Mamapop continues to strengthen its commitment to breast cancer research in Tarragona and this Tuesday donated a total of €30,150 to the Institut de Recerca Biomèdica Catalunya Sud (IRB CatSud). This amount comes from the profits generated by the concert held last November at the Palau Firal i de Congressos de Tarragona, plus €3,000 raised by Rotary Tarragona through the sale of the Cartes de Tarragona and the Tarratea activity.
Overall, Mamapop’s contribution to IRB CatSud throughout the three editions held in Tarragona has reached €84,725, an amount entirely dedicated to breast cancer research. Manel Simon, director and founder of Mamapop, thanked the public for their support and stated that “this new donation once again demonstrates the ability of music to become research and future opportunities”. He also highlighted that “this contribution strengthens the network of support that makes the project possible”.
Dr Joan Vendrell, director of IRB CatSud, expressed his gratitude for the commitment and efforts of the entire team behind Mamapop and stressed that research advances when society and institutions work together. In this regard, he explained that “the history of this charity project is a clear example of collective commitment to health, biomedical research and the Catalunya Sud territory, a commitment that has enabled us to launch a breast cancer research line that, unfortunately, addresses a disease with a high incidence in our society”.
The donation ceremony took place this Tuesday at Tarragona City Hall and was attended by the city’s mayor, Rubén Viñuales, who stated that “Tarragona is very proud to host and support a project that brings together so many people, organisations and companies around such an important cause. The public response once again shows that we are a supportive and committed city, capable of facing society’s major challenges together”.
He added: “Research is essential to make progress in prevention, treatments and the quality of life of patients. For this reason, Tarragona City Council will continue to support Mamapop, IRB CatSud and all initiatives that help make our region a benchmark in research, innovation and health.”
The event also served to present the theme of the next edition of the charity concert, which will premiere on 14 November 2026 at 8:00 p.m. at the Palau Firal i de Congressos de Tarragona. Mamapop will take another step forward with its eleventh show: Mamapop Disco Remember!, a spectacular journey through the greatest disco and dance hits that have marked several generations. The new production will feature a selection of iconic songs that will turn the theatre into a huge dance floor. Audiences will be able to relive hits by Boney M, Kool & The Gang, Earth, Wind & Fire, Chic, Madonna, The Jacksons, Wham!, Cyndi Lauper, George Michael, A-ha, Kylie Minogue, Lionel Richie & Diana Ross and Jennifer Rush, among many other artists who are part of our shared musical memory.
The new production will maintain the artistic and quality standards that have made Mamapop one of the leading charity initiatives, combining live music, stage design, audiovisual elements and a renewed production in support of a cause that continues to mobilise thousands of people. Tickets are already on sale through www.mamapop.cat and at FarmaTarraco Pharmacy.
Since its creation, Mamapop has contributed a total of €492,695 to research at IRB Lleida and IRB CatSud, becoming the leading source of private funding for breast cancer research in Catalonia. In this regard, Manel Simon reaffirmed his commitment to bringing the show to the Tarragona area and highlighted the importance of “continuing to support scientific research”.
Mamapop Tarragona is made possible thanks to the support of Fundación Repsol, Factor Energia, Tarragona City Council, the Palau Firal i de Congressos de Tarragona, the Diputació de Tarragona, the Port of Tarragona and Fundació La Caixa. It has also received support from several companies and organisations, including Club Rotary Tarragona, Club Bàsquet Tarragona and Nàstic de Tarragona.
Tarragona hosted the 23rd Liver Sinusoid Meeting 2026 from May 22 to 26. This is one of the main international meetings in the field of liver blood vessel biology. The congress brought together around 200 researchers and clinicians from different countries and placed the city and its biomedical research ecosystem at the center of the international scientific scene.
Jordi Gracia-Sancho, a researcher at IRB CatSud and head of the Liver Research Unit, was part of the organising committee and one of the main promoters of the meeting, being also the president of the International Society for Hepatic Sinusoidal Research (ISHSR). The event also included the participation of Sonia Fernández-Veledo, co-leader of the Diabetes and Associated Metabolic Diseases research group (DIAMET), highlighting the important role of local researchers in the scientific coordination of the congress.
Over five days, participants shared the latest advances in liver vascular biology, inflammation, immunity and fibrosis, as well as new findings on liver diseases. The programme included talks by international experts, oral presentations and poster sessions, encouraging scientific discussion and new collaborations.
Within the congress, the DIAMET group from IRB CatSud had an active role with several scientific contributions. Sonia Fernández-Veledo chaired a session on stellate cell biology and fibrosis. Predoctoral researcher Laura Salmerón gave an oral presentation about how certain liver mechanisms influence immune response. Anna Marsal also presented a poster on how these mechanisms affect liver cell function and their response to nutrients.
One of the most important moments of the meeting was the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the International Society for Hepatic Sinusoidal Research (ISHSR), which reviewed 50 years of progress in this field. Key initiatives for the future were also presented, including an international agreement on the use of new experimental models in liver research.
