellness, and at aligning research with the needs and expectations of citizens. Advances at IrsiCaixa are achieved in constant dialogue with a Community Advisory Committee (CAC), an external body that facilitates communication between the scientific community, health providers, civil society organizations, and patients.