We are a leading healthcare campus encompassing all fields of health: from healthcare and research to teaching and management
commitment and research by professionals on the Campus are the key elements in offering patients excellent care
We are committed to research as a tool to provide solutions to the daily challenges we face in the field of medical healthcare
we work to incorporate new knowledge to generate value for patients
transform and transmit knowledge in all areas of the health sciences
helping to train the professionals of the future
We are defined by our vocation for communication
We invite you to share everything that happens at Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus
The results show the need for continuous monitoring of patients to detect and manage possible adverse effects occurring months and years after treatment
A study coordinated by Vall d'Hebron has evaluated the long-term effects of CAR-T therapy in patients with an aggressive type of lymphoma. The results, published in the journal <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2830583">JAMA Network Open</a>
show that the treatment has a favourable safety profile
although continued monitoring of patients is necessary
as adverse effects can occur even years later
The study is led by the Clinical Pharmacology group of the Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR)
the Experimental Haematology group of the Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO)
and the Clinical Pharmacology and Haematology Services of the Vall d'Hebron University Hospital.&nbsp;
B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is a type of cancer that affects the lymphatic system
which are responsible for producing antibodies
Although there are several treatment options
many patients do not successfully respond to conventional therapies
CAR-T cell therapy has become a promising option to achieve prolonged remission
It is important to understand the potential adverse effects of this innovative therapy
numerous studies have analysed the toxicity of CAR-T therapy during the first few weeks
but there is a need for further studies to assess safety after months or even years
Vall d'Hebron has studied the adverse effects that appear in patients with B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma at least three months after CAR-T therapy
172 patients from six hospitals in the state were followed up for between eight and 23 months
"Some patients may experience late adverse effects
although most of these can be managed clinically without serious complications
This work confirms that CAR-T therapy has a good safety profile"
head of the Clinical Pharmacology Service at Vall d'Hebron University Hospital and of the Clinical Pharmacology group at VHIR
Among the most common adverse effects are infections
and a reduction in the number of neutrophils
a type of immune system cell important for fighting infections
such as a reduction in the number of platelets
neurological and cardiovascular effects are observed
although they are less frequent and generally mild
four patients developed other types of cancer after treatment
the team leading the project stresses the importance of continued follow-up of patients after treatment
"This study helps us to understand how to improve patient care after CAR-T therapy to detect and manage possible long-term adverse effects"
head of the Advanced Therapies section of the Haematology Department at Vall d'Hebron Hospital and researcher in Experimental Haematology group at VHIO.&nbsp;
The study was carried out in collaboration with the Pharmacy Service of the Vall d'Hebron University Hospital
the Health Research Institute of the Gregorio Marañón Hospital
the INCLIVA Health Research Institute of the University Clinical Hospital of Valencia
the August Pi i Sunyer Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBAPS) of the Hospital Clínic of Barcelona
and the University and Polytechnic Hospital La Fe
Servei de Cirurgia Hepatobiliopancreàtica i Transplantaments
The Multidisciplinary Cancer Committee has evaluated a total of 701 patients since its creation
Pancreatic cancer advances in a particularly silent manner
Despite not having a high incidence in the population
with patient survival at five years between 7% and 10% (for men and women
according to the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology (SEOM)
Surgical treatment is the only radical option
although it always needs to be accompanied by chemotherapy
with three possible scenarios depending on the extent of the tumour: resectable pancreatic cancer
where the tumour can be surgically removed because it has not affected important nearby blood vessels; borderline resectable pancreatic cancer
which has focal contact with some surrounding vessels; and locally advanced pancreatic cancer
as it more extensively affects abdominal veins and arteries
The Vall d'Hebron University Hospital has surpassed one hundred patients operated on for borderline resectable pancreatic cancer and locally advanced pancreatic cancer since June 2018: the resectability rate for these patients is 73% once they reach the operating room
