On 16 January 2026, the scientific community, institutional leaders, colleagues, friends, and family will gather at the Auditori Antoni Caparrós (Parc Científic de Barcelona) to honour the life and legacy of Dr. Joan J. Guinovart, founder and first director of IRB Barcelona, founding member of the BIST and later the BIST Academic Director. Through a programme that brings together voices from the research, academic, civic, and economic spheres, this memorial event aims to celebrate his transformative impact on science and society, as well as his enduring human values.
Joan J. Guinovart (1947–2024) was an internationally recognised leader in the field of carbohydrate metabolism, diabetes, and Lafora disease, and a mentor to generations of scientists now shaping biomedical research worldwide. After an illustrious academic career in Barcelona and abroad, he founded the Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona) in 2005 and led it until 2018, establishing a centre that today stands as a global reference in biomedical research. His scientific excellence was acknowledged with numerous distinctions, including the Creu de Sant Jordi and the Narcís Monturiol Medal.
Beyond his scientific accomplishments, Joan was a visionary advocate for bringing science closer to society. He championed innovative outreach initiatives such as Crazy About Biomedicine, encouraged new generations to pursue research vocations, and demonstrated that excellence could be paired with creativity, humour, and generosity. His legacy lives on in the thousands of people he inspired, the institute he built, and the scientific community he helped shape—always with profound kindness, respect, and humanity.
