The medical and scientific experts who receive grants from ”la Caixa” Foundation explain the latest developments in their fields of research

The Debates Series aims to highlight the work of research and health professionals who receive scientific project grants from ”la Caixa” Foundation, through the Research programme.


With medical, scientific and innovation experts who receive grants from ”la Caixa” Foundation, the debates are a meeting point between society and the results of research, new medical practices and the current challenges related to health and quality of life.

HEALTH RESEARCH DEBATES 2026

  •

    Alcohol, the mediterranean diet and health: what do we know?

    Miguel Ángel Martínez-González (UNAV and HSPH) and Raúl Andrade Bellido (UMA, HUVV and IBIMA).

    Wednesday 3 June 2026.

  •

    Endometriosis: a silent disease that affects one in ten women

    Francisco Carmona (HCB and UB), María Luisa Sánchez-Ferrer (HUVA, IMIB and UM) and Juan García-Velasco (IVIRMA, IVI and URJC).

    Wednesday 11 March 2026.

HEALTH RESEARCH DEBATES 2025

  •

    Multiple sclerosis, the disease with a thousand faces

    Pablo Villoslada (IMIM), Pablo Arroyo-Pereiro (HUB) and Mar Tintoré Subirana (Cemcat, VHIR and UVic-UCC).

    Wednesday 10 December 2025.

  •

    Mental health: the great unfinished business

    Enrique Baca García (HURJC, HUIE, HUFJD and UAM), Josep Maria Haro Abad (CIBERSAM) and Víctor Pérez Sola (INAD and CIBERSAM).

    Wednesday 22 October 2025.

  •

    Organ transplantation: more and better life for the patient. Challenges and advances

    Beatriz Domínguez-Gil González (ONT), Oriol Bestard Matamoros (HUVH, VHIR and UAB), Xabier Aranguren López (Universidad de Navarra) and Concepción Gómez Gavara (HUVH and VHIR).

    Thursday 8 May 2025.

  •

    Tuberculosis is still the infectious disease that causes the most deaths

    Pere-Joan Cardona (Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol and IGTP), Iñaki Comas (IBV-CSIC) and Alberto García-Basteiro (ISGlobal and CISM).

    Wednesday 26 March 2025.

  •

    The incidence of colon cancer is increasing among young people

    Eduard Batlle (ICREA, IRB Barcelona and CIBERONC), Angélica Figueroa (INBIC-CHUAC), Toni Gabaldón (ICREA, IRB Barcelona and BSC), and Elena Élez (HUVH and VHIO).

    Wednesday 19 February 2025.

HEALTH RESEARCH DEBATES 2024

  •

    The microbiota-gut-brain axis and its influence on metabolism and health

    Marc Claret (IDIBAPS), Carlos Ribeiro (CCU) and Mireia Vallès Colomer (UPF).

    Wednesday 4 December 2024.

  •

    Bladder cancer: new advances against one of the most common tumours

    Marta Dueñas (i+12), Samuel Sánchez (ICREA and IBEC) and Antoni Vilaseca (IDIBAPS and UB).

    Wednesday 25 September 2024.

  •

    Superbugs: How can we tackle one of the biggest threats to global health?

    Daniel López Serrano (CNB), Javier Montenegro (CIQUS and USC) and Mireia López Siles (UG).

    Wednesday 22 May 2024.

  •

    Artificial intelligence in biomedicine: present and future

    Alfonso Valencia (ICREA and BSC-CNS), Natalia Pérez de la Ossa  (HGTP and IGTP) and Rodrigo Menchaca (AIS Channel and ISDIN).

    Wednesday 20 March 2024.

  •

    Liquid biopsy: can we detect cancer early?

    Olga Vera (IdiPAZ), Lorena Diéguez (INL) and Cristina Saura (VHIO).

    Wednesday 28 February 2024.

  •

    Fatty liver disease: an under-diagnosed condition affecting over a third of the population

    Jeffrey V. Lazarus (ISGlobal and UB), Antonio Zorzano  (IRB Barcelona and UB) and David Martínez Selva (VHIR).

