Barcelona Institute for Global Health

The Barcelona Institute for Global Health, ISGlobal, is the fruit of an innovative alliance between the “la Caixa” Foundation, academic institutions and government bodies to contribute to the efforts undertaken by the international community to address the challenges in global health.

ISGlobal is a consolidated hub of excellence in research that has grown out of work first started in the world of health care by the Hospital Clínic and the Parc de Salut MAR and in the academic sphere by the University of Barcelona and Pompeu Fabra University. Its working model is based on the generation of scientific knowledge and translation. Its ultimate goal is to help close the gaps in health disparities between and within different regions of the world. ISGlobal’s mission is to improve global health and promote health equity through excellence in research and the translation and application of knowledge. Its vision is to be a world-class research and translation centre working towards a world in which all people can enjoy health.

One of ISGlobal’s flagship initiatives is the Chagas Initiative, a multidisciplinary and multi-country effort to help eliminate Chagas disease as a public health problem. The initiative is rooted in decades of clinical, research and policy experience in Latin America and Europe and combines research, training, implementation and advocacy to improve access to diagnosis and treatment, particularly for vulnerable populations.

Working hand in hand with national programmes, local health systems and international partners, the Chagas Initiative contributes to the development and implementation of comprehensive care models, supports the generation of evidence for decision-making, and strengthens the capacities of healthcare professionals and researchers. It also fosters South–South and triangular cooperation and leads or participates in international platforms such as the Global Chagas Disease Coalition.

With a focus on innovation, equity and sustainability, ISGlobal’s Chagas Initiative plays a key role in advancing the goals of the WHO Roadmap for Neglected Tropical Diseases and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, bringing us closer to a world where no one is left behind because of a preventable and treatable disease.