Established in 1906, the Hospital Clínic de Barcelona is a prestigious public university hospital with a rich history of excellence in healthcare, research, and education spanning over a century. With a dedicated team of around 9,000 professionals, the hospital’s mission is to provide outstanding medical care while driving innovative research aimed at improving patient outcomes and expanding medical knowledge. Committed to understanding the underlying causes of diseases, Hospital Clínic focuses on developing treatments that enhance patients’ quality of life.
Biomedical research is one of the fundamental pillars of the Hospital Clínic de Barcelona. This research is primarily coordinated through the IDIBAPS. IDIBAPS is the result of the integration in 2023 of the Hospital Clínic Foundation for Biomedical Research (FCRB), created in 1989, and the consortium August Pi i Sunyer Biomedical Research Institute, created in 1996. It is a nonprofit foundation with a board of governors representing the Catalan Government departments of Health and of Research and Universities, Hospital Clínic and the University of Barcelona.
An affiliated entity in META-BRAIN
Although not a consortium partner, the Hospital Clínic de Barcelona plays a significant role in the META-BRAIN project as affiliated entity, providing human brain tissue collected during neurosurgeries. This invaluable resource accelerates the translation of research findings into clinical practice. The hospital’s Epilepsy and Neurosurgery departments work closely with project coordinator IDIBAPS to investigate rare and complex neurological conditions, such as epilepsy.
Patients undergoing neurosurgery for epilepsy and brain tumours contribute vital tissue samples for META-BRAIN research. These samples, collected as part of standard clinical procedures without additional intervention, are essential for validating laboratory studies and exploring potential therapeutic options. The hospital adheres to strict ethical guidelines, ensuring that all patients give informed consent, and that research complies with EU regulations, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
Additionally, the Hospital Clínic de Barcelona is a member of META-BRAIN’s Patient Advisory Group (PAG), which integrates patients’ perspectives into research. This group ensures that the expectations, concerns, and needs of patients are thoughtfully addressed throughout the META-BRAIN study.
