The Mar Institute of Medical Research Foundation (IMIM) is public entity created in 1992. The Foundation's objectives focus on post-doctoral research and teaching activities in the field of Biomedicine and Health and Life Sciences and the promotion of such activities within Parc de Salut MAR.

The following are some of the functions of Mar Institute of Medical Research Foundation (IMIM): to manage and follow- through research projects and funding endevours it supports, to promote high quality research, to ensure the ethical aspects of its research as well as the application of the deontological principles, to disseminate research results, and to promote specialized teaching activities and the continuing education of professionals in the field of Health Sciences.

The Mar Institute of Medical Research Foundation is the entity in charge of managing the administration of research resources of Parc de Salut MAR, specially those related to the management of European projects, those related to extramural services and those related to the funding of research projects and research networks that result from the cooperation with the Instituto de Salud Carlos III.

The Mar Institute of Medical Research Foundation is one of the main promoters of the Parc de Recerca Biomèdica de Barcelona (PRBB).

The Board (Patronat) is the highest governing body of the Foundation and it includes representatives from the Department of Health from the Generalitat de Catalunya, from the Parc de Salut MAR, from the Department of Innovation, Universities and Enterprises from the Generalitat de Catalunya, from the Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), and staff from the IMIM (Hospital del Mar Research Institute).