The ”la Caixa” Foundation has announced the results of the 2025 call for proposals for its CaixaImpulse programme, through which it supports 31 biomedical projects from research centres, hospitals and universities in Spain and Portugal. In total, the organisation will allocate 3.8 million euros to this initiative, which aims to speed up the arrival of these innovations on the market so they can reach the patients who may need them. CaixaImpulse also promotes the creation of new products, services and companies linked to the life sciences and health.

The winning projects – chosen from among 428 applications received – were assessed by six panels of international experts and professionals in the field. Among those selected this year are several that could transform cancer treatment: from non-invasive blood tests for advanced lung cancer to cell-based immunotherapies for aggressive childhood tumours. A new digital solution has also been developed for the treatment of complex wounds, which will enhance support for healthcare professionals. In women’s health, an innovative mesh has been developed for pelvic organ prolapse, in the field of genetic diseases, progress is being made toward safer RNA-based therapies, and in neurodegenerative diseases, advances are being made in the early detection of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

By area of activity, 14 of the selected projects fall within the field of therapies. These are followed by projects related to medical devices, 12 of which stand out for their potential to improve healthcare. In the field of diagnostics, four proposals have been identified with the capacity to transform the early detection of diseases and, finally, one project is focused on digital health.

In terms of funding, the awardees receive between 50,000 and 500,000 euros to develop their projects over the following years, depending on their stage of maturity. In this call, 17 projects entered phase 1 (up to 50,000 euros), 11 entered phase 2 (up to 150,000 euros) and 3 reached phase 3 (up to 500,000 euros). The programme allows projects, once they achieve specific development milestones and following assessment by the evaluation committee, to progress to later phases with greater funding.

Training and expert support for the projects

CaixaImpulse supports biomedical projects in the field of innovation and knowledge transfer, helping researchers to validate their assets and define their exploitation and valorisation strategy in order to bring research results closer to the market. In addition to financial support, they also have access to mentoring, consultancy and guidance from international experts across various areas of the innovation ecosystem.

In addition, the researchers leading projects in phase 2 will receive four weeks of specialised training on technology transfer, intellectual property law, pitching to investors and closing commercial agreements.

In the words of Paola Isetta, deputy director of Fellowships, Research and Innovation at the ”la Caixa” Foundation, “The outcome of the 2025 CaixaImpulse call reaffirms the Foundation’s commitment to innovation in biomedicine and health. Through an investment of 3.8 million euros, the development of 31 projects in Spain and Portugal is being promoted with the aim of speeding up their arrival on the market to improve patients’ quality of life. In addition to financial support, researchers receive mentoring and expert guidance to bring their innovations to market with greater strength.”

The call is carried out in collaboration with Criteria Bio Ventures, CriteriaCaixa’s venture capital fund specialising in biotechnology and the life sciences. In Portugal, the call is run in partnership with the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) of the Portuguese Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education, which in this edition is funding two of the Portuguese projects selected in phase 1.

The ”la Caixa” Foundation launched this programme to support innovation and knowledge transfer in biomedicine and health in 2015. Since then, the organisation has allocated 28.8 million euros to support 263 projects, which have led to the creation of 54 spin-offs, which have in turn secured additional co-financing through other competitive calls or private investors amounting to more than 180 million euros. These are some of the achievements of the first decade of CaixaImpulse, the ”la Caixa” Foundation’s call for proposals to support health innovation projects, run in collaboration with Criteria Bio Ventures.

 

We invite you to discover the selected projects below, arranged from the earliest to the most advanced stages:

Working towards a better treatment for autism

• Project leader: Mercè Pallàs, Universitat de Barcelona
• Funding received: 50.000 €
• Phase 1
• Project in consortium with: José Luis Marco Contelles, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Madrid

A new solution for testing brain medicines

• Project leader: Anna Lagunas, Intitut de Bioenginyeria de Catalunya (IBEC), Barcelona
• Funding received: 50.000 €
• Phase 1

A new device for safer and more effective stroke treatment

• Project leader: Marc Ribó, Vall d’Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Barcelona
• Funding received: 49.000 €
• Phase 1

A new device to make cancer treatments safer and more effective

• Project leader: Pedro Assis, Laboratório de Instrumentação e Física Experimental de Partículas, Lisboa
• Funding received: 50.000 €
• Phase 1

Personalized solutions for heart device complications

• Project leader: Dabit Arzamendi, Institut de Recerca Sant Pau, Barcelona
• Funding received: 50.000 €
• Phase 1

Innovative strategies for targeting hidden weaknesses in cancer cells

• Project leader: Robert Martin, Gulbenkian Institute for Molecular Medicine (GIMM), Lisboa
• Funding received: 50.000 €
• Phase 1

Breaking barriers in colorectal cancer treatment

• Project leader: Luisa Statello, Fundación para la Investigación Médica Aplicada (Cima Universidad de Navarra)
• Funding received: 50.000 €
• Phase 1

Stopping dangerous infections before they start: a new vaccine approach

• Project leader: Astrid Pérez, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid
• Funding received: 49.000 €
• Phase 1