meaning 85% of patients with borderline resectable pancreatic cancer and 54% of those with locally advanced cancer are operated on
"We have performed more than a hundred interventions for the most complex pancreatic cancer cases in just five years
This achievement is possible thanks to the work of a multidisciplinary team where excellent care is combined with the advances made by professionals dedicated to research to find new treatments so that patients reach the operating room in the best possible condition
the fruits of this research return to the patient if they need them in the future," explains Dr
a surgeon in the Pancreatic Surgery Unit of the Hepatobiliopancreatic Surgery and Transplant Service and the principal investigator of the Hepatobiliopancreatic (HBP) Surgery and Liver Transplantation group in the Liver and Digestive Diseases Area of the Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR)
The advanced pancreatic cancer program began in 2018 with the incorporation of clinical trials in this area
as well as training sessions by Vall d'Hebron professionals at prestigious specialized centres
which have enabled the incorporation of innovative surgical techniques
head of Oncology for the Upper Gastrointestinal and Endocrine Tumours Group at the Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO)
emphasizes the impact of new advances in systemic chemotherapy treatments that allow for disease control or
which increases the options for future surgical salvage or control of relapses if they occur
Vall d'Hebron has had a multidisciplinary group specifically dedicated to Pancreatic Cancer
which assesses the clinical situation of patients individually and allows for a comprehensive approach
This group comprises professionals from Hepatobiliopancreatic Surgery and Transplantation; Medical Oncology; Digestive Endoscopy; Gastroenterology and Digestive System; Radiology; Interventional Radiology; Pathology; Nutrition; and Radiation Oncology
The Multidisciplinary Pancreatic Cancer Committee has evaluated a total of 701 patients since its creation
with between 50% and 60% of the cases seeking a second opinion from other centres
Of the total number of patients operated on for pancreatic pathology at Vall d'Hebron between 2019 and 2023
39.1% did not belong to the hospital's area of influence: 34.33% were from other parts of Catalonia
while 60.9% belonged to Vall d'Hebron's area of influence
and patients came from outside the area in 45.5% of cases: 39.15% (92 patients) came from other parts of Catalonia and 6.38% (15 patients) from the rest of the country
"We have become a reference centre for patients seeking a second opinion on surgical intervention
as most of them cannot be operated on in their original centre
pancreatic cancer remains a very aggressive disease and presents a very difficult scenario for patients and their families
which is why all our efforts are dedicated to our patients
to give them a chance to prolong their survival," explains Dr
These advances in favour of the patients would not be possible without the multidisciplinary involvement of the professionals who are part of their management
the support of various expert professionals is required
such as anaesthetists experienced in managing highly complex patients or liver transplant professionals
The role of surgical nurses during the intervention is also essential—often working with biological grafts and vascular prostheses—and to overcome complications if they arise
as well as in managing possible complications
the participation of radiologists is crucial
The Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus is also at the forefront of pancreatic cancer research through the Hepatobiliopancreatic Surgery (HBP) and Liver Transplantation group at VHIR and the Upper Gastrointestinal and Endocrine Tumours Group at VHIO
Vall d'Hebron was the only centre in the country selected for the PELICAN clinical trial
multicentre study to evaluate the effectiveness of the first intraoperative radio frequency in a locally advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma in the country
Vall d'Hebron included the first patient to treat locally advanced pancreatic cancer with nanoparticles
there are also several lines of basic research in pancreatic cancer by VHIO
there are two standard chemotherapy treatment lines for pancreatic cancer
and research is underway to increase this therapeutic arsenal
in addition to adding immunotherapy or immunomodulatory treatments so that the body itself helps fight the tumour
the results of the phase 1b/2 OPTIMIZE-1 clinical trial have recently been published
evaluating the efficacy of a new combination of immunotherapy and chemotherapy for patients with metastatic cancer
"We have observed an objective response rate of 40%
along with a median response duration of 12.5 months and a median overall survival of 14.3 months
These are promising results that open the door to investigating this combination in a phase 3 clinical trial to validate its efficacy in a larger number of patients," states Dr
This project is promoted by the Pasqual Maragall Foundation with the support of Barcelona City Council
