Barcelona, 29 April 2026 - While biomedicine generates more data today than ever before, transforming that data into actionable knowledge remains one of the field's primary challenges. To address this, IRB Barcelona, ICREA, the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya - BarcelonaTech (UPC), and the technology firm Napptilus have founded HelixAI. This new spin-off focuses on developing artificial intelligence tools designed to enhance biomedical data analysis.
The company was co-founded by Dr. Salvador Aznar Benitah , ICREA researcher at IRB Barcelona and founder of the biotech firm Ona Therapeutics; Prof. Pere Barlet , Professor in the Computer Architecture Department at UPC and founder of three other AI spin-offs; and Rafa Terradas , founder of the Barcelona-based tech lab Napptilus. The project effectively combines scientific leadership with extensive experience in technological and business development.
HelixAI operates through two complementary branches. First, it is developing an AI-driven platform for researchers and clinicians—with a particular focus on oncology—that integrates and analyzes complex biomedical data to improve diagnosis and prognosis. Second, it is launching Helix for Longevity, a consumer-facing application that estimates biological age using clinical and molecular data, providing personalized recommendations for nutrition, exercise, and sleep to promote long-term health.
A new generation of AI models to integrate biological data
In recent years, biomedical research has produced an unprecedented volume of data, ranging from transcriptomics and epigenomics to metabolomics and lipidomics. To tackle this complexity, HelixAI is developing proprietary AI based on Graph Foundation Models. This new generation of AI is capable of detecting intricate relationships across different types of biological data. Unlike other fields where AI is applied, biomedical data is often heterogeneous and limited in volume; this requires models specifically designed to operate under real-world conditions and extract reliable conclusions.
"For years, we have generated massive amounts of data in our laboratories, but we are still far from realizing its full potential. HelixAI has come about specifically to change this, enabling a more comprehensive and integrated interpretation of biology," explains Dr. Aznar Benitah , co-founder of HelixAI and ICREA researcher at IRB Barcelona.
"Artificial intelligence has advanced extraordinarily in recent years, but its application in biomedicine remains limited by the nature of the data—highly complex and high-dimensional, yet often with small sample sizes," says UPC Professor Pere Barlet . He adds: "HelixAI allows us to overcome these inherent data limitations to drive the sector's first major Graph Foundation Model, which has the potential to transform biomedical research."
IRB Barcelona’s ninth spin-off
HelixAI marks the ninth spin-off for IRB Barcelona, reinforcing the Institute’s commitment to knowledge transfer and creating social impact through fundamental research.
This is the second spin-off launched in 2026 by UPC, which has over 25 years of experience in creating technology-based companies and maintains a portfolio of more than 40 equity-held firms.
Through this new initiative, IRB Barcelona, ICREA, and UPC reaffirm their commitment to placing artificial intelligence at the heart of biomedical research, aiming to accelerate the development of new tools that contribute to improving human health.
More information about HelixAI: