In 1987, at the height of his career, José Carreras, one of the world’s leading tenors, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Thanks to innovative medical research a new treatment was employed. He underwent a life-saving bone marrow transplant, a unique procedure that provided an effective therapy against his disease.

José Carreras recognized the importance of research to develop life-saving therapies for patients with diseases like leukemia. In 1988, enlisting the aid of noted physicians
around the world, he founded the ”José Carreras International Leukemia Foundation“ in his Spanish home town of Barcelona. The U.S. Friends organization followed, founded in 1990. Together with Carreras foundations in Germany and Switzerland, they fund the type of research that saved José Carreras' life.

Every year between 60 and 100 new cases of leukemia per one million inhabitants are reported in Western countries. Carreras: ”The disease which is somewhat more prevalent in men, may strike at any age. The great scientific advances of the past thirty years have brought progress in the treatment of leukemia.“

The ”José Carreras International Leukemia Foundation“ concentrates its efforts in four main areas:
Development of clinical research by means of an ambitious program of scholarships, open to scientists from any country in the world.
Promotion of bone marrow transplant, by stimulating bone marrow and cord blood donations as well as searching for suitable donors for patients in need of a compatible donor.
Strengthening research and clinical infrastructure of health care centres.
Provision of social services to patients and their families.