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Left to right: Enrique Roche, Federico Grego, María Reig, Fernando Panadero, Ivana Clemente, Boi Ruiz, Alfred Torres, Santi Vila; en primera fila, Vicens Oliver, Ma Rosa Capell, Mari Carmen Rodrigo i Katy Rey (Photo: GAEM)
 11.04.2018

The GAEM Foundation reorganises its Board of Trustees

Headquartered in the Barcelona Science Park (Parc Científic de Barcelona, PCB), the GAEM (Multiple Sclerosis Sufferers Group, Grup d’Afectats per l’Esclerosi Múltiple) Foundation is reorganising its governing bodies to include leading medical, biomedical and business figures. The changes in its Board of Trustees are designed to enhance its public image and expand its scope of action by bringing in a wider variety of expertise in biomedicine, research, the private sector and charities.

 

The Foundation’s Board of Trustees is joined by Boi Ruiz, Minister of Health in the Government of Catalonia from 2010-2016 and currently Director of the Chair of Health Management and Policies at the International University of Catalonia; Federico Grego, an expert in biomedical innovation; Enric Roche, Head of the Angiology and Cardiovascular Department at Sagrat Cor University Hospital and the General Hospital of Catalonia; Maria Reig, a businesswoman, benefactor and former Andorran politician; Santi Vila, a businessman and MS sufferer; and Ivana Clemente, CEO at Acer Computer Ibérica. The new members will join Alfred Torres, Caterina Rei, Maria Rosa Capell, Mari Carmen Rodrigo and Vicens Oliver, MS sufferers and founding trustees of the organisation. Ramon Castellví, Josefa Pascual and Núria Rius Capella have been members of the Foundation’s Board of Trustees since its establishment and will now become honorary trustees.

The GAEM Foundation is the first private non-profit set up by patients to foster biomedical innovation in the search for improved multiple sclerosis treatment. The Board of Trustees’ members have taken on the challenge of completing the change the organisation began in 2016 to expand its sphere of influence and enhance its ability to raise funds for research.

 

 

Projects underway

Directed by bioentrepreneurship expert Marta Príncep, the Foundation leads the Biomedical Projects Accelerator, a programme which drives research into new treatments, biomarkers and medical devices to improve the health and quality of life of people affected by MS. It currently has four biomedical projects underway.

As part of its awareness-raising activities, the organisation has its own scientific news and videos channel for MS sufferers (the MS Online website), a school module about the nervous system and numerous initiatives aimed at informing people about the importance of supporting research as a driver of health and wellbeing.