Autonomous University of Barcelona

September-2025

Following various media reports on alleged irregularities linked to a UAB professor, an action has been initiated to examine possible risks in terms of public procurement and conflicts of interest. Specifically, it has been analyzed whether, from the research group of her chair, contracts had been awarded or activities financed with partial charge from European funds for the benefit of a commercial company managed by a person from her family environment, and whether other close people had participated in various research projects. The examination carried out has established that the professor had ceased to be part of the company years before the events that motivated the actions, and that the commercial company was subsequently liquidated. Likewise, the participation of people with family or close ties in some projects was noted, a circumstance that recommended transparent communication to the rectory or an ethics committee, but no obvious administrative or accounting irregularities were identified, given that the expenses were justified and accepted by the corresponding entities. In addition, the information file processed by the UAB concluded that there was not sufficient evidence to initiate a disciplinary proceeding. At the same time, the issues relating to transparency were already being examined by the competent authorities and, according to the information available, were also in judicial proceedings. The action was therefore filed.