AIDS Research Institute (IrsiCaixa)

  • PROJECT LEADERS

    Bonaventura Clotet, director of IrsiCaixa

  • HOST ORGANIZATION,
    COUNTRY

    IrsiCaixa AIDS Research Institute (IrsiCaixa, Instituto de Investigación del Sida), Spain

  • DESCRIPTION

    The IrsiCaixa AIDS Research Institute (IrsiCaixa) was created in 1995 with the support of the ”la Caixa” Foundation and the Government of Catalonia to address the AIDS pandemic. In 2020 it celebrated 25 years of existence, having become an international leader in infectious diseases, immune system disorders, emerging viruses and vaccine development.

    IrsiCaixa research is based on a combined strategy to eradicate AIDS and emerging infectious diseases, following strategic lines: 1) prevention, eradication and functional cure; 2) microbiome; 3) new treatments and resistance to antiretrovirals; 4) immunopathogenesis; and 5) other diseases.

    The 12 research groups and almost 100 researchers based at IrsiCaixa carry out translational research in collaboration with research and healthcare centres worldwide. The resulting publications are among those with the highest impact factors in this field.

    The research groups are focused on:

    • Retrovirology and clinical studies

    • Cell virology and immunology

    • Microbial genomics

    • Host genetics and cellular immunity

    • Virus-host interactions (ViHIT)

    • HIV and HCV genetic and phenotypic variability

    • Tissue virology (VITI)

    • Viral immune evasion and vaccines (VIRIEVAC)

    • Pathogen immunity, signalling and therapeutic applications (PISTA)

    • Translational research in immunology and ageing (TRIA)

    • Neoantigens and therapeutic vaccines for cancer (NeoVaCan)

    • Immunology (IGG)


    The institute also participates in clinical trials to evaluate novel therapeutic strategies and cooperates with low-income countries in the global fight against the pandemic.

    The director of IrsiCaixa is Dr. Bonaventura Clotet, who is also president of the Fight AIDS Foundation and head of the Infectious Diseases Unit of the Germans Trias i Pujol University Hospital, Badalona (Barcelona). IrsiCaixa is located near these two institutions, which makes for a unique model of collaboration between researchers, healthcare professionals, patients and community representatives. This transfer of knowledge between key stakeholders furthers the pursuance of new solutions and facilitates progress towards eradication of the HIV infection.

  • TYPE OF SUPPORT

    Continued support

  • MORE INFORMATION

    https://www.irsicaixa.es/en