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On Friday, 16 January 2026, the Antoni Caparrós Auditorium at the Barcelona Science Park (PCB) registered a full house as the scientific community and prominent authorities gathered for a moving tribute to Dr. Joan J. Guinovart, to celebrate his extensive legacy. The ceremony highlighted the breadth of Dr. Guinovart’s legacy, spanning scientific discovery, institutional leadership, and impact on society.
Institutional and Social Impact
The day began with a warm welcome from Drs. Margarida Corominas and Antonio Zorzano, Managing Director and Group Leader at IRB Barcelona, respectively, followed by an institutional opening by the Hon. Ms. Núria Montserrat, Minister for Research and Universities of the Government of Catalonia. The first block of the event focused on the far-reaching influence of Guinovart’s career, starting with institutional impact where Dr. Francesc Posas, Director and Group Leader at IRB Barcelona, and Dr. Andreu Mas-Colell, President of BIST, highlighted Dr. Guinovart’s role in building world-class research structures.
“Today we do not only remember a brilliant scientist, a visionary leader, and a tireless communicator. Today we affirm a way of doing things: a way of leading knowledge with humanity, of believing in young talent, and of defending science as a common good. Thank you, Joan, for all that you have given us and for all that you continue to inspire, because your legacy is not only memory—it is the future,” said the Hon. Minister Núria Montserrat.
In the words of Dr. Francesc Posas: “One of the sentences I came across in one of Joan’s statements was: ‘Life is the greatest gift.’ He said this in the context of how research and education have made it possible to double life expectancy over the course of the 20th century. To this I would add: ‘Joan, you were right—your life has been a great gift to all of us. For all these reasons, I would like to end by simply saying: thank you very much, Joan."
“Science is of no use if it remains confined to the laboratory. That is why he devoted so much energy to communication, to science outreach, and to bringing knowledge closer to young people in order to foster scientific vocations. He firmly believed that science was a collective adventure, a bridge between knowledge and people,” said Dr. Margarida Corominas.
The event continued with a discussion of his impact within Catalonia, featuring Miquel Roca, President of the Societat Econòmica Barcelonesa d’Amics del País, and Dr. Teresa Garcia-Milà, President of the Cercle d’Economia. This was followed by an analysis of his contributions to the Spanish scientific landscape provided by Dr. Antonio Ferrer Montiel, President of SEBBM, and Dr. Perla Wahnón Benarroch, President of COSCE. Finally, the session addressed his global recognition with Dr. Dario Alessi, President of the IUBMB, who emphasized Guinovart’s international standing in the biochemical community.
Scientific Legacy: Glycogen Metabolism
Following a moving video tribute and a coffee break, the focus shifted to the scientific field Guinovart helped define: glycogen metabolism. This session on the current state of research featured Dr. Kei Sakamoto, Vice Executive Director at the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, and Dr. Jordi Duran, Group Leader at the Institut Químic de Sarrià (IQS).
In his speech, Dr. Sakamoto highlighted that «Joan’s love for science was overwhelming, driven by strong passion and pure curiosity, especially for glycogen—a simple molecule capable of revealing fundamental biological truths.»
Both experts presented the latest advances in the field and demonstrated how Guinovart’s earlier work continues to inform modern metabolic research. The event concluded with the final institutional remarks provided by Dr. Antoni Plasència, Director General for Research and Innovation of the Department of Health of the Government of Catalonia, before the attendees moved to an outdoor refreshment area.
The event, chaired by Dr. Margarida Corominas, Managing Director of IRB Barcelona, and Dr. Antonio Zorzano, Group Leader at IRB Barcelona, served as a testament to a life dedicated to excellence in science and the fostering of new generations of researchers. It was a beautiful day spent with friends, family, and colleagues, resulting in a pleasant atmosphere full of gratitude toward Dr. Joan J. Guinovart for both his foundational work at the institute and his significant contributions to national and international biochemistry. With an impressive list of achievements, Dr. Joan J. Guinovart truly forms part of the soul of IRB Barcelona.
Watch the full event here:
About IRB Barcelona
The Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona) pursues a society free of disease. To this end, it conducts multidisciplinary research of excellence to cure cancer and other diseases linked to ageing. It establishes technology transfer agreements with the pharmaceutical industry and major hospitals to bring research results closer to society, and organises a range of science outreach activities to engage the public in an open dialogue. IRB Barcelona is an international centre that hosts 400 researchers and more than 30 nationalities. Recognised as a Severo Ochoa Centre of Excellence since 2011, IRB Barcelona is a CERCA centre and member of the Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST).
