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.
The project is supported by the Diputació de Tarragona, which has granted funding of 100,000 euros to carry out the initiative
The Pere Virgili Health Research Institute (IISPV) — which from 2026 will become the Southern Catalonia Biomedical Research Institute (IRB CatSud) — is leading the XISS project to integrate biomedical research and social innovation. The aim of the project is to transform the province’s healthcare system by creating effective connections between biomedical research, technological innovation, and citizen participation, with a direct impact on people’s health and well‑being. This initiative is carried out with the collaboration of the Diputació de Tarragona, which has provided a grant of €100,000 to support its development.
The project has enabled the preliminary studies for the creation of the Southern Catalonia Clinical Research Unit (UiC), which will be located at Sant Joan University Hospital in Reus and coordinated together with the three health regions (Camp de Tarragona, Terres de l’Ebre, and Baix Penedès). This infrastructure will make it possible to develop advanced clinical trials, including phase I oncology studies, as well as multicentre research on cardiovascular, metabolic, infectious, and neurodegenerative diseases.
The UiC will make it easier for patients from rural or geographically dispersed areas to take part in studies, reducing inequalities and increasing access to therapeutic innovation. In addition, data interoperability and the implementation of telemedicine services will ensure equal opportunities in access to clinical trials.
The project covers 184 municipalities and 10 counties in the province of Tarragona, involving local and socioeconomic stakeholders (city councils, hospitals, primary care centres, the university, civil society, patient associations, biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, business clusters, and start‑ups).
Among the results already achieved are:
An analysis of the Spanish Clinical Studies Registry shows that the province of Tarragona has a much lower concentration of clinical trials than Barcelona (21.89 per million inhabitants compared to 114.89). The XISS project addresses this need by ensuring a more balanced distribution of resources and clinical research structures across Catalonia.
The XISS project positions itself as a national reference in translating scientific knowledge into clinical practice, promoting a healthcare system focused on people, the territory, and the reduction of social and geographical inequalities.
