The financial contribution will allow for the expansion of facilities, increasing the surface area by 60% to approximately 2,000 m² and incorporating high biosecurity laboratories. This upgrade addresses the center's scientific growth, which has seen its research staff increase by 114% since 2021.
The Minister of Research and Universities, Núria Montserrat, emphasized that the investment “reaffirms the Government's firm commitment to excellent biomedical research throughout the country” and that strengthening a reference research hub in the regions of Tarragona and the Terres de l'Ebre is essential for territorial cohesion and equitable access to health innovation.
The director of IRB CatSud, Joan Vendrell, expressed gratitude for this recognition of the institute's research work, noting it is the first infrastructure investment in the center's 20-year history in Tarragona.
The planned works include expanding the existing modular building and constructing a new external vertical communication core. The new investments will enable the centralization of currently fragmented scientific-technical platforms, such as the optical microscopy unit and the cell culture unit, equipped for BSL-2 and BSL-3 biosecurity levels.
These high-security facilities will facilitate advanced research on infectious agents with a significant public health impact, including HIV, Covid-19, and Hepatitis B and C viruses, as well as advanced omics technologies applied to complex pathologies like obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular alterations.
The project will also incorporate sustainability and energy efficiency criteria, including the installation of photovoltaic panels and the renovation of climate control systems. The investment covers new scientific equipment and specialized furniture.
This investment is part of the agreements from the Joint Commission for Economic and Fiscal Affairs (CMAEF) between the State and the Generalitat de Catalunya. In addition to the Government's contribution, the project includes a complementary investment of €2.9 million from the center and other funding sources.