It involves some of the city's main public hospitals and institutions specialising in research into Alzheimer's disease
Some of Barcelona's leading institutions and organisations have come together today to set up the HUB Alzheimer Barcelona: a pioneering initiative born out of a collaborative commitment to transform the future of Alzheimer's research and support those who suffer from it and their family members
This unique project is promoted by the Pasqual Maragall Foundation
with the support of Barcelona City Council
It is also supported by the Hospital de Sant Pau
Hospital del Mar and Vall d'Hebron University Hospital
and two leading institutions specialising in research into Alzheimer's disease: the Barcelonaβeta Brain Research Center (BBRC) and the Ace Alzheimer Center Barcelona
Vall d'Hebron University Hospital was represented at the event by Dr Albert Salazar
manager of the Vall d’Hebron University Hospital; Dr Xavier Montalban
director of the Multiple Sclerosis Centre of Catalonia (Cemcat) and head of the Neuroimmunology Research Group at the Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR); and Dr Pilar Delgado
head of the Neurodegenerative Diseases Section and principal investigator of neurovascular diseases at VHIR
The event was officially opened by the Mayor of Barcelona
who stressed that “Barcelona has set out to make an active contribution in the fight against Alzheimer's disease
and that is why the City Council and the city's main Alzheimer's disease institutes and research centres
are joining forces to work together and pool talent and resources
we celebrate our shared commitment to making scientific progress in this area
I'm sure that promising discoveries will result from this Barcelona-based team that will help us find a cure for Alzheimer's disease.” The Barcelona City Council funds one-fifth of the project's total budget
director of the Pasqual Maragall Foundation
underlined the scale of the challenge due to the impact that dementia is having around the world
with millions of people affected globally (and almost a million in Spain) and a rising prevalence due to population ageing
He stressed that “in light of this situation
and taking advantage of the paradigm shift in the approach to Alzheimer's disease thanks to recent scientific advances
Barcelona must leverage its position of scientific leadership
The creation of this HUB will foster scientific excellence
improve the transfer of research into clinical practice and promote further training in Alzheimer's and neurodegenerative diseases.”
During the presentation of the HUB Alzheimer Barcelona
several of its key achievements were highlighted
One was the first conference on ‘Challenges and opportunities in the implementation of biological therapies for Alzheimer's disease’
which also involved the Catalan Health Service
Several ongoing and upcoming activities were also mentioned
such as the first call for collaborative pre-doctoral grants to promote cooperative research among HUB member centres
A mention was also given to the various training actions that are currently being developed to improve the diagnosis and management of the disease in primary care settings
in collaboration with the CAMFiC (Catalan Society of Family and Community Medicine)
founder and medical director of Ace Alzheimer Center Barcelona and member of the HUB
said that “initiatives like these are essential to promote research and advance scientific knowledge
collaboration with CAMFiC is key to strengthening the role of primary care in the early diagnosis and management of Alzheimer's disease.” During the event
a document was signed by the highest representatives of the participating organisations
formalising the joint commitment to promote the HUB Alzheimer Barcelona
It is currently estimated that Alzheimer's and neurodegenerative diseases affect 900,000 people in Spain
This translates into one in every ten people over the age of 65 and a third of those over the age of 85
These pathologies are one of the main causes of death
With life expectancy increasing and an effective cure yet to be found
the number of cases could triple worldwide by 2050 (with more than one and a half million cases in Spain alone): figures which would threaten to overwhelm health and care systems around the world
This agreement with one of the world’s leading medical institutions will promote the exchange of knowledge
resources and experience to improve healthcare training and clinical practice at the Vall d’Hebron Advanced Clinical Simulation Centre
share resources to enhance knowledge transfer
and collaborate on research and innovation projects in healthcare education
Director of Teaching at Vall d’Hebron University Hospital and the Vall d’Hebron Advanced Clinical Simulation Centre
highlighted the importance of the agreement: “This collaboration not only reinforces our commitment to top-notch training
but also allows us to share and enrich our knowledge with another world-leading institution
We are confident that this alliance will have a positive impact on our goal of contributing to safer and higher quality healthcare through education."