    Thursday 8 February 2024.

HEALTH RESEARCH DEBATES 2023

  •

    One in ten people have dyslexia and most are unaware of it

    Manuel Francisco Carreiras Valiña (BCBL) and Juan Luis Luque Vilaseca (UMA and Leeduca).

    Thursday 16 November 2023.

  •

    Mosquito-borne infectious diseases: how can we prevent possible outbreaks in Spain?

    Frederic Bartumeus Ferré (CEAB-CSIC) and Jordi Figuerola Borrás (EBD-CSIC).

    Wednesday 21 June 2023.

  •

    Melanoma: the most aggressive skin cancer

    Fátima Gebauer Hernández (CRG) and Marisol Soengas (CNIO).

    Tuesday 23 May 2023.

  •

    Parkinson’s: a disease with treatments, but no cure

    Miquel Vila (VHIR), Guglielmo Foffani (HM CINAC) and Salvador Ventura (IBB-UAB).

    Thursday 27 April 2023.

  •

    Can a light-activated drug restore vision or reduce cardiac lesions?

    Amadeu Llebaria (IQAC-CSIC) and Núria Camarero Palao (IBEC).

    Thursday 2 March 2023.

  •

    What are CAR-T-cell cancer therapies?

    Javier Briones (IIB-Sant Pau) and Manel Juan (Hospital Clínic Barcelona).

    Tuesday 31 January 2023.

HEALTH RESEARCH DEBATES 2022

  •

    Long COVID-19: How much do we know?

    Lourdes Mateu (Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol and UAB) and Gema Maria Lledó (Hospital Clínic Barcelona).

    Wednesday 23 November 2022.

  • Marcos Malumbres (CNIO) and Marina Pollán (CNE-ISCIII & CIBERESP)

    Cancer and nutrition: The importance of prevention

    Marcos Malumbres (CNIO) and Marina Pollán (CNE-ISCIII & CIBERESP).

    Thursday 27 October 2022.

  • Josep Dalmau (ICREA & Hospital Clínic de Barcelona) and Guillermina López-Bendito (CSIC)

    How the brain perceives the world and generates memories

    Josep Dalmau (ICREA & Hospital Clínic Barcelona) and Guillermina López-Bendito (CSIC).

    Tuesday 21 June 2022.

  • Maria Pia Cosma (ICREA & CRG) and José Antonio Garrido (ICREA & ICN2)

    Curing blindness: treating the retina to restore vision

    Maria Pia Cosma (ICREA & CRG) and José Antonio Garrido (ICREA & ICN2).

    Wednesday 25 May 2022.

  • Christian Brander (ICREA, IrsiCaixa & AELIX Therapeutics) and Valentina Casella (MELIS-UPF)

    Is it possible to create a universal vaccine for chronic infectious diseases?

    Christian Brander (ICREA, IrsiCaixa & AELIX Therapeutics) and Valentina Casella (MELIS-UPF).

    Tuesday 26 April 2022.

  • Antoni Trilla (Hospital Clínic Barcelona, UB, ISGlobal) and Clara Prats (UPC & IGTP)

    COVID-19: how should we live with it?

    Antoni Trilla (Hospital Clínic Barcelona, UB, ISGlobal) and Clara Prats (UPC & IGTP).

    Wednesday 23 March 2022.

  • Pablo Lapunzina (IdiPAZ & CIBERER) and Víctor Martínez (IdiPAZ & CIBERER)

    Rare diseases: Why is there no treatment for 95% of them?

    Pablo Lapunzina (IdiPAZ & CIBERER) and Víctor Martínez (IdiPAZ & CIBERER).

    Wednesday 23 February 2022.

  • Jaume Mora (PCCB) and Ana Patiño (CUN)

    Childhood cancer: many diseases with no specific treatments

    Jaume Mora (PCCB) and Ana Patiño (CUN).

    Monday 24 January 2022.

