VHIR is a public sector institution that promotes and develops innovative biomedical research and was created in 1994 to serve and support the research of University Hospital Vall d’Hebron (HUVH). HUVH, the leading hospital complex in Catalonia, is one of the largest in Spain with more than 1400 beds and a team of around 7,000 professionals. It is structured into three main healthcare areas (General, Mother and Child, and Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation) and encompasses practically all medical and surgical specialities and the necessary forms of healthcare to cover them, including clinical services and clinical support units, university, educational centres, public health service companies, research centres, laboratories and other installations to round out its activities in healthcare.

VHIR is oriented towards undertaking high quality and competitive research at international level in the field of health and life sciences, more particularly in the areas of basic, clinical, epidemiological, economic and health care services in order to favour the transfer of knowledge allowing a better diagnosis, treatment and prevention of the health problems of our society.

More than 1,300 people work at VHIR, out of which over 1,200 do research and around 100 persons provide support in research and its transfer to the society, whether achieved by projects, technology transfer and innovation, communication or fundraising.