The BBRC leads a project to validate Alzheimer’s biomarkers in diverse communities

Blood-based biomarkers have become a key tool for the early detection of Alzheimer’s disease and for selecting participants in prevention studies and trials. However, most studies have relied on relatively homogeneous cohorts, which limits their applicability in a diverse city like Barcelona, where cultural and geographic diversity is part of the social fabric.

In response to the lack of representation in blood biomarker research, the DIV-AD project will analyse how ethnic, social, and cultural factors influence blood biomarker levels in cognitively unimpaired individuals, with the goal of ensuring that emerging diagnostic tools are reliable across all population groups.

The project is one of 13 initiatives funded through the 5th edition of the 2025 grant call, which will allocate up to €2 million to support emerging research in the city. The initiative also seeks to strengthen collaboration between research centres, third-sector organisations, and the city’s economic and social ecosystem.

DIV-AD is designed to validate the use of blood-based biomarkers for Alzheimer’s detection in diverse populations that are often underrepresented in research. It also aims to identify barriers to accessing prevention, promoting more inclusive and equitable research. The project is led by the Barcelonaβeta Brain Research Center, in collaboration with the Pasqual Maragall Foundation, IDIAP Jordi Gol, and Pompeu Fabra University (UPF).

This is the fifth edition of the call, stemming from a collaboration agreement signed between Barcelona City Council and the ”la Caixa” Foundation. In total, nearly €2 million will be allocated to research in areas as diverse as Alzheimer’s biomarker research, the safe reuse of greywater, and the diagnosis of blood-borne pathogens, among others. The grants fall within the Science and Innovation Strategic Plan 2024–2027, which aims to foster talent and consolidate Barcelona as a leading city in scientific output.

The award ceremony took place in the Saló de Cròniques at Barcelona City Council and was chaired by the Fourth Deputy Mayor and Head of the Science and Innovation area, Jordi Valls, with participation from Àngel Fort, Deputy Director General for Research and Scholarships at the ”la Caixa” Foundation.

The DIV-AD project also has an additional source of funding that makes the planned implementation and execution of the project possible.