2026 will be a very special year for VHIO and the people who are part of the institution. Founded in 2006 based on the pioneering vision of Dr. Josep Baselga, who sought to integrate biomedical research with clinical practice to bring science closer to the patient, and later led by Dr. Josep Tabernero, over these two decades VHIO has become an international reference center in oncology and precision medicine.
To commemorate these 20 years of achievements, VHIO will launch a series of initiatives throughout 2026 to highlight the path taken, the real impact of research advancements in the lives of cancer patients, and to reflect on how to address the challenges and opportunities that will define the future of cancer research.
These initiatives will be featured on a dedicated 20th anniversary website, which will serve as the hub for sharing the celebration’s activities and content.
20 Years, 42 Voices
The success of VHIO’s model is due to the people who are part of it. A dozen people in 2006, more than 800 professionals in 2026. All of them are committed to the VHIO mission of driving high-quality preclinical and clinical translational research to advance cancer knowledge, improve prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment, and translate these advances into clinical practice to directly benefit patients.
For this reason, the anniversary celebration focuses on the people who have been part of VHIO during these two decades or who have been closely linked to the institution’s history.
This spirit is reflected in the video series “20 Years, 42 Voices“, which captures the testimonies of 42 individuals who, from different fields, have been part of the institute’s history and have made a significant contribution to building the VHIO we know today. The videos will be released on the VHIO 20th Anniversary website throughout the year.
A Participatory Celebration
The VHIO 20th Anniversary website will also have a space for professionals and friends of VHIO to share anecdotes or visual content such as photos and videos to contribute to the memory wall, which will collect experiences, emotions, and significant moments.
There will also be a quiz to discover how much you know about VHIO.
A Year of Surprises
Throughout 2026, the VHIO 20th Anniversary website will be the main reference for following the celebration. New activities, content, and surprises will be added throughout the year. There, you will be able to access special podcast episodes with journalist Adam Martin and watch the 5 special VHIO Talks that will be held in 2026 at La Pedrera in Barcelona.
Through its blog, you can follow all the initiatives and discover special proposals like a quiz about VHIO, a journey through how the institute has evolved over these 20 years, and a look at the challenges that will shape the future of oncology and the institution. Don’t miss it!
