FUNDACIO PRIVADA PER A LA RECERCA I LA DOCENCIA SANT JOAN DE DEU

Their core work

FSJD-CERCA is the research foundation of Sant Joan de Déu Barcelona Children's Hospital, one of Europe's leading pediatric hospitals. They conduct clinical and translational research focused on children's and adolescents' health — from rare diseases and childhood cancer to mental health, neurodevelopment, and drug development adapted for pediatric populations. Their work bridges the gap between laboratory findings and clinical practice in pediatrics, running clinical trials, building patient registries, and developing digital health tools specifically for young patients. They also coordinate European efforts to improve treatment access and health equity for children and adolescents.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In their early H2020 period (2016–2019), FSJD-CERCA focused on building pediatric research infrastructure and digital health monitoring — joining large IMI-funded consortia on drug development, remote monitoring with wearables, and establishing paediatric trial networks. From 2020 onward, their work shifted toward translational research with direct clinical impact: adolescent health conditions (PCOS, mental health), AI-driven hospital tools, cost-effectiveness analysis, and health equity in cancer diagnosis. They also moved from primarily joining consortia to coordinating their own projects, reflecting growing institutional maturity and leadership ambition.

FSJD-CERCA is moving from infrastructure-building participant toward leading translational pediatric projects that combine clinical trials, AI tools, and health economics — expect them to coordinate more projects integrating digital health with pediatric care.

How they like to work

FSJD-CERCA operates mostly as a trusted partner in large European consortia (13 of 23 projects as participant), but has grown into a coordinator role in 4 projects, all from 2018 onward. With 429 unique partners across 47 countries, they are a well-connected hub rather than a repeat-partner organization. Their frequent third-party involvement (6 projects) suggests they are often brought in for specific pediatric or clinical expertise even when not a formal consortium member — a sign that other organizations actively seek their capabilities.

Extensively networked across 47 countries with 429 unique consortium partners, making them one of the most connected pediatric research foundations in H2020. Their partnerships span Western Europe heavily but extend to Latin America (CLOSER, EquityCancer-LA), reflecting a global health equity dimension unusual for a Spanish research centre.

What sets them apart

FSJD-CERCA sits at the intersection of pediatric clinical care, translational research, and digital health — a combination few European institutions can match. Unlike university-based research groups, they are embedded in a working children's hospital, giving them direct access to patient populations and real-world clinical validation. Their growing expertise in AI for pediatrics (AICCELERATE), biophotonic brain imaging (TinyBrains), and adolescent-specific conditions (SPIOMET4HEALTH) positions them as a go-to partner for anyone developing health technologies or therapies for children and young people.

Highlights from their portfolio

• SPIOMET4HEALTH
  Their largest single grant (EUR 1.88M) as coordinator, tackling PCOS in adolescent girls — a condition affecting 10% of women worldwide, showing FSJD's ability to lead ambitious clinical research.
• c4c
  Their largest total funding (EUR 1.46M) in a flagship European network building clinical trial infrastructure specifically for children — central to their identity as a pediatric research hub.
• AICCELERATE
  Demonstrates their pivot toward AI and machine learning in hospital settings, applying smart care pathway engines to pediatric surgery and Parkinson's disease.