The Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute (IJC) has welcomed a high-level delegation from the Institute of Hematology & Blood Diseases Hospital (IHCAMS), part of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, one of the world’s leading centres in haematology. The visit marked the formal signing of a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at strengthening scientific cooperation and accelerating the development of curative therapies for patients with blood cancers.

The partnership will focus on developing joint translational research programmes that build on the complementary scientific expertise of both institutions across key areas of blood cancer research. Collaborative efforts will address critical challenges in the field, including the biology of blood cancer stem cells, mechanisms of therapeutic resistance, the development of next-generation immunotherapies and precision treatment strategies. By integrating strengths in clinical investigation, disease modelling, advanced profiling technologies and data-driven medicine, the two institutions aim to accelerate the identification of new therapeutic targets and the translation of innovative discoveries into improved patient outcomes.

“For patients, scientific collaboration is not abstract — it directly influences how quickly new treatments can reach the clinic. By working together with IHCAMS, we are creating a strong international research environment that can generate new knowledge, validate innovative therapies and ultimately improve outcomes for people affected by blood cancers,” said Dr Ari Melnick, Director of the Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute.

Planned collaborative activities include the establishment of joint research laboratories, the development of shared disease-profiling platforms and the implementation of investigator-initiated multicentre clinical trials. These initiatives will enable researchers to validate biomarkers and therapeutic strategies across diverse patient populations and accelerate the translation of scientific discoveries into innovative treatments.

The agreement also opens new opportunities for joint training programmes, scientific mobility and international funding initiatives, contributing to the creation of a global research ecosystem dedicated to improving outcomes for patients with leukaemia, lymphoma and other blood disorders.

The Memorandum of Understanding was signed on Wednesday, 25 March, during an institutional ceremony attended by Carme Pérez, from the Directorate General for Health Research and Innovation at the Catalan Department of Health, and Antoni Garcia, Managing Director of the Josep Carreras International Foundation. Dr Ari Melnick, Director of the Josep Carreras Institute, and Prof Tao Cheng, President of IHCAMS and Director of the National Key Laboratory of Blood Science, presented the strategic vision of their institutions and highlighted the importance of international collaboration to achieve transformative advances in blood cancer research. During his presentation, Prof Cheng highlighted the excellence of the IJC’s research: “we did observe the excellence that is being carried out by all you here by a relatively young institute. I congratulate you all on the work you have done over the past 15 years”. He also emphasized the importance of international collaboration. “Our science and technology have grown rapidly in the recent year, but I am convinced international collaboration and engagement are essential. Today, I have showcased some of our research, our patient-centre oriented studies, our excellence, and most importantly, our infrastructure. You are more than welcomed to be involved”.

During their visit, the IHCAMS delegation met with IJC researchers to explore specific areas of collaboration and visited key facilities including the Barcelona Blood and Tissue Bank and the Institute’s new research location at the Sant Joan de Déu Hospital, focused on paediatric leukaemia. These interactions provided an opportunity to discuss future joint projects in precision medicine, advanced disease profiling and clinical trial development.

Through this alliance, the Josep Carreras Institute continues to strengthen its international partnerships and expand its capacity to deliver scientific breakthroughs that bring the field closer to a future free of blood cancers.