The symposium featured several thematic sessions that explored, from complementary perspectives, key questions in fields such as neuroscience, immunology, fertility, metabolism and obesity. Presentations by experts from Yale and IDIBAPS highlighted both the latest advances in research and the challenges expected in the near future.
During the institutional welcome, Michela Bertero, Strategy Director at IDIBAPS, underlined “the importance of creating spaces for exchange like this one, which allow us to connect talent, share knowledge, and move towards more open and collaborative research.” Bertero also emphasized that the relationship with Yale “is an extraordinary opportunity to promote joint projects with high impact potential.”
Meetings, round tables, science and art to deepen Yale–IDIBAPS synergies
The symposium was part of a broader programme of activities designed to further strengthen the relationship between the two institutions. During the visit, the Yale delegation held one‑to‑one meetings with IDIBAPS researchers, enabling the exploration of shared interests and the identification of potential joint projects. A lively round table on career development in academia brought together the Yale researchers with PhD students and postdoctoral researchers to discuss professional trajectories, international mobility opportunities, and different models for career progression in research, while also reflecting on future challenges such as the impact of artificial intelligence and underscoring the continued importance of developing critical thinking and asking the right scientific questions.
The delegation also had the opportunity to visit key research and clinical facilities, including a guided tour of IDIBAPS facilities, such as the Brain Tissue Bank and the Magnetic Resonance unit, the Hospital Clínic, and the University of Barcelona. The group had also the opportunity to visit the National Museum of Art of Catalonia, expanding the exchange at the intersection of science and art.
International cooperation for impactful research
Initiatives of this kind play a key role in strengthening international scientific cooperation and generating high‑value synergies, even within a challenging geopolitical landscape. By bringing together complementary research lines and methodologies, Yale and IDIBAPS create a privileged environment to identify new collaboration opportunities, share knowledge, promote the mobility of junior researchers, and advance the development of joint projects. This first encounter lays a solid foundation for continued progress towards strategic alliances that enhance the impact and excellence of biomedical research, as also pointed out by Michael Caplan, Chair of the Cellular and Molecular Physiology department: “The group from Yale had a wonderful visit, and we were tremendously impressed by the science and the community at IDIBAPS. We really enjoyed all of the talks and our individual interactions, and we tremendously valued the opportunity to meet with the extremely enthusiastic group of students. We very much look forward to continuing the dialog that we began during our visit and to exploring ways that we can continue to interact and collaborate”.