International visibility and local impact
Beyond its scientific importance, the congress helped promote Tarragona as a city able to host large international events, combining excellent research with culture, heritage and gastronomy. The social programme included cultural activities and visits so participants could explore the region.
At the same time, the organisers promoted outreach activities through workshops in local schools, bringing biomedical research closer to students and encouraging interest in science.
This edition also created new collaborations, strengthening the role of Tarragona and IRB CatSud in international liver research.
Scientific outreach in local schools
As part of the activities before the congress, researchers from IRB CatSud, CIBER and CSIC, together with members of the Scientific Committee, organised outreach actions to bring biomedical research and liver science closer to the local community.
They held four workshops for secondary school students (3rd year ESO) from Vedruna Tarragona and La Salle Torreforta. These sessions explained the liver, health and research in a simple and interactive way.
This initiative helped increase students’ interest in science and highlighted the importance of research in understanding and treating liver diseases, while strengthening the connection between scientists and the local community. The workshops were led by researchers involved in the congress, including Jordi Gracia-Sancho, Anna Marsal, Anabel Fernández-Iglesias and Anna Moles.
The congress was supported by several institutions, including Tarragona City Council, Tarragona Provincial Council, the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, and the Government of Catalonia.
After Tarragona, the next edition of the Liver Sinusoid Meeting will take place in Tokyo in October 2028.
An escape room, medical tests and cardiopulmonary resuscitation workshops made the work of IISPV visible. The Servei d’Emergències Mèdiques Generalitat, Ajuntament de Tarragona and the Markets of Tarragona joined the initiative held in the city centre.
Around 450 people took part this Saturday, 22 November, in the city centre of Tarragona in the event ‘La recerca en salut surt al carrer’, organised by Institut d’Investigació Sanitària Pere Virgili (IISPV) as part of its 20th anniversary. Throughout the morning, dozens of people participated continuously in the activities, which were open to everyone. The main goal was to bring citizens closer to the work carried out by the Institute in the region.
Plaça Corsini and the Mercat Central became a large laboratory and a space for scientific outreach, where activities —an escape room, medical tests and resuscitation workshops with a visit to an ambulance— attracted people of all ages.
The escape room ‘Investigate and… help us!’ caught the attention of about 70 people. The medical tests ‘Here we take care of you!’, located inside the Market, worked without interruption, serving up to 100 people. Participants underwent early screenings for diabetes and prediabetes, blood pressure measurements to assess cardiovascular risk, and body composition analysis tests.
As for the cardiopulmonary resuscitation workshops ‘Get motivated and resuscitate!’, they involved professionals from IISPV and the Servei d’Emergències Mèdiques (SEM) of the Generalitat, who carried out simulations with mannequins in the square, teaching how to identify a cardiac arrest and perform intervention manoeuvres. In addition, citizens had the chance to see an SEM ambulance up close, which was displayed in the same square. Around 280 people took part in this activity.
The organisation of the event was supported by the SEM of Generalitat, the Ajuntament de Tarragona and the Mercats de Tarragona.
Next Saturday, November 22, the Institute will hold the event ‘La recerca en salut surt al carrer’, which includes an escape room, medical tests, CPR workshops, and a demonstration of how an ambulance works.
The Institut d’Investigació Sanitària Pere Virgili (IISPV) will organize the fun event ‘La recerca en salut surt al carrer’ on Saturday morning, November 22, in the center of Tarragona. This initiative is part of the celebrations for the Institute’s 20th anniversary. It was already held in Reus last October and was very well received, with more than 500 people taking part in the activities. Now, IISPV brings the event to Tarragona, specifically to Plaça Corsini and the Mercat Central. Activities will include an escape room about the Institute, non-invasive medical tests, CPR workshops with mannequins, and a demonstration of how an ambulance works. All activities are free, but participants must register in advance on the IISPV website to join the escape room.
The event is organized in collaboration with the Tarragona City Council, Tarragona Markets, and the Servei d’Emergències Mèdiques (SEM) of the Generalitat. Its goal is to help citizens learn more about the work of this biomedical research institute, which has been operating in southern Catalonia for 20 years. The activities planned are:
Escape room ‘Investiga… I ajuda’ns!’
Four groups of five people will help IISPV stop an attack that aims to sabotage the work of its researchers. Each group will face different challenges to protect the four research areas of IISPV: metabolism and nutrition, oncology, mental health and neurosciences, and infection, immunity and environment. The activity lasts about 45 minutes and requires prior registration. It will take place at Tarragona Espai Comerç”, and the meeting point is the entrance to the Central Market on Cristòfor Colom Street. Time slots are: 10:30, 11:30 and 12:30.
Medical tests ‘Aquí et cuidem!’
Throughout the morning, the interior of Tarragona’s Central Market will host several non-invasive medical tests, available to anyone interested:
Workshops ‘Anima’t i reanima!’
All morning long, Plaça Corsini will host the ‘Anima’t i reanima!’ workshops, led by professionals from IISPV and SEM. Using mannequins, participants will learn how to identify a cardiac arrest and how to perform CPR. They will also get to see how an ambulance works, with one on display in the square.