Brain-TAG: an innovative strategy for targeted therapeutic delivery to the brain

• Project leader: Daniel Gonzalez-Carter, Intitut de Bioenginyeria de Catalunya (IBEC), Barcelona
• Funding received: 49.000 €
• Phase 1

A new light in cancer surgery: helping surgeons remove tumors more safely

• Project leader: Ana Piqueras Hinojo, Institut de Recerca Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP), Badalona
• Funding received: 50.000 €
• Phase 1

A safer way to treat genetic diseases

• Project leader: Marc Güell, Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona
• Funding received: 49.000 €
• Phase 1

An innovative solution for pelvic organ prolapse

• Project leader: Maria Elisabete Teixeira da Silva, Institute of Science and Innovation in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering (INEGI), Porto
• Funding received: 49.924,56 €
• Phase 1
• Project in consortium with: Ana Sofia da Quinta e Costa Neves de Oliveira, Universidade do Porto

Making heart procedures safer and easier

• Project leader: Pedro Morais, 2Ai – Applied Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Barcelos
• Funding received: 50.000 €
• Phase 1

Fighting antibiotic resistance with new treatments

• Project leader: Marc Torrent, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB)
• Funding received: 49.000 €
• Phase 1

Revolutionizing cancer treatment with advanced imaging

• Project leader: Pedro Correia, Universidade de Aveiro
• Funding received: 50.000 €
• Phase 1

Transforming spine health: a new and customized approach to regeneration

• Project leader: Joana Caldeira, Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto
• Funding received: 50.000 €
• Phase 1

Innovative approaches in cancer detection: living biocomputers

• Project leader: Marta R. Casanova, 3B’s Research Group – I3Bs – Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics of University of Minho
• Funding received: 49.939,60 €
• Phase 1

An innovative treatment for dry eye

• Project leader: Anna Roig, Institut de Ciència de Materials de Barcelona (ICMAB); Agencia Estatal Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Madrid
• Funding received: 150.000 €
• Phase 2

How artificial intelligence is helping patients get ready for surgery – safely and simply

• Project leader: Ancor Serrano, Institut d’Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge (IDIBELL), l’Hospitalet de Llobregat
• Funding received: 149.482,89 €
• Phase 2

Early detection for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

• Project leader: María del Valle Palomo, Fundación IMDEA Nanociencia, Madrid
• Funding received: 150.000 €
• Phase 2
• Project in consortium with: Silvia Corrochano Sánchez, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Hospital Clínico San Carlos (IdISSC), Madrid

Advancing personalized cancer treatment through a novel blood test

• Project leader: Isabel Barragán Mallofret, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga y Plataforma en Nanomedicina, IBIMA Plataforma BIONAND
• Funding received: 145.200 €
• Phase 2

Transforming advanced lung cancer treatment through non-invasive blood testing

• Project leader: Mónica Martínez-Fernández, Fundación Pública Galega de Investigación Biomédica Galicia Sur
• Funding received: 150.000 €
• Phase 2

Developing a ready-to-use cell therapy to fight cancer more effectively

• Project leader: Aura Muntasell, Hospital del Mar Research Institute (HMRIB), Barcelona
• Funding received: 144.100 €
• Phase 2

An innovative lifelong stent for children with narrowed aortas

• Project leader: Andrés García, IQS School Of Engineering, Universitat Ramon Llull, Barcelona
• Funding received: 148.500 €
• Phase 2
• Project in consortium with: Marta Pegueroles, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)

Advancing safer and more effective cell therapy for solid tumours

• Project leader: Alba Rodríguez García, Fundació de Recerca Clínic Barcelona – Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer
• Funding received: 149.952 €
• Phase 2

Advancing safer and more precise treatments for solid tumors using modified immune cells

• Project leader: Joan Seoane, Vall d’Hebron Institut d’Oncologia (VHIO), Barcelona
• Funding received: 150.000 €
• Phase 2

New approaches to fight childhood bone and soft tissue cancers

• Project leader: Clara Bueno, Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute, Barcelona
• Funding received: 149.600 €
• Phase 2
• Project in consortium with: Ángel Montero, Fundació Privada per a la Recerca i la Docència Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona

An innovative therapy for childhood brain tumours

• Project leader: Marta M Alonso, Fundación para la Investigación Médica Aplicada (Cima Universidad de Navarra)
• Funding received: 150.000 €
• Phase 2

Helping nurses treat difficult wounds: a new digital solution to support better care

• Project leader: Óscar Pérez, Fundación Centro Tecnolóxico de Telecomunicacións de Galicia (GRADIANT), Vigo
• Funding received: 500.000 €
• Phase 3
• Project in consortium with: Jose Manuel Rosendo Fernández, Fundación Pública Galega de Investigación Biomédica Galicia Sur

A new approach to improving skin disease treatments

• Project leader: Sara Preciado, Institut d’Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge (IDIBELL), l’Hospitalet de Llobregat
• Funding received: 499.999,50 €
• Phase 3

An innovative approach to women’s health diagnostics

• Project leader: Pilar Coy, Universidad de Murcia
• Funding received: 500.000 €
• Phase 3