The activities have taken place in different spaces at the Born Centre de Cultura i Memòria, with audiences of all ages participating.

Research woven with the community

Throughout the weekend, the project Teixim Recerca - Fils per Transformar has given voice to the Vall d’Hebron Parkinson Community of Practice. This initiative, launched in 2025, connects people with Parkinson’s, family members, professionals, and citizens to share experiences and define priorities in research and the healthcare system.

The result is an art exhibition that calls for a more human-centered view of the disease, highlighting the importance of emotional, social, and physical well-being, as well as the need to overcome structural barriers in healthcare.

Workshops to discover science firsthand

On Saturday, April 18, the Espai Salut hosted three participatory activities:

• Discover the Magical Science of Hydrogels

A sensory workshop for children aged 6 to 14 that explored how these materials can improve drug delivery and open new avenues in cancer treatment or tissue regeneration.

Led by the team from the Clinical Biochemistry, Drug Delivery and Therapy Group at VHIR: Diana Fernandes (principal investigator), Magalí Sureda (researcher), Giacomoluciano Vitelli and Júlia German (PhD researchers), with the collaboration of Fernanda Andrade (researcher from the Drug Targeting and Release Group, VHIR).

• Mission NanoAgents: The journey of a nanoparticle

Using a board game, participants became nanoparticles that had to overcome biological barriers to reach a brain tumor, thereby discovering the potential of nanotechnology in medicine.

Led by the team from the Clinical Biochemistry, Drug Delivery and Therapy Group at VHIR: Diana Fernandes (principal investigator), Magalí Sureda (researcher), Giacomoluciano Vitelli and Júlia German (PhD researchers), Belén Garcia (research technician), and Andrea Dorado (researcher), with the collaboration of Fernanda Andrade (researcher from the Drug Targeting and Release Group, VHIR).

• Do we treat men and women equally in healthcare?

This participatory activity invited reflection on gender inequalities in research and healthcare through case studies and group debate.

Led by: Gemma Parramon Puig (principal investigator of the Psychiatry, Mental Health and Addictions group at VHIR), Lina Fernanda Camacho (clinical pharmacology research technician at VHIR), and María Larrosa García (principal investigator of the Basic, Translational and Clinical Pharmacy research group).

On Sunday, April 19, at the Espai Neurociència, the following took place:

• Inside the brain with migraine

Through games and interactive dynamics, participants gained a better understanding of this neurological condition and helped demystify its impact.

Led by the Headache and Neurological Pain Group at VHIR: Víctor Gallardo and Marta Vila (principal investigators), Otilia Gliga (PhD researcher), Daniel Lliboutry, Júlia Oliver, and Fernanda Belle (researchers).