In order to enhance the skills of simulation educators
the agreement includes the creation of joint instructor training courses
which will be delivered both online and face-to-face at each center’s facilities
Instructors trained through these courses will be able to teach healthcare professionals and students at both institutions
promoting knowledge transfer and collaborative learning.&nbsp;
a virtual clinical simulation tool that enables multidisciplinary teams to train remotely in managing patients across various clinical scenarios
the agreement provides for reciprocal visits by healthcare professionals to both centers
which is expected to enhance the educational experience and promote innovation in clinical practice
Research and innovation in clinical education
established through the Vall d’Hebron University Hospital and the Vall d’Hebron Research Institute (VHIR)
the two parties will also identify educational needs
design clinical simulation activities and develop research projects
including both observational and experimental studies in education and the resulting scientific output
Another key aspect of the agreement is the creation of an Educational Simulation Oversight Council
in which each institution will appoint two members from its teaching team to manage and oversee the collaborative efforts
This structure will ensure smooth coordination of joint activities and guarantee that objectives are met
Increasing international visibility and collaboration
To increase the visibility and impact of this collaboration
both parties have committed to participate in major healthcare events
where results and experiences will be shared to promote knowledge exchange between institutions worldwide
Coordinator of the Vall d’Hebron Advanced Clinical Simulation Center
Vall d’Hebron strengthens its position as a leading institution in healthcare training
reinforcing its international standing and ensuring that its educational activities remain at the forefront of the most advanced practices in clinical simulation.”
The conclusions from the 1st International Congress on Health Communication will provide the basis for a Guide to Health Communication
which will be share with the European University Hospital Alliance (EUHA)
Excessive information on health during the COVID-19 pandemic
led the World Health Organization (WHO) to popularise the term ‘infodemic’
as a wake-up call on the need to provide the public with reliable sources and orientation to prevent the spread of rumours on an issue of public interest
over 450 professionals from health institutions
researchers and journalists from around the world came together in Barcelona on 24 and 25 October at the 1st International Congress on Health Communication
organised by Vall d’Hebron University Hospital with the support of the European University Hospital Alliance (EUHA) and in conjunction with Medtronic
Issues such as communicating health policies
relations between health institutions and professionals and the media and journalists
communication crises and the role of patients in spreading content were the subjects of analysis
‘Beyond the success in terms of participation
the 1st International Congress on Health Communication has allowed us to establish a framework for debate to take a deeper
more global look at the main challenges and opportunities facing health communication’
adding that ‘there is more interest than ever in information on science and medicine; we have already won the battle for public attention
Now it is our turn to work to consolidate this congress and increase its international perspective
generating dynamic content and putting patients at the centre of the narrative are some of the topics tackled over these two highly productive days’
The conclusions from the 1st International Congress on Health Communication will be used to draw up a Guide to Health Communication
Spanish and Catalan authorities attending and a first round-table debate on government health communication policies
which are rolled out in increasingly complex environments
a strategic science communicator at the Erasmus University Medical Centre Rotterdam
discussed the challenges in disseminating national and European health policies
the strategic lines in different countries
and the most effective way to get information directly to the public
Press and Media Relations Officer with the WHO Regional Office for Europe
Head of the Communication Department at the European Medicines Agency
Senior Communications Coordinator at EuroHealthNet
Director of Communication with the Catalan Government Ministry of Health and the expert Mariachiara Tallacchini
They all agreed that institutions must provide the public with scientific knowledge
but as a process through which they themselves reach their conclusions
They also stressed the need for two-way communication
in which the public are familiar with mechanisms to have their voice heard
Head of Communication at Aarhus University Hospital
analysed how institutions interact with the media and journalists
a relationship that needs to be fluid in democratic societies
The heads of communications from institutions such as Hôpitaux de París (France) and Kings’s Health Partners London (United Kingdom)
