The Joan Oró Foundation and the Lleida Biomedical Research Institute Dr. Pifarré Foundation (IRBLleida) have signed a collaboration agreement to promote biomedical research and the figure of the scientist from Lleida Joan Oró Florensa. With the start of this collaboration between the two entities, different activities are planned jointly that will culminate in the commemoration of the centenary of the birth of Joan Oró in 2023. In addition, the director of IRBLleida, Diego Arango, will be part of the board of trustees of the Joan Oró Foundation.

The Institute for Biomedical Research of Lleida Dr. Pifarré Foundation (IRBLleida) is set up with the aim of creating synergies between basic research, clinical research and epidemiological research, so that biomedical research is the driving force behind the improvement of daily clinical practice, for the benefit of the entire population. In other words, it encompasses a chain of translational research, from basic research, aimed at understanding the physiological and pathological mechanisms of the human body, to research that studies the behaviour of diseases in large population groups.

IRBLleida, as the agglutinator of all the biomedical research carried out in Lleida, belongs to two agents executing research and innovation policies in health:

• The University of Lleida (UdL) includes research professionals from the Faculties of Medicine and Nursing and Physiotherapy.
• The Department of Health of the Generalitat de Catalunya, which includes research professionals from its suppliers.

The IRBLleida belongs to the CERCA Institution with its own legal regime; CERCA: Foundation Institution of Research Centres of Catalonia (I-CERCA) of Catalonia that are organised according to a model of good governance and operation that ensures efficiency, flexibility in management, recruitment and promotion of talent, strategic planning and executive capacity.

The agreement was signed by the president of the Joan Oró Foundation, Francesc Oró, and the director of IRBLleida, Diego Arango, at the IRBLleida facilities.