History

Although the importance of three of his main collaborators, Doctors Manuel Ballester Boix, Josep Castells Guardiola and Fèlix Serratosa Palet would not be lawful to undertake the writing of this brief historical review of the Centre for Research and Development (CID) without alluded to, essentially, the main reference of the same story : the Doctor Josep Pascual Vila (1895-1979).

Professor Josep Pascual Vila was born in Mataró (Barcelona) in 1895. He completed his Ph.D. in Chemistry in 1922 from the University of Barcelona under the supervision of Professor Antonio Garcia Banús. Later, in the years 1922-1923, he completed his research training with Professor H. Wieland in Freiburg (Germany) where he worked with bile acids, subject reported that, in 1927, the esteemed Nobel Prize. Also, during this intensive period, Josep Pascual learns organic microanalysis techniques with Professor F. Pregl in Graz (Austria). This technique, known in Spain at the time, was built by Professor Pascual Vila everyday affair in his laboratory.

The professor's teaching career began in 1919 Pascual Vila as an assistant in Organic Chemistry at the University of Barcelona. In 1922 he became Professor of Organic Chemistry at the Faculty of the University of Salamanca in 1925 and moved in the same chair at the University of Seville. In 1934 it was recovered from the Autonomous University of Barcelona to take the Chair of Technique Chemical. Finally, in 1941 he held the Chair of Organic Chemistry at the University of Barcelona, where he remained until retirement of the university in 1967.

Meanwhile, the cooperation of Professor Josep Pascual Vila, in the context of the Higher Council for Scientific Research (CSIC), allowed him to create, within the Chair of Organic Chemistry at the University of Barcelona, the Section of Chemistry Organic Institute Board of Alonso Barba of the Patronato Alfonso El Sabio (CSIC), in 1952, transformed into the Department of Chemistry. Also, the 1944 boots, also under the direction of Professor Pascual Vila, the Technological Research Institute of CSIC and Barcelona sponsored by the Provincial Government of Barcelona.

Already in 1955, establishing an office in Barcelona Board of CSIC Juan de la Cierva, which Professor Pascual town is named president. The aforementioned Department of Organic Chemistry at the Institute of Alonso Barba, which emphasized its focus on basic research because of its origins university was included mainly for economic reasons, in 1961 the Board of Juan la Cierva dedicated to applied research. In 1967, all of the Department of Organic Chemistry, CSIC moved to the University Center for Research and Development (CID - CSIC) and the district of Pedralbes Barcelona Institute of Organic Chemistry under the direction of Professor Pascual Vila begins its voyage.

CHAIR OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY. UNIVERSITY OF BARCELONA

The location of the laboratories of the School of Chemistry in Barcelona until 1967 he was the Chair of Organic Chemistry at the University of Barcelona In the historic building. As usual then, the material was scarce and there were no essential safety measures. However, these shortcomings were offset by a calm and supportive work environment encouraged at all times, by Professor Pascual Vila. At this time, the characteristics of research were based on the treatment for crystallization of solids and the distillation of liquids that are then subjected to analytical techniques available that until 1962 had its base in organic microanalysis, UV and IR.

As reported in the yearbook Achema (1968-1970), the Center for Research and Development (CID) was founded in 1967 and is located in the district of Pedralbes in Barcelona in two interconnected buildings with an area of 1600 m2. A conference room is filled to the intercom. The body of researchers Trustees Juan de la Cierva (CSIC) under the direction of Professor Pascual town was transformed into 9 Ph.D. Director of Research, 15 collaborators Ph.D. scientists, 17 technicians research and approximately 25-30 Ph.D. students, while 10 administrative.

So now, in 1968 the CID included:

- The Institute of Organic Chemistry
- The Research Institute for Textile and Leather Technology
- The Department of Pharmacology

and was devoted mainly to basic research on the above topics. Also, the program also post graduate training through advanced courses, some in collaboration with the Faculty of the University of Barcelona as well as various technical organizations. The collaboration with industry was also one of its main objectives.

It is worth mentioning that in 1970, a high resolution mass spectrometer MS9, one of the first instruments of this type in Spain, installed • Lava Institute of Organic Chemistry. This technique, which is incorporated in the National Mass Spectrometry Service, under the supervision of Dr. Jose Rivera, an expert trained in France, greatly increased the analytical potential of the Institute while facilitating the beginning of new research in the field of environmental chemistry.

CID THE INSTITUTE AS OFFICIAL SINGLE

The aforementioned administrative organization survived until 1986. This year, the two schools, along with the Institute of Chemical Technology Textile joined the Research and Development Center (DIC). Also, this new center was assigned to the staff members of the Institute of Biology and Department of Pharmacology, was working in the same facility.

From the point of view of purely scientific aspects, it was easy to identify three well defined areas of research : Chemistry, Biology and Biomedicine. After some years, in 1996, these areas were transformed into institutes, forming the following two units: the Institute of Molecular Biology (IBMB) and the Institute of Chemical and Environmental Research of Barcelona Josep Pascual Vila (IIQAB), both based in the premises of the CID. In contrast, Biomedicine was established Biomedical Research Institute of Barcelona (IIBB) and make their move to the facilities of the Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, while the Cardiovascular Research Center (CIC) moved its headquarters to a freshly renovated modernist pavilions of the Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau in Barcelona.

As mentioned above, in 1996, a joint group of bioorganic theoretical and technological issues regarding chemical related to the environment, led to the creation of the Institute of Chemical and Environmental Jose Pascual Vila ' (IIQAB). During the period of operation of the IIQAB (ten years), research groups adapt their objectives to the new demands of society, even generating new working groups. As a result of these efforts, biological chemistry, environmental chemistry, ecotoxicology, Sustainable Chemistry and Chemical Technology selected items were well fortified.

Already in 2008, the CSIC approved the division of the IIQAB two new institutes : the Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA) and the Institute of Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia (IQAC), localized to continue the CID, which is added to the name of its founder : professor Josep Pascual Vila.

Therefore, and since its inception, the IDC has been the benchmark of Chemical CSIC in Catalonia and Research in Organic Chemistry, Bioorganic and Environmental community. Many college students and post docs trained in this center and occupied important positions in academic institutions (universities, CSIC) and the private sector. This goal should, without fail, to make the future of this Unit : Center for Research and Development, Josep Pascual Vila.