The Center

Research area

Àrea-de-recerca-Laboratori Pipetejant

Research area of Creatio is dedicated to the research and translation of Advanced Therapies with a focus on neurodevelopment and neurological diseases under ISO 9001:2015 standards. The research area is located in the spaces of the Department of Biomedicine in the north wing of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences of the University of Barcelona. 

The research area consists of facilities of 103 m² and include 3 culture rooms (2 of them are dedicated to the maintenance, growth, and differentiation of human stem cells, and the other is dedicated to gene manipulation). In addition, this area has 2 laboratories dedicated to research activities, a genotyping area, and a high-resolution imaging area. On the other hand, the area has spaces in the freezing and cryopreservation area of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, as well as access to the Scientific and Technological Centers of the University of Barcelona (CCiTUB), and to the platforms of the Fundació de Recerca Clínic Barcelona-Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (FRCB-IDIBAPS). 

Preclinical studies area - avantdrug

Preclinical studies area – avantdrug by Creatio is dedicated to the validation of new technologies and medicinal products in development through giving advice and carrying out regulatory studies under ISO 9001:2015 and Good Laboratory Practices (GLP), if requested. 

The 2 laboratories of the preclinical studies area – avantdrug occupy a total area of 88 m2 located at the Cluster I of the Barcelona Science Park (PCB). These spaces are divided into 1 analytical laboratory and 1 histology laboratory. Moreover, the area has an additional space for freezing and access to the PCB services and platforms, as well as, the services of the Scientific and Technological Centers of the University of Barcelona (CCiTUB) which complete the offer. 

Clinical production area

Clinical production area of Creatio is dedicated to the development, validation, and production of Advanced Therapies drugs (cell, gene and tissue engineering) for their use in clinical trials under ISO 9001:2015 and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP). The clinical production area is located in the south wing of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences of the University of Barcelona. 

With a surface of 300 m², the facilities of the clinical production area have 4 rooms (grade B) dedicated to the validation and production of cell therapy, gene therapy and tissue engineering products. In addition, the facility has 1 room (grade D) dedicated to the implementation and expansion of new procedures, 1 room (grade D) and a laboratory, both dedicated to quality control activities, as well as 2 grade warehouses D. Moreover, it has 1 cryoconservation room where the drugs are frozen in a controlled manner and stored in liquid nitrogen tanks. 

Management Area

Àrea de gestió - Reunió

Management area of Creatio acts as the backbone axis responsible for managing and promoting all the activities. Likewise, this area defines Creatio’s strategy to position the center nationally and internationally; establishes strategic alliances and looks for new collaborative opportunities, project and/or contracts with public/private entities. 

Management area includes the strategy and marketing department from which the relations with our collaborators and public and private clients are carried out, as well as the communication of the center. It also includes the quality assurance department that deals with compliance with the standards and regulations that apply in the other areas of Creatio. These two departments are complemented by the administration and direction of Creatio. 

Our numbers

300 m²

Clean room GMP/ISO

88 m²

Preclinical GLP/ISO

103 m²

Research ISO

1

3D Bioprinter - GMP

3

European projects

+ 100

Publications

Networks

Certifications

History

2001

Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Group foundation (Dr. Josep M. Canals)

2003

Member of the Spanish Cellular Therapy Network (TerCel)

2006

Obtention of the first permit to work with embryonic stem cells

2009

Acquisition of financing for the construction of clean rooms for cell production

2010

Creation of the Cell Therapy Program of the University of Barcelona (TCUB)

2013

Consolidation of the Research and Development Unit of the Cell Therapy Program

2013

Launch of Creatio, Center for the Production and Validation of Advanced Therapies of the University of Barcelona

2015

Accreditation for the development of the first viral procedure in Spain

2016

Obtention of ISO 9001 certification in the clean rooms for the production of Advanced Therapies

2018

Recognition of the TECNIO accreditation

2018

Funding from the CHDI Foundation

2019

Launch of avantdrug –preclinical studies platform

2021

Obtaining EIC Pathfinder – European project

2022

Financing to install 3D bioprinter under GMP

2023

Acquisition of the Experimental Toxicology and Ecotoxicology Platform (UTOX)

2001

Dr. Josep M. Canals became group leader of the Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine research group at the Biomedicine Department of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (Campus Clínic) of the University of Barcelona.

