Foundation

OAFI is the Osteoarthritis Foundation International, the first and only foundation exclusively for people with osteoarthritis worldwide.

The Foundation was created in Barcelona in October 2016 with the aim of leading the fight against osteoarthritis by promoting education, prevention, treatment and research into everything related to joint health and offering solutions to people suffering from this pathology so that they can feel supported, alleviate their pain and improve their quality of life.

Osteoarthritis is a little-recognised disease that affects more than 500 million people worldwide. Despite its social impact, it is considered as a distant pathology only associated with old age. However, besides affecting the elderly, it is increasingly being detected in postmenopausal women, sports people and even young people.

Osteoarthritis directly affects people’s mobility and autonomy, with the psychological wear and tear that this entails. In addition, it is also associated with other comorbidity problems such as hypertension or cardiovascular diseases, among others.

In a society where the population’s life expectancy is on the rise, this type of ailment should be considered as a first-rate concern. This is the reason why at the Osteoarthritis Foundation International we work to put the patient at the center of the disease and help them to have a voice and be heard. All our actions are designed for the benefit of the patient and the prevention of osteoarthritis in people with risk factors for developing it.

Investigation

OAFI is an independent, non-profit foundation whose aim is to promote scientific research in the field of osteoarthritis in order to improve the quality of life of the people who suffer from this condition. It is also involved in awareness-raising programs to raise public awareness of the disease and reduce the number of people affected by it.

Improve Life Quality

With the increase in life expectancy and the ageing of the population, osteoarthritis is becoming more and more worrying. That is why the Foundation is launching several projects and activities aimed at society in general and osteoarthritis patients in particular.

Our Commitment

The commitment, honesty, respect, integrity and transparency of the Osteoarthritis Foundation International (OAFI) to society are signs of our good work in achieving our goals. As such, we are happy to share information about our activities, the status of our projects and research, as well as our accounts.

Dr. Josep Vergés, a medical professional with extensive experience in the disease and international reputation, is the president of OAFI.
The OAFI team, strives to increase awareness about OA and to find the best preventive and therapeutic measures to improve the quality of life of OA patients worldwide. The OAFI team welcomes you to a world of joint health and invites you to join the OAFI family.

Team

Dr. Josep Vergés Milano
President & CEO
Investigation Area

María Teresa Vergés Milano
Patients and Volunteers Area

Marco Bibas Castany
Operations Area

NINA MARTÍNEZ
Science, Research & Innovation Area

ALBA GÓMEZ MÁRQUEZ
Media & Communication Area

CRISTINA NOVA
Media & Communication Area

Board

Josep Vergés Monturiol (1928-2022)

Honorary Patron

Dr. Josep Vergés Milano
President

Jordi Ramentol Massana

OAFI-Foundation-Dr-José-María-Villalón

Dr. José María Villalón

Marco Bibas Castany
Board Secretary

Transparency

The OAFI Foundation is a private foundation established for an indefinite period under the registered name of the Osteoarthritis Foundation International (OAFI) on February 25^th, 2016. Subjected to the Third Book of the Civil Code of Catalonia, it is registered in the Registry of Foundations of the Generalitat of Catalonia with number 2965.

The Foundation is ruled in accordance with Title III, Chapter I, Article 16 of Spanish Law 49/2002, of December 23, of tax regime of non-profit entities and fiscal incentives for patronage.

In 2017 the members of the board of trustees did not receive any kind of remuneration from the OAFI Foundation because of their post. Likewise, they did not receive any kind of advance or credit during the year.

You can download the latest Annual Report and financial information below: OAFI Annual Report 2021.

STATEMENT OF ENTITIES AND COMPANIES COLLABORATING WITH OAFI

The entities and companies with which OAFI has collaborated in the year 2020 are listed below:

Acondicionamiento Tarrasense – Leitat
Advanced Sport & Nutritions Lab
Aldi Central De Compras
Alianza General De Pacientes
Alimentomica
Alphasights
Amgen
Angelini Farmacéutica
Arthritis Foundation
Asociacion Espanola De Normalizacion
Asociación Española Con La Osteoporosis Y La Artrosis
Athletic Club
Ballesol
Bioiberica
Caixabank
Clínica Cemtro
Clínica Diagonal
Clínica Dkf
Clubs Dir
Spanish Olympic Commitee (COE)
Conex
Creaciones Aromaticas
Cucurella Medical Consulting
Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam
Farmalider
Feast Kitchen Aps
Ferrer Internacional
Fundació Eurecat
Fundación Atlético De Madrid
Fundación García Cugat

Fundación Ubae
Fundación Walkim
Fútbol Club Barcelona
Goco Family S.L.
Hifas Da Terra
Ibsa
Icaro Birding Experience
Industriales S.A.
Institute Of Communication And Computer Systems
Instituto Fundación Teófilo Hernando
Instituto Poal De Reumatología
Kern Pharma
Laboratorios Gebro Pharma
Laboratorios Ordesa
Laboratorios Reig Jofre
Laboratorios Rubió
Lucta
Lyposmol
Ma D’or
Merck
Meteda Srl
Mmc Intellectual Property Institute
Nutra Otc
Onmi Bv
Opko Health Spain S.L.
Organizacion De Consumidores Y Usuarios
Pan-American League Of Rheumatology Associations

Pfizer
Podoactiva
Practio Aps
Procare Health
Proteïn
Qida
Reig Jofre
Senior Iuris
Sermes Cro
Servier
Sociedad Española De Calidad Asistencial
Sociedad Española De Farmacia Familiar Y Comunitaria
Sociedad Española De Médicos De Atención Primaria
Sociedad Española De Médicos Generales Y De Familia
Sociedad Española De Reumatología
Sociedad Española De Traumatología Del Deporte
Solutex
Ucb Pharma
Universita Degli Studi Di Parma Unipr
Universitat De Barcelona (Ub)
Universiteit Maastricht
University Of Southampton
Uniwersytet Jagiellonski
Wageningen University
World Scleroderma Foundation

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