Launched by IRB Barcelona with the support of ”la Caixa” Foundation, through the "CaixaResearch Clinical Translation" initiative, and the Department of Health of the Government of Catalonia (Generalitat de Catalunya), the Translational Research and Innovation Programme (TRIP) is a strategic action to transfer knowledge generated in the Institute's laboratories to clinical practice in the most efficient and fastest manner. To this end, TRIP focuses on promoting emerging fields of research such as immuno-oncology, inflammation, and cellular senescence. TRIP is divided into two complementary lines of action:
TRIP Preclinics
With the support of:
On the one hand, the TRIP Preclinics subprogramme contemplates the progressive incorporation of junior group leaders to start new lines of pioneering biomedical research in fields that are expected to emerge in the coming years. The new group leaders are chosen by an international committee charged with selecting profiles of excellence in research areas deemed a priority. In 2023 Dr. Stefanie Wculek joined the TRIP Preclinics programme to lead the Innate Immune Biology laboratory.
TRIP Clinics
With the support of:
On the other hand, the TRIP Clinics subprogramme focuses on new and ambitious research projects led by scientists from IRB Barcelona and by medical researchers from reference hospitals in Catalonia. This approach thus promotes fundamental and clinical research in the same environment and facilitates joint access to knowledge and technological resources, as well as their possible applications. TRIP-Clinics is a pioneering initiative in Spain and Europe. The expected result of this integration is the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic tools, as well as the improvement of those already available. It can therefore lead to new patents, the formation of biotechnology-based companies, and product licenses.
TRIP is backed by an international external advisory committee, chaired by Dr. Francisco Real, which supervises and guides the work of the laboratories involved in the programme. He is a distinguished scientist with extensive experience in translational research. He currently holds the positions of Full Professor at the UPF and group leader at CNIO.