In an extraordinary session held on Tuesday evening, April 29, 2025, the Royal Academy of Medicine of Catalonia officially received two new Corresponding Academics: Dr. Jordi Alberch Vié and Dr. Fernando Moraga Llop, recognizing their outstanding contributions to medical science and research.
Dr. Jordi Alberch Vié, Director of the Institute of Neurosciences at the University of Barcelona (UBNeuro), delivered a lecture titled “From Pathogenesis to New Therapeutic Approaches in Basal Ganglia Neurodegenerative Diseases.” His presentation addressed the evolution of our understanding of neurodegenerative diseases and the development of emerging therapies. In this context, Dr. Alberch emphasized the growing importance of multidisciplinary teams—now composed of physicians, physicists, and engineers—and how advanced technologies such as neuroimaging are allowing researchers to explore the brain in ways that were unimaginable until recently.
The honoree was introduced by Dr. Xavier Gasull Casanova, who highlighted Alberch’s impressive scientific trajectory—from earning his doctorate in Barcelona to carrying out pioneering research at the University of Washington and the Karolinska Institute in Sweden. These formative experiences solidified his position as a global reference in Huntington’s disease research.
After his international academic journey, Dr. Alberch returned to Barcelona, where he established his own research group—today recognized worldwide for its leadership in the study of neurodegenerative diseases.
The presiding academic noted that this appointment was more than just formal recognition: it was a tribute to a lifetime dedicated to investigating a devastating illness, achieving results that objectively shed new light on the disease and offer concrete benefits to both medicine and society.
The session also celebrated the reception of Dr. Fernando Moraga Llop, who presented his lecture “Invasive Pneumococcal Disease in Children in Barcelona: Impact of Vaccination.” He was welcomed by Dr. Pere-Joan Cardona Iglesias, in recognition of his key contributions to pediatric infectious diseases and public health.
