Amancio Ortega, the billionaire founder of Inditex, which includes Zara among its brands, has pledged €60 million through his foundation to fund the construction of a cutting-edge research center at the Hospital Sant Joan de Déu in Barcelona. This center, named ‘Únicas Sant Joan de Déu’, is slated to open in early 2026 and will focus on the study and treatment of pediatric rare diseases.

State-of-the-Art Research Facility

The agreement establishes a collaboration between the Amancio Ortega Foundation and the hospital. The facility will occupy nearly 14,000 square meters on land provided by the Esplugues de Llobregat City Council, adjacent to the hospital.

According to a joint statement, the center will feature state-of-the-art facilities for genomics, metabolomics, radiomics studies, and a pediatric multimodal characterization center. It will also offer innovative therapies such as gene and cell therapy, neuromodulation, and deep brain stimulation.

Impact on Pediatric Healthcare

This project aims to advance the understanding of rare diseases through research and the application of novel therapies, crucial as 80% of rare disease cases (approximately 3 million in Spain) occur during childhood. Early diagnosis is a critical focus, as children often face delays of over three years in obtaining specific diagnoses, often requiring travel outside their communities.

Integration with Red Únicas Network

‘Únicas Sant Joan de Déu’ will be part of the Red Únicas network, comprising 30 hospitals across Spain, and driven by Sant Joan de Déu and the Spanish Federation for Rare Diseases. The network aims to facilitate information exchange and knowledge sharing in precision diagnosis and new therapies for children.

This substantial donation highlights Amancio Ortega‘s commitment to advancing pediatric healthcare and tackling rare diseases, offering hope for improved outcomes and quality of life for affected children and their families.