Today, UIC Barcelona paid tribute to Dr Jordi Cervós, first rector of the University and internationally renowned neuropathologist on the 1st anniversary of his death.

Jordi Cervós i Navarro (1930-2021), who died on 14 November 2021, at the age of 91, excelled for his extensive research career in the field of neuropathology.

The tribute ceremony, held on the UIC Barcelona Sant Cugat Campus, was attended by Dr José Vicente Lafuente as keynote speaker. The renowned professor of neurosciences at the University of the Basque Country and head of the Laboratory for Clinical and Experimental Neuroscience (LaNCE) research group retraced the scientific production focused on neuropathology of Dr Cervós.

Dr Albert Balaguer, dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, was host for the event and introduced the keynote speech given by Dr José Vicente Lafuente entitled “Neurons, glia and blood vessels. Neuropathology from the perspective of cerebral micro-circulation.” Dr Vicente Lafuente highlighted the major milestones in the investigation of micro-vascularisation of the central nervous system and the outstanding role that Dr Jordi Cervós had in the study of cerebral micro-circulation.

Following the speech, a round table discussion took place with the participation of lead figures in university and research community such as Dr Vicente Calatayud Maldonado, professor emeritus of Neurosurgery at the University of Zaragoza; Dr Lluís Giner, dean of the UIC Barcelona Faculty of Dentistry; and Dr Marian Lorente, lecturer for the Department of Medicine at the University of Barcelona. Dr Josep Eladi Baños, rector of the University of Vic-Central University of Catalonia, who was unable to attend, expressed his admiration for Dr. Cervós in a letter read by Dr. Josep Argemí. UIC Barcelona Rector Dr Alfonso Méndiz was in charge of closing the first part of the ceremony.

In the second part of the ceremony, Dr Josep Argemi, rector emeritus of the University who followed Dr Cervós as rector in 2001, donated a 1920 Reichert microscope, a model that was also used by Ramón y Cajal. The valuable piece become part of the collection of historical medical artefacts also donated by Dr Argemí and that can be seen at the Sant Cugat Campus.

The tribute to Dr Jordi Cervós ended with a coffee-colloquium on the life and work of the first UIC Barcelona rector and the inauguration of the retrospective exhibition of his work.