 

2003

Since the TerCel Network was creation in 2023, Dr. Canals’ group has been an active member, promoting and enhancing cell therapies both at the level of basic research and in the production and validation of clinical trials.

TerCel Network was created due to the initiative of eight Spanish groups, among which was the group led by Dr. Jordi Alberch (current director of the Institute of Neurosciences of the UB). The goal of the TerCel is to discover medicines based on stem cells, that improve the health of patients for their subsequent incorporation into the National Health System.

2006

The Department of Health of the Government of Catalonia granted the Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Group with a permission to work with embryonic stem cells. The certification allowed to carry out studies of neuronal differentiation for neurodegenerative diseases.

2009

Around €1.2 million was obtained for the construction of cell production rooms (Advanced Therapies). The clean rooms were built and inaugurated in 2012. Currently, these are the clean rooms of the production clinical area of Creatio.

2010

Dr. Alberch and Dr. Canals, with the participation of the Hospital Clínic, IDIBAPS, IDIBELL, and the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences of the University of Barcelona, created the Cell Therapy program of the University of Barcelona (TCUB) with the goal of promoting adult stem cell research. Dr. Canals was appointed as TCUB coordinator, and its functions are currently integrated into Creatio.

2013

To promote the translational projects of Advanced Therapies within the Cell Therapy Program (TCUB), the Research and Development Unit was created. This Unit overseed the development and accreditation of Advanced Therapies Medicines Products (ATMP). Currently, this unit is Creatio’s clinical production area.

2013

Creatio was born from the union of the Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine research group and the Advanced Therapies production rooms. The merger of both teams under one roof embedded Creatio’s strong translational ethos.

2015

The Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products (in Spanish Agencia Española de Medicamentos y Productos Sanitarios, AEMPS) accredited the withe rooms of Advanced Therapies for the first viral procedure in Spain. The accreditation allowed Creatio to participate in the development of a cellular AIDS vaccine for a led by the Hospital Clínic of Barcelona.

2016

Creatio obtains ISO 9001 accreditation, a hallmark of quality and safety for its clients and prestige in the Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMP) market. The certificate accredits that Creatio complies with current regulations in the development and/or execution of a sanitary product and/or service.

2018

ACCIÓ recognized the strong innovative and translational character of Creatio and granted it with the TECNIO award. The certification is given to entities that generate new technologies and promote their transfer to companies.

2018

CHDI Foundation (accelerating therapeutic development for Huntington’s disease), the world’s leading foundation in the search for a cure for Huntington’s neurodegenerative disease, showed permanent confidence in Creatio in recent years. In 2018, a 5-year research contract was signed with Creatio to develop a regenerative therapy for Huntington’s disease.

2019

avantdrug was consolidated to provide assays to assess neurodevelopment, neuronal activity and connectivity, as well as multicellular interactions and response of the neural network to injuries and drugs and thus be able to accelerate the translation of neurodegenerative diseases.

2021

Creatio was funded from the European Innovation Council (EIC) to coordinate the 4-Deep Brain Reconstruction (4-DBR) project. The project aimed to regenerate the brain conditions that occur in neurological disorders by combining several state-of-the-art technologies. The goal was to create a transplantable reconstructed brain for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, especially Huntington’s disease.

2022

Creatio was granted from the Ministry of Science and Innovation to install a 3D laser bioprinter in the clinical production rooms of Advanced Therapies under the Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).

2023

Creatio acquired the Experimental Toxicology and Ecotoxicology Platform (UTOX) of the Barcelona Science Park (PCB) and become part of avantdrug – preclinical studies area. Through this acquisition, Creatio expanded its offer of preclinical studies services offering support and services along the entire development of a drug.