The Clinical Research Unit (UIC) will allow clinical trials of medicines to be carried out on patients, from the most experimental phase to the final stage when their use is authorized
The Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Universities, Juan Cruz Cigudosa, visited the facilities of the Pere Virgili Health Research Institute (IISPV), located in the Sant Joan University Hospital in Reus. The purpose of the visit was to learn about the development of the new Clinical Research Unit (UIC), a facility that will make it possible to carry out clinical trials with medicines on local patients in all phases—from phase 1, the most experimental, to phase 4, the final stage after which the medicine is approved for use. The CRU will occupy 500 m² and will be located inside the Sant Joan University Hospital in Reus. Its construction is supported by €4,300,000 in funding from the Carlos III Health Institute, the leading biomedical research organization under the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities.
During the visit, the Secretary of State was accompanied by the Government’s Deputy Representative in Tarragona, Elisabet Romero; the Mayor of Reus, Sandra Guaita; the City Councillor for Economic Promotion and Knowledge, Josep Baiges; the President of the IISPV Governing Board and Director of Health Services in Tarragona, Marta Milà; and other members of the IISPV Governing Board. Juan Cruz Cigudosa emphasized that this is an important project that will become a reference point for clinical research in southern Catalonia. He also highlighted the importance of giving hospitals across the region access to this kind of infrastructure. In addition, he pointed out that “this is one of the highest-rated projects in a national funding call worth €45 million. This new unit has received almost 10% of the total budget available in that call, which was open to projects from all over Spain.”
The Mayor of Reus, Sandra Guaita, added that “the amount of funding provided by the State shows that this is a strong project that will have a direct impact on citizens, as it will allow more equal access to medicines—something that used to happen only in large cities.” In the same vein, the Director of IISPV, Joan Vendrell, explained that “this Clinical Research Unit will serve the entire province and benefit 850,000 people, from university hospitals to regional hospitals in different health areas.” He also said: “We would even like pharmacies to help share information about the studies being carried out, so that people can learn about them and, if they wish, take part.”
Since the funding was announced in early 2025, the tendering process for the construction work has already started, and part of the necessary equipment has been ordered. In terms of staff, six people have already joined IISPV to work directly with the CRU: two data managers, one administrative staff member, one radiology technician, and two nurses. The unit is expected to be operational by the end of 2026.
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