ISGlobal Updates its Governance Model to Strengthen Scientific and Institutional Leadership

ISGlobal has updated its governance model with the aim of strengthening the organisation’s scientific and institutional leadership. As of 1 January 2026, the Director General, Quique Bassat, will also assume the role of Scientific Director, and a new position of Deputy Director has been created, to be held by Judith Garcia-Aymerich. These changes follow the decision by Denise Naniche to step down from her role as Scientific Director at the end of 2025 and to remain affiliated with ISGlobal as a Research Professor, continuing her research activity focused on HIV in low- and middle-income countries.

A new model aligned with the regulations and practices of the CERCA system

The review of the governance model responds to the institution’s evolution and to the desire to strengthen coherence between scientific strategy and institutional management. The assumption of the Scientific Directorship by the Director General is a common practice in many institutions within the CERCA system and is aligned with the new Catalan Science Law, as well as with ISGlobal’s statutes. This model allows for greater integration between scientific leadership, strategic decision-making and institutional representation, in a context marked by ISGlobal’s growth and consolidation at both national and international levels.

Within this framework, ISGlobal has created the position of Deputy Director with the aim of providing direct support to the Director General and Scientific Director and redistributing part of the functions and responsibilities previously held by the Scientific Directorate. This position will have a strategic, scientific and representative role, contributing to strengthening the institution’s coordination and leadership capacity. Judith Garcia-Aymerich has been appointed to this position as of 1 January 2026, following an evaluation and validation process by ISGlobal’s different governing and management bodies.

Judith Garcia-Aymerich holds a PhD in Medicine and has a solid background in public health and epidemiology. Her research has focused mainly on chronic respiratory diseases, multimorbidity and healthy ageing, with a strong scientific output and extensive experience in coordinating competitive national and international projects. Until now, she has served as Co-Director of the Environment and Health over the Life Course research programme, a role she will step down from in order to fully assume her new institutional responsibilities as Deputy Director.

A commitment to strong and collaborative leadership

In relation to this new phase, Quique Bassat stated that “assuming the role of Scientific Director alongside that of Director General is both a great responsibility and an opportunity to continue promoting an integrated vision of ISGlobal’s research and impact. Having Judith as Deputy Director is a guarantee of rigour, commitment and management capacity at a key moment for the institution”. 

Bassat also wished to thank Denise Naniche “for the tremendous effort involved in her work leading the Scientific Directorate, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Denise has promoted a unified vision of ISGlobal, fostering synergies among researchers, supporting the institution’s strategic development and contributing to its strengthening. We are deeply grateful for her leadership and achievements”.

For her part, Judith Garcia-Aymerich stated that “it is an honour to take on this new responsibility and to be able to contribute, from an institutional perspective, to strengthening ISGlobal. I approach this new stage with enthusiasm and a commitment to working collaboratively to continue advancing the mission of improving global health through research, training and knowledge translation”.