exchanged their impressions with journalists
The corporate communication experts focussed on strategies to combine agility in response while offering quality information and maintaining the institution’s reputation
The journalists stressed the need for transparency and access to experts
The day ended with an analysis of marketing campaigns
which create interesting narratives to bring health closer to the public
50,000 patients enter the doors of Vall d’Hebron
each one with a story to discover and explain
the agency responsible for the La Marató charity fund-raising event on the Catalan television channel TV3
also shared cases that had reached the hearts of the public
The second day of the congress started with a round table on combating fake news in health communication
Even though precision in this field is key
attacks from the spread fake or inflated news stories are a constant threat
Participating in the round table were Carlo Martini
Professor of Philosophy in health sciences at San Raffaele University (Italy); Michele Cantazaro
a freelance journalist working with various outlets
including El Periódico de Catalunya; Carlos Mateos
an expert in fake news with the ConSalud web portal
director of the COM Salut communication agency and coordinator of #SaludsinBulos; Sigrid März
a science journalist and former editor of MedWatch; and Dr Javier de Castro
Head of Medical Oncology at the La Paz University Hospital (Madrid)
They focussed on how medical and research centres
professionals and scientists have a much more important role to play in the digital age with regard to validating and checking information on health
which can be used both to generate and detect fake news
as it is already having an impact on communication strategies and is a tool for reaching potential audiences more successfully
an AI training consultant and the founder of Bexperience
speakers from the communication departments of the main European Hospitals analysed the crisis in communication
and keeping sight of the fact that all crises are an opportunity to flex communicative muscle and come out stronger was the opinion shared by the different experts: Lars Elgård
Press Officer at Aarhus University Hospital (Denmark); Ann Lemaître
Senior Press Officer at UZ Leuven (Belgium); Hanna Mellbin
Head of Strategic Communications at Karolinska University Hospital (Sweden); Laia Brufau
Communications Director at the Institut Català de la Salut (ICS); and Oscar Franco
and Adjunct Professor at Harvard University
the public and leading figures in health communication was the topic for the next block
whose story made headlines around the world when she was resuscitated at Vall d’Hebron after six hours of cardiac arrest due to hypothermia
Global Health Editor with the Financial Times and named 2024 health journalist of the year in the United Kingdom
stressed that patients are the best ambassadors for health communication
as they speak the same language as the public
a Meet the Expert session was held to bring science closer to the attendees
with an opportunity to interact directly with some of the speakers and participants from the round tables and workshops
Patients’ associations also shared their strategies in a block which notably featured the Care Connect experience
Diabetes Technology Unit Coordinator at Vall d’Hebron Hospital
The last round table at the congress produced a lively debate on what journalists look for and what they find when dealing with doctors and health institutions
Both parties need each other to spread scientific advances and make them understandable to the public
such as Josep Corbella from La Vanguardia (Catalonia)
Korinna Hennig from NDR Info (Germany) and Géraldine Zamansky (France 59)
agreed with the scientists Dr Josep Tabernero (Vall d’Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus)
in Budapest (Hungary) on the need to work together with the shared goal of improving scientific knowledge
The consensus establishes recommendations that could correct the current disparities related to muscle mass
weight and height and would allow for more precise prioritization of patients who require transplants more urgently
The waiting list for a transplant is determined by the severity of each patient's condition
There is currently no single prioritization system in Spain
so there are differences between centers when determining which patients have a more serious pathology and most urgently need a new organ
a system developed in the United States called MELD was incorporated
a formula that combines the sum of several routine analytical parameters: serum creatinine
INR (related to blood clotting) and total serum bilirubin
The higher the score obtained in the formula
allowing the waiting list to be ordered according to severity
Serum creatinine indicates the patient's renal function
which is directly related to mortality in patients with end-stage liver disease
which is generally lower in women and in very malnourished patients
women and also patients with malnutrition would show lower creatinine levels
obtaining a lower score and therefore lower priority for receiving a transplant”
