The Research Institute of the Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau (HSCSP-IR) has as its mission to improve the health and quality of life of the population through the production and dissemination of scientific knowledge, the training of researchers to an international standard, innovation in health and the incorporation of medical advances in clinical practice and in healthcare policies. The HSCSP-IR is currently one of the most active research centers in Catalonia, especially in relation to translational research and the application of new discoveries to clinical practice. The research institute is one the major health sciences research centers in Spain. The institute was one the first institutions to obtain the accreditation of Instituto de Salud Carlos III.. Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, is one of the five major tertiary hospitals in Catalonia, affiliated with the Autonomous University of Barcelona. This hospital serves a primary population of more than 400,000 inhabitants of the city of Barcelona. Also, this is the tertiary center for many complex diseases in the region.