The Pasqual Maragall Foundation presents the research grant program Pasqual Maragall Researchers Programme

The purpose of the new Pasqual Maragall Researchers Program (PMRP) grants is to encourage the own research in Alzheimer's prevention developed at the Barcelonaβeta Brain Research Center (BBRC). Likewise, they will also support excellent research led by Spain, which will be carried out in centers all over the world, and will allow new alliances to be established that will accelerate research into neurodegenerative diseases.

This first call for PMRP research grants, which will open next September 21, has received a total allocation of €1,600,000 and €800,000 per project. It thus becomes the most important private aid program in Spain, intended specifically for research into Alzheimer's and other age-related neurodegenerative diseases.

The president of the Pasqual Maragall Foundation, Cristina Maragall, explained why this project is important for society: "we are facing a structural pandemic that currently affects, in Spain, more than 900,000 people. Together, we have the obligation to provide solutions to the great impact that this disease has not only on a health and social level, but also on a family and personal level. At the Pasqual Maragall Foundation, we are convinced that we will only get there by promoting more and better scientific research, and we are determined to enhance it both within our own center, the BBRC, and by supporting researchers and researchers from centers around the world.”

For his part, the director of the Pasqual Maragall Foundation, Arcadi Navarro, has emphasized that these new scholarships are possible "thanks to the support of all partners, donors, initiatives and solidarity companies that collaborate with the Pasqual Maragall Foundation. Their commitment is key to accelerating research into neurodegenerative diseases.”

Institutional and scientific community support

On September 14, the presentation of the PMRP scholarships took place at the Carlos III Institute in Madrid. The meeting was also attended by the Minister of Science and Innovation, Diana Morant, as well as prominent institutional representatives and the scientific community. Minister Morant has highlighted the importance of an aid program such as the Pasqual Maragall Researchers Programme: "The scholarships that we are presenting today are unique in Spain because they provide light for the almost one million people who suffer from the disease in our country, as well as for 4 million who will suffer from it in the next 50 years”. Minister Morant, who has recalled that "the solution to Alzheimer's can only come from the hand of science", has shown her gratitude to the Maragall family and the people who work at the Pasqual Maragall Foundation for offering "a great legacy of hope for future generations in Spain".

In this sense, Cristina Maragall added that the PMRP is a key program for the Foundation: "Today we are taking a big step with the desire to achieve new advances. The launch of this call will allow the important contributions of our social base to be used for research of excellence and thus to continue working to make my father's goal come true: 'achieve a world without Alzheimer's'. Therefore, it is an honor to bear his name as a tribute to his commitment in the fight against this disease.” Arcadi Navarro highlighted the innovative spirit of this programme: "The Pasqual Maragall Researchers Program is committed to expand scientific knowledge on Alzheimer's, they are also committed to research of excellence, the consolidation of scientific vocations and the attraction and retention of talent to our research system. But they are, especially, a bet to achieve aging with health and fullness in a future without Alzheimer's”.

Open call

In the first call for the program, projects can be presented from next September 21 to October 27 this year. An evaluation committee will analyze the proposals received and the winners will be announced in 2023. 

The grants of the Pasqual Maragall Researchers Program are directed to individual projects led by a principal researcher, or collaborative projects (of a maximum of three groups) directed by a consortium coordinator that takes its research activity to public research bodies or non-profit in Spain.

Interested researchers can find more information on the website https://fpmaragall.org/ca/pasqual-maragall-researchers-programme/ and send their inquiries to researchgrants@fpmaragall.org. The Pasqual Maragall Foundation will also offer an informative webinar in the coming weeks for all researchers who want more information.