section head of the Hepatobiliary Surgery and Digestive Transplant Service at the Vall d’Hebron University Hospital and researcher in the Hepato-bilio-pancreatic Surgery (HBP) and Liver Transplant group at VHIR and the CIBER for Liver and Digestive Diseases (CIBEREHD)
Itxarone Bilbao explains that “among the recommendations of the Consensus there is the use of new prioritization models that correct the differences in products between men and women based on their muscle mass
In a recent study, in which Vall d'Hebron will participate and the results of which will be published in the journal <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/eclinm/article/PIIS2589-5370(24)00316-X/fulltext">eClinicalMedicine</a> of the Lancet portfolio
the MELD and MELD models will be compared with the new predictive models MELD 3.0 and the GEMA
it is expected to end in collaboration with more than 20 hospitals in Spain and financed by the Carlos III Health Institute
including 6.071 patients on the waiting list for liver transplantation in some of the 25 hepatic transplant centers in Spain between 2016 and 2021
The results of this study will show that approximately 10% of patients who need a liver transplant do not receive it because they are waiting for a suitable donor or because during the waiting period there is increased malaria so that they have of being excluded from the list
Això poses the need to implement the management model that prioritizes the most urgent patients
The probability of mortality on the list or excluded by group in the first three months will be 5.4% in donations compared to 4.5% in homes
and these differences are imperceptible in daily clinical practice
after controlling for possible confounding factors
including the malady caused by transplantation and seriousness
the patients will present an increased risk of mortality in the list compared to both men
children have lower creatinine levels than men and
a lower priority score on the list according to the MELD or MELD Na model
“The study estimated that both MELD 3.0 and GEMA Na reduced this discrepancy
considering that the greatest implementation was obtained with the GEMA Na model
The application of GEMA could avoid one in every 18 deaths on the waiting list and
there is no single priority system for our country
Most centers manage the waiting list with their own criteria and only the autonomous communities
partially share the waiting list for older patients
To this heterogeneity that affects the gender disparity that exists in the access to transplantation and the expansion of indications in the future
it is felt that there are clear guidelines for prioritization
With the idea of ​​establishing necessary recommendations
the Spanish Society of Liver Transplantation (SETH) has promoted a consensus ratified by all TH units and by the National Transplant Organization
They establish that models that include serum sodium and those that include sex
are preferable because they better discriminate the probability of death and potentially eliminate gender disparity
a retrospective analysis is being carried out on the equity of the old MELD Na system in access to transplantation
with the idea of ​​adapting to changes in the dynamics of waiting list management in the fairest and most equitable way possible
Direcció d'Innovació i Desenvolupament de Negoci del VHIR
This is a structured system that prioritizes projects with the greatest potential to ensure their viability and maximize the chances of success in their clinical application and commercialization
VHIR has established itself as a leader in innovation
with a high volume of projects showing strong market potential
it is essential that researchers leading these projects receive support and guidance from the Innovation Unit
which serves as a bridge between the scientific community and the business and regulatory sectors
developed by VHIR based on other strategies
offers a structured process that prioritizes and accelerates the maturation of the most promising projects
“This is a more agile and efficient approach
which provides each researcher and each project with the necessary support to overcome barriers
Director of Innovation and Business Development at VHIR
He adds that “this model is designed to become a reference in innovation management
The methodology is based on checkpoints that enable a continuous and structured evaluation of projects and ensure that objective maturity criteria are met before moving forward in the process
This strategy facilitates the optimisation of resources and minimises risks: it applies the fail fast principle to detect and correct obstacles at an early stage
The process is structured in three main phases:
The model is based on specific and measurable objectives
"Only if the maturity levels established in each phase are achieved
This ensures that each project progresses systematically and maximises the probability of success"
VHIR's innovation process relies on the collaboration of an external advisory network
These specialists provide strategic guidance and decision support to identify and address key issues that may be important for the success of the project
