Eduard Montanya is Professor of Medicine at the University of Barcelona, Head of the Diabetes Section at Bellvitge University Hospital, and Coordinator of the Diabetes and Metabolism Research Program at Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL). Dr Montanya’s main research interests in diabetes are cell therapy and regenerative medicine, the biology of pancreatic beta-cells and new drug therapies. He is currently an ad-hoc member of the Scientific Committee of European Union Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI2 JU), and Scientific Director of the Spanish Network of Biomedical Research Centers in Diabetes and Associated Metabolic Diseases (CIBERDEM). He has been Chair of the Islet Study Group of the Spanish Diabetes Association, President of the Catalan Diabetes Association, Secretary of the Islet Study group of the EASD, and President of the Diabetes Advisory Council of the Health Department of Catalonia.