HEALTH RESEARCH DEBATES 2021

  • Julià Blanco (IrsiCaixa) and Beatriz Mothe (IrsiCaixa)

    40 years of AIDS. How long before a cure or vaccine?

    Julià Blanco (IrsiCaixa) and Beatriz Mothe (IrsiCaixa).

    Monday 29 November 2021.

  • Eduard Gratacós (BCNatal) and Adelina Pellicer (H.U. La Paz)

    Extremely premature babies: increasing their survival

    Eduard Gratacós (BCNatal) and Adelina Pellicer (H.U. La Paz).

    Wednesday 17 November 2021.

  • María Abad (VHIO) and María Vicent (CIPF)

    Pancreatic cancer, new treatments for the deadliest forms of cancer

    María Abad (VHIO) and María Vicent (CIPF).

    Wednesday 27 October 2021.

  • Valentí Fuster (CNIC), Judit Cubedo (GlyCardial) and Gloria Santos (SHE Foundation)

    How do we approach heart disease? The leading cause of death globally

    Valentí Fuster (CNIC), Judit Cubedo (GlyCardial) and Gloria Santos (SHE Foundation).

    Wednesday 29 September 2021.

  • Carmen M. Fernández-Martos (HNP) and Rubèn López Vales (UAB)

    ALS, a fatal disease… for how long?

    Carmen M. Fernández-Martos (HNP) and Rubèn López Vales (UAB).

    Tuesday 15 June 2021.

  • Sonia Fernández (IISPV) and Miguel López (CiMUS)

    Can we cure obesity? A 21st century pandemic

    Sonia Fernández (IISPV) and Miguel López (CiMUS).

    Thursday 27 May 2021.

  • Pedro Alonso (OMS) and Regina Rabinovich (ISGlobal)

    New challenges in vaccination and disease eradication

    Pedro Alonso (OMS) and Regina Rabinovich (ISGlobal).

    Thursday 22 April 2021.

  • Dra. Biola Javierre (IJC) & Dr. Elías Campo (IDIBAPS, Hospital Clínic)

    Leukemia, present and future of the new treatments

    Dra. Biola Javierre (IJC) & Dr. Elías Campo (IDIBAPS, Hospital Clínic).

    Thursday 25 March 2021.

  • Carmen Gil (CIB-CSIC), Blanca Fuentes (IdiPAZ), Almudena Ramiro (CNIC), Marisol Soengas (CNIO), Genma Triola (IQAC-CSIC) & Nuria Campillo (CIB-CSIC)

    Women and science, overcoming stereotypes and inequality

    Carmen Gil (CIB-CSIC) & Blanca Fuentes (IdiPAZ) & Almudena Ramiro (CNIC) & Marisol Soengas (CNIO) & Genma Triola (IQAC-CSIC) & Nuria Campillo (CIB-CSIC).

    Thursday 11 February 2021.

  • Dr. Mariano Esteban CNB-CSIC & Dra. Denise Naniche ISGlobal

    Vaccines, the great response against COVID-19

    Dr. Mariano Esteban (National Centre for Biotechnology - CNB-CSIC) & Dra. Denise Naniche (ISGlobal).

    Tuesday 26 January 2021.

HEALTH RESEARCH DEBATES 2020

  • Dr. Arcadi Navarro (Fundación Pasqual Maragall) & Dra. Mercè Boada (Fundación ACE)

    Goal: to prevent Alzheimer’s disease. A scientific and social challenge

    Dr. Arcadi Navarro (Fundación Pasqual Maragall) & Dra. Mercè Boada (Fundación ACE).

    Tuesday 17 November 2020.

  • Dra. María Blasco (CNIO) & Dr. Josep Tabernero (VHIO)

    Cancer. What direction are the new therapies taking?

    Dra. María Blasco (CNIO) & Dr. Josep Tabernero (VHIO).

    Tuesday 20 October 2020.

  • Dr. Bonaventura Clotet & Dr. Valentín Fuster

    Success of treatments now available for COVID-19 patients

    Dr. Bonaventura Clotet & Dr. Valentín Fuster.

    Tuesday 22 September 2020.