they help to ensure that projects also meet the real needs and values of society and comply with ethical and sustainability principles
so that they are conducted in a way that is adapted to the context
"This joint effort increases the likelihood of success and ensures that the solutions developed have a significant impact on patients
healthcare systems and society in general"
With the aim of continuing to promote innovation in health sciences and in coincidence with the recent inauguration of the new research building
VHIR is working on the creation of an Innovation Hub
It will be a pioneering space dedicated to promoting the creation of public-private partnerships and new projects through the creation of companies and the attraction of new investors and biotech or pharmaceutical companies that establish collaborations with our research groups
“With this initiative we aim to create a community focused on knowledge transfer and impact generation centred on patients and society”
With the commitment to improve people's quality of life
VHIR has developed an innovation ecosystem that combines the scientific excellence of the research groups with a focus on generating impact towards society
The initiatives carried out have boosted the scientific process and have also contributed to the economic growth of the sector
VHIR has participated in multiple licence transfer agreements with industry and has collaborated in the creation of 23 spin-offs specialised in the design of new drugs
the creation of medical devices to improve clinical procedures and the quality of life of patients
the development of digital health solutions
it is essential to promote different training and dissemination actions for the culture of innovation among research groups
as well as collaboration with international consortiums
For more information about VHIR’s innovation model, check <a href="https://vhir.vallhebron.com/sites/default/files/2025-02/new-innovation-model-vhir-en.pdf">this document</a>
Jordi Riera with the Hybrids VITA simulator
Training with Hybrids VITA at the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine congress
Hybrids VITA és un innovador simulador desenvolupat per Vall d'Hebron en col·laboració amb Medical Simulator dissenyat per entrenar professionals en la tècnica d'oxigenació per membrana extracorpòria (ECMO)
reproduces different clinical scenarios for training on how to prevent
diagnose and treat possible complications of ECMO
Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) allows cardiac or respiratory support as a last resort in patients in a very serious situation
It is a complex technique that is often associated with complications and
having highly experienced professionals is key to ensure success
Vall d'Hebron and the company Medical Simulator have created a simulator
a successful case of innovation at Vall d'Hebron
director of the adult ECMO program at Vall d'Hebron University Hospital and principal investigator of the research group on Shock
Organ Dysfunction and Resuscitation at Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR) and with the support of the Innovation Unit of VHIR
Hybrids VITA is a simulator that helps the training of healthcare professionals who will work with ECMO in their clinical practice
makes it possible to simulate clinical cases as close as possible to reality
"It is a unique opportunity to provide training on how to prevent
diagnose early and treat possible complications that may arise
as it will help to improve the care they receive from professionals"
the team has incorporated previous experience in clinical practice
with the adaptation of real cases of patients treated in the ICU of Vall d'Hebron
which is a differential feature with respect to other similar devices
both the development and the clinical content of the simulator are adapted to the international recommendations of the international reference society ELSO
so that it is a device that is modelled according to the clinical context and scientific evidence
developmental elements related to respiratory support during the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequently related to circulatory support were included following publications on cardiorespiratory arrest support (ECPR)
The Hybrids VITA project began 6 years ago
and since then it has incorporated new features and clinical cases
Now work continues on its technological advancement
the incorporation of new clinical cases and the creation of a virtual format version
It has recently been registered as a utility model
Vall d'Hebron is offering training courses with Hybrids VITA
and other international centers have also begun to acquire the simulator
it is being used at leading congresses of international societies related to the critical patient
such as the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine
which is holding its annual congress this year in Barcelona
Both at this congress and at other international events
the simulator used for ECMO training is the Hybrids VITA
Discover more about the Hybrids VITA simulator&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rImlm_Qwp3o">on this video</a>&nbsp;(in Catalan)
