The IRBLleida project at the presentation of the results of the research projects funded through La Marató 2020

The La Marató Foundation of 3Cat held yesterday's 27th Social Return event on TV3 to present the results of the research projects funded through donations made by citizens during the 2020 edition, which was dedicated to COVID-19. The event was attended by David de Gonzalo, head of the Clinical and Molecular Phenotyping (CMP) research group.

That edition raised an exceptional €13,864,073, making it possible to launch La Marató's first major investment in an emerging infectious disease. COVID-19, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, had been identified only a few months earlier in the Chinese city of Wuhan and rapidly spread across the globe, becoming an unprecedented pandemic in recent history.

The funds raised, together with the extensive public awareness generated, enabled the funding of 36 research projects involving 98 research teams and 850 researchers. The aim was to advance knowledge of the disease and develop more effective tools for its diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of its devastating effects.

In the case of IRBLleida, funding was awarded to the project "A Systems Biology Approach to Understanding COVID-19 Pathophysiology and Predicting Outcomes (SISTEMA-BIO-COVID)." The project was carried out in collaboration with researcher Jesús Francisco Bermejo Martín from the Biomedical Research Institute of Salamanca Foundation (IBSAL).

Beyond its financial contribution, La Marató 2020 became a powerful demonstration of collective solidarity. Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, tens of thousands of people took part through various initiatives, including online donations and participation in solidarity events organized throughout Catalonia, all adapted to the strict public health measures in force at the time.

The event, hosted by journalist Toni Cruanyes, brought together the 98 teams that received funding in that edition, as well as representatives from the scientific community, non-profit organizations, companies, 3Cat, the Foundation and programme teams, and the general public.

The results of the projects funded through La Marató 2020 can be consulted through the reports and videos prepared by the research teams.

34 years transforming solidarity into high-impact research

Over its 34-year history, the La Marató Foundation of 3Cat has raised nearly €272 million and funded 1,084 excellence-driven research projects. This sustained investment has contributed to major scientific advances and to improving knowledge, diagnosis, and treatment of numerous diseases, establishing La Marató as a global benchmark in the funding of excellence in scientific research. A selection of these achievements can be consulted here.