The local RaDAR project event brought together healthcare professionals, public health authorities, innovators, and technology companies to share experiences in rapid diagnostics, epidemiological surveillance, and healthcare transformation.
On 19 June 2026, the Marull Auditorium at Hospital del Mar in Barcelona hosted the local event of the RaDAR project, entitled “From Rapid Diagnosis to Clinical Action: New Models for Addressing Antimicrobial Resistance.” The event brought together healthcare professionals, institutional representatives, innovation experts, and technology companies to exchange experiences and discuss new strategies for tackling one of the most pressing public health challenges of our time: antimicrobial resistance.
Organised by the Agency for Health Quality and Assessment of Catalonia (AQuAS), the event formed part of the European RaDAR project, an initiative aimed at promoting the adoption of innovative solutions to improve early infection detection, epidemiological surveillance, and clinical decision-making.
In order to promote the various RaDAR solutions to the maximum number of hospitals possible, the event was held both in person, with 55 attendees, and online, with 110 attendees.
A shared commitment to healthcare innovation
The event was hosted by Olman Elizondo, Manager of Innovation and Strategic Foresight at AQuAS. Opening remarks were delivered by Jacobo Mendioroz, Deputy Director General for Surveillance and Public Health Emergency Response at the Public Health Agency of Catalonia, and Toni Gilabert, Director of Innovation at Hospital del Mar, who highlighted the importance of strengthening collaboration between healthcare institutions, public administrations, and innovative companies to address the growing threat posed by antimicrobial resistance.
The opening session continued with a presentation by Ramon Maspons, Director of Innovation and Strategic Foresight at AQuAS and Strategic Director of the Innovation and Transformation Commission of the Catalan Ministry of Health, who introduced AQuAS’s role in fostering healthcare innovation. Maria Pons-Vizcarra, Health Innovation Project Manager at AQuAS and Coordinator of the RaDAR-PPI project, subsequently presented the objectives, activities, and expected impact of the RaDAR initiative.
Innovative solutions for hospital outbreak detection
The first thematic session focused on hospital outbreak detection and control. Ana Álvarez and Òscar M. Piera from the Catalan Institute of Oncology (ICO) presented their organisation’s approach to outbreak monitoring and management.
This was followed by presentations from Eduardo Padilla, Head of Service and Coordinator of the LRC/dibi Public Network of Microbiology Laboratories, and Maria Milagro Montero, Head of Section of the Infectious Diseases Department and Coordinator of the Infection Control Programme at Hospital del Mar. Their contributions explored innovative strategies for strengthening microbiological surveillance and improving responses to healthcare-associated outbreaks.
The session concluded with a roundtable discussion on the surveillance, prevention, and control of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), moderated by Ana Álvarez. Participants included Francesc Güell (Cepheid), Silvio Sunyer (Informàtica Mèdica), Maria Milagro Montero (Hospital del Mar), Bonaventura Ruiz (LRC/dibi Public Diagnostic Network), and Sara Herranz (Bellvitge University Hospital). The discussion highlighted the value of combining rapid diagnostic technologies, integrated information systems, and multidisciplinary collaboration to enhance infection prevention and control.
New approaches to sepsis management
The second part of the event focused on the challenges associated with sepsis management in critically ill and onco-haematological patients. Ana Álvarez and Òscar M. Piera presented the ICO’s innovative solution aimed at improving the early detection and management of sepsis in vulnerable patient populations.
A multidisciplinary roundtable moderated by Juan Pablo Horcajada, Head of the Infectious Diseases Department at Hospital del Mar, explored the management of sepsis and bloodstream infections from diagnosis to clinical decision-making. The panel featured Maria Ángeles Domínguez, Head of the Microbiology Department at Bellvitge University Hospital; Mapi Gracia Arnillas, Head of Section of the Intensive Care Unit at Hospital del Mar; Marc Martínez, Infectious Diseases Specialist at Durviz; and Juan Pablo Horcajada himself. Participants discussed the importance of close collaboration between microbiology laboratories, infectious disease specialists, intensive care teams, and technology providers to improve patient outcomes.
Preparing healthcare systems for future innovations
The final session broadened the discussion to the wider impact of innovation on healthcare systems. Maria Bretones delivered a keynote presentation on the integration of artificial intelligence into national healthcare systems, highlighting the opportunities these technologies offer to improve efficiency, predictive capabilities, and clinical decision support.
The discussion then shifted to the challenge of scaling innovation across healthcare systems. Assumpta Ricart, Manager of Integrated Healthcare Processes at the Catalan Health Service (CatSalut), shared insights into the conditions required to successfully implement and expand innovative solutions within the Catalan healthcare ecosystem.
The event concluded with closing remarks from Rossana Alessandrello on behalf of AQuAS.
Building the future of healthcare through collaboration
The event underscored the importance of creating opportunities for dialogue among healthcare professionals, policymakers, researchers, and industry stakeholders. Such initiatives play a key role in fostering knowledge exchange, identifying shared challenges, and accelerating the adoption of innovative solutions.
Through events such as this, the RaDAR project continues to support the development and implementation of innovative approaches to tackle antimicrobial resistance, contributing to more effective healthcare delivery and strengthening the sustainability of healthcare systems across Europe.
