On 17 May 2009, the HSCSP-IR and nine other organizations created the Sant Pau Biomedical Research Institute (IIB Sant Pau), with the aim of strengthening collaborative translational research and bridging the gap between basic research and clinical practice so as to ultimately improve patient care.

The Research Institute of the Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau (HSCSP-IR) was created on 4 June 1992 as a scientific foundation. Its mission is to promote basic, clinical, epidemiological and healthcare research in the health science and biomedical fields, with the ultimate aim of improving the health of the population.  On 10 December 2003, the Autonomous Government of Catalonia approved affiliation of the HSCSP-IR as a University Research Institute attached to the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB).
The Board of Trustees, the highest governing body of the Foundation Research Institute, is composed of the Foundation of Sanitary Management of the Hospital of the Santa Creu i Sant Pau, the Private Foundation of the Hospital of the Santa Creu i Sant Pau, the Generalitat of Catalonia, the Autonomous University of Barcelona and two personalities who hold relevant merits. in the world of research, enterprise or sciences, designated by the Board on the proposal of the Private Foundation of the Hospital of the Santa Creu i Sant Pau.

The HSCSP-IR has as its mission to improve the health and quality of life of the population through the production and dissemination of scientific knowledge, the training of researchers to an international standard, innovation in health and the incorporation of medical advances in clinical practice and in healthcare policies.

The HSCSP-IR is currently one of the most active research centres in Catalonia, especially in relation to translational research and the application of new discoveries to clinical practice. Since 2011 it has been part of the Catalan System of Research Centres (CERCA). At November of 2018, the Institute signed his adhesion at the Code of Conduct for CERCA  centres.

In 2020, the Institute signed the Letter of Commitment to Gender Equality in Research, which was discussed and endorsed by 19 Catalan research and health centers, and which was read during the “Summit for the Advancement and Leadership of the Women in Health Sciences “, held in Girona on October 22nd, 2019.