Lluís Cordón Barris joins the International Projects Office at the ICMM

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At the ICMM, we have a new member of the International Projects Office with significant experience in grant applications, Lluís Cordón. A runner and sports enthusiast, this Catalan tells us something he enjoys doing when he visits his hometown: "A hot coffee while taking in the winter sunshine on the Costa Brava".

Where do you come from?

I come from a small town on the Costa Brava called Cruïlles. I studied my bachelor’s degree in Girona and completed my PhD in Barcelona. My scientific career has since taken me from Belgium to Los Angeles (USA), and finally to Madrid, where I’ve been based since 2021. There, I carried out my latest research stage at the Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas (CNIO) while also enjoying the Madrid countryside.

What have you worked on so far?

My background is in neuroscience, where I’ve been fascinated by how brain plasticity evolves from development to disease. Over the years, I’ve worked across several international institutions with the goal of addressing unmet clinical needs in neurological disorders and helping to ease the burden for patients and their families.

What will you work on? With whom?

At ICMM, I’ll be working alongside Belén Illana to support researchers in attracting and managing international grants, helping them to launch or further develop their excellent research lines.

Why ICMM?

I chose ICMM because it is an internationally recognized center that has recently earned the Severo Ochoa accreditation and established the International Projects Office, led by Belén Illana, with solid experience in international projects. As a researcher, I experienced firsthand the challenges of grant applications and project implementation, so now, from this side, I hope to bring that experience to guide and support colleagues through these procedures. Together with Belén and the direction crew, my goal is to make grant implementation smoother and help foster the excellent research being carried out across ICMM groups.

And a personal touch: any hobbies? What would you like to contribute to the institute?

Outside of work, I love outdoor sports, especially long-distance mountain running. Aside, one of my favorite moments is sipping a hot coffee while taking in the winter sunshine on the Costa Brava. I’d like to contribute to the researcher's projects by supporting them in the implementation of their research grants, so they can focus fully on their science.