The Institute of Materials Science of Barcelona (ICMAB-CSIC) researcher Juan Pellico has been awarded a grant by La Marató de 3Cat to develop the Carri-Air project, which aims to transform the treatment of pneumonia. The three-year project, which will start in early 2026, is a collaboration between ICMAB-CSIC, the Institut d’Investigació i Innovació Parc Taulí (I3PT) and the Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP).

This initiative aims to tackle pneumonia, a leading cause of global mortality, by developing inhalable nanocapsules that deliver regenerative and immunomodulatory microRNAs directly to the lungs. The approach seeks to restore immune balance, accelerate pathogen clearance, and promote lung tissue repair, offering an alternative to current treatments that often fail to address tissue damage and antimicrobial resistance.

Carri-Air will validate its therapy through in vitro, in vivo, and ex vivo studies using bacterial and viral pneumonia models, as well as patient samples. If successful, the treatment could reduce hospital stays, mechanical ventilation dependency, and complications linked to antimicrobial resistance, paving the way for future RNA-based nanomedicines.

La Marató de 3Cat is an annual solidarity programme broadcast by 3Cat (formerly known as TV3). It raises funds to support biomedical research on specific diseases and has become one of Catalonia’s most prestigious charity initiatives. The 2024 edition focused on respiratory diseases, attracting 94 research proposals which were evaluated by 93 international experts under the supervision of the Healthcare Quality and Evaluation Agency of Catalonia. Thanks to this initiative, the ICMAB and its partners have secured €398,836 to enhance the treatment of pneumonia.