Vall d'Hebron is a <a href="https://hospital.vallhebron.com/assistencia/programes-assistencials/programa-ecmo">leading center in ECMO</a>
we manage more than 100 cases per year and more than 550 adult patients in total
with an average survival rate higher than the international average
we lead scientific networks of international collaboration to advance knowledge of the technique
and we prepare guidelines for recommendations on its use
with the organization of training sessions
which is one of the leading international ECMO teaching teams
allows people with reduced mobility in the upper extremities to have access to essential digital tools for communication
with the aim of improving their independence and emotional well-being
Vall d'Hebron has set up a pilot study to evaluate the usability of an innovative system developed by the company <a href="https://aurax.tech/">Aurax</a>
is to enable people with reduced mobility in the upper limbs to use different electronic devices to regain autonomy
is customised for each person and is fixed laterally to the teeth
It is invisible from the outside and can be connected to any compatible electronic device
allowing it to be controlled by movements of the tongue
In order to analyse the ease of use and safety of this device
four people with reduced mobility in the upper limbs have participated in a pilot study
the research team will study the usability and the real benefits it brings
“We hope that it will offer more autonomy and independence to people so that they can interact with their environment through digital tools
head of the Spinal Cord Injury Unit of the Rehabilitation Service of the Vall d'Hebron University Hospital and head of the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation group at VHIR
Among the people who have tested the technology are volunteers with spinal cord injuries and multiple sclerosis
who has pentaplegia due to a spinal cord injury and has been the inspiration for the project
as well as being one of the partners of Aurax: "MouthX redefines how all people
can interact with technology without using their hands
This device allows me to have more autonomy
freedom and intimacy in a more comfortable way than those currently available"
The results will be analysed over the next few months and a multi-centre clinical trial is expected to be conducted later to evaluate MouthX as a medical device for people with upper limb movement difficulties of any cause
there are other methods that allow people with reduced mobility to connect to electronic devices
but they have many limitations and are expensive
technologies based on eye movement are slow and inefficient
and other oral systems require a lot of user effort and are not precise enough for tasks that require fine movements
The new system developed by Aurax is more economical than current systems
requires much less effort and offers more precise control and a much faster and more natural response
"The idea for MouthX was born out of a real need
When I saw Armando controlling a radio-controlled car with a device that a professional engineer had built
I understood that technology should also be seen as a tool for inclusion
we have worked to go further and transform it into a solution that has a real impact on people's lives"
The awarded projects will study the immune response to HIV and the VIGex tool as a biomarker for immunotherapy response
Vall d'Hebron has been awarded two of the prestigious Gilead Biomedical Research Grants in its 10th edition
The pharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences
in collaboration with the Carlos III Health Institute (ISCIII)
held the awards ceremony for the 10th edition of the Gilead Biomedical Research Grants at the Teatro Real in Madrid
Meritxell Genesca Ferrer from Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR) and Dr
Alberto Hernando Calvo from Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO)
The innate immune response to HIV infection study
principal investigator of the Infectious Diseases Research Group at VHIR
received a grant to study the initial innate immune response to HIV infection in the female genital mucosa
This project aims to better understand the mechanisms involved in the early stages of HIV infection
especially how mucosal immunity is affected by exposure to the virus
her team will investigate the interaction between myeloid cells and unconventional T cells to identify potential pathways for infection prevention
Validation of the VIGex tool as a biomarker for immunotherapy response
medical oncologist at the Molecular Cancer Therapy Unit (UITM-CaixaResearch) at VHIO
was awarded another grant to validate VIGex
a tool developed to classify tumours based on their immune response
This biomarker will help identify which patients are more likely to respond to immunotherapy in clinical trials
The VIGex tool is based on the gene expression of 12 key genes and is an innovation driven by VHIO and the Princess Margaret Cancer Center in Toronto
Taula Rodona Venture Summit Vall d'Hebron 2024
El VHIR organitza la primera trobada entre emprenedors i l’ecosistema inversor
The first Vall d'Hebron Ventures Summit took place on May 6th