La Fe Health Research Institute inaugurates a supercomputing centre to boost health research and AI-based diagnosis

La Fe Health Research Institute has inaugurated a new High-Performance Computing (HPC) Data Processing Centre (DPC), a strategic infrastructure that will optimise the analysis of large volumes of medical images and clinical data in the field of biomedical research.

This technological platform is key to the development of advanced artificial intelligence models aimed at accelerating disease diagnosis and improving accuracy in the interpretation of medical images, promoting more personalised and efficient medicine.

The design and operation of this Centre are aligned with the health data governance model of the Valencian Community, ensuring security, interoperability and full regulatory compliance. This infrastructure is integrated into the corporate digital strategy of the Regional Ministry of Health and will retain the necessary capacity to adapt to future strategic guidelines, contributing to the responsible development of digital health, advanced analytics and artificial intelligence.

The project has been driven by the Biomedical Imaging Research Group (GIBI 230) of IIS La Fe, thanks to its inclusion within Spain's Unique Scientific and Technical Infrastructures (ICTS) of the Ministry of Science and Innovation. The new DPC provides the institute with the necessary capacity to process large volumes of information quickly and securely, responding to the growing computational demands of health research, particularly in medical imaging. This centre is the most powerful facility in Spain dedicated to medical imaging research.

José Luis Poveda, Manager of the Hospital Universitari i Politècnic La Fe, explained that:
"With the launch of this supercomputing centre, Hospital La Fe and IIS La Fe strengthen their leadership in cutting-edge biomedical research. This infrastructure not only optimises diagnostic processes but also enables progress towards more personalised and effective treatments. The interdisciplinary collaboration fostered by this centre opens new opportunities for innovation in the field of medicine, improving quality of care and reinforcing our commitment to excellence and applied research."

A technological leap for biomedical research

The analysis of complex medical images - such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) - requires infrastructures capable of managing large volumes of information. The new IIS La Fe DPC is based on supercomputing technologies with graphics processing units (GPUs), significantly reducing processing times, optimising the segmentation of organs and lesions, classifying lesion phenotypes, and thereby increasing diagnostic accuracy.

This computing power positions IIS La Fe as a benchmark institution for the development and validation of artificial intelligence algorithms applied to healthcare, with a direct impact on both research and clinical practice.

According to Luis Martí-Bonmatí, project director,
"This infrastructure enables the application of artificial intelligence models capable of detecting patterns in medical images with unprecedented precision. These capabilities not only facilitate the work of healthcare professionals but also contribute to improving treatments tailored to each patient."

Training, cooperation and knowledge generation

In addition to its scientific impact, the new centre will serve as a training platform for researchers and students, who will acquire advanced skills in supercomputing applied to biomedicine and biomedical engineering. The infrastructure will foster interdisciplinary cooperation among specialists in artificial intelligence, bioinformatics and data science, promoting experimentation with new computational models and the generation of knowledge transferable to the healthcare system.

With the inauguration of this supercomputing centre, IIS La Fe reinforces its commitment to technological innovation and excellence in research, placing advanced medical image analysis and artificial intelligence at the service of better patient care.

Investment and institutional collaboration

The initiative has had a budget of over €697,000, funded by the Regional Ministry of Innovation, Universities, Science and Digital Society, and the Regional Ministry of Education, Culture, Universities and Employment. The project has also received support from the Regional Ministry of Health through the Directorate-General for Research.

The new DPC is a fully equipped research environment, including design, supply, installation and commissioning of all necessary operational requirements, opening up new opportunities for collaboration with hospitals, research centres and universities, and facilitating access to this unique supercomputing technology.