The founder and first director of the Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), Joan Guinovart, passed away early Wednesday morning, as reported by the institute.
Born in Tarragona in 1947, he was the director of the IRB from its foundation in 2005 until 2018, and then continued to be associated with it as professor emeritus, representing and advising the institute.
He held a bachelor's degree in Chemistry and Pharmacy (1969) from the UB, where he obtained his Ph.D. in Biochemistry (1973). He was a specialist in Clinical Biochemistry and Clinical Analysis, and he worked during his postdoctoral stage in the Department of Pharmacology at the University of Virginia (1974-75).
In 2015, he was appointed president of biochemists from around the world in the International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (IUBMB), which brings together molecular biologists and biochemists from 77 countries.
He was also president of the Spanish Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (SEBBM), meetings counselor, and member of the Executive Committee of the Federation of European Biochemical Societies (FEBS), and the first president of the Confederation of Scientific Societies of Spain (COSCE).
He was a full academician of the Royal National Academy of Pharmacy (Institute of Spain) and of the Reial Acadèmia de Farmàcia de Catalunya, a member of the Institut d'Estudis Catalans (IEC), and of the Academia Europaea.
Key figure in biochemistry
She received the Narcís Monturiol Medal from the Generalitat de Catalunya, the Prat de la Riba Award from the IEC, the Diploma of Honor from the FEBS, and the Creu de Sant Jordi from the Generalitat, among other distinctions.
“He has been a key figure in the field of biochemistry, leaving an indelible mark both in scientific and management terms,” as stated by the IRB.
He added that “her intelligence, leadership, and profound humanism have been crucial” for her colleagues.