The Pasqual Maragall Foundation for Research on Alzheimer was founded to answer publicly the commitment made by Pasqual Maragall, President of the Generalitat de Catalunya (Government of Catalonia 2003–2006) and Mayor of Barcelona (1982–1997), in October 2007, when he announced that he had been diagnosed with the disease.
Contents
The Foundation was established in April 2008, and is led by Dr. Jordi Camí, director and promoter of the Barcelona Biomedical Research Park. The Foundation promotes scientific research into the prevention and cure of Alzheimer's and related neurodegenerative diseases and aims to create a dedicated scientific research center.
Future Institute for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases
The research center is planned and directed by an international scientific council with the aim of becoming a global benchmark in the field of neuroscience. The center will host young researchers from around the world, and it will provide them with unrestricted support. The Institute will also lead interdisciplinary teams, risky projects and will be committed to cross-border research programs following the high-risk/high-reward research philosophy.
International ambition
The foundation has established contacts and partnerships with two international centers: the Lou Ruvo Brain Institute in Las Vegas, headed by Professor Zaven Khachaturian, and the Janelia Farm Research Campus at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, in Ashburn, Virginia, United States.
In order to internationalize the project, an American corporation associated with the Foundation was created in September 2008; the Friends of Pasqual Maragall Foundation. This partner aims to deploy an international scientific network and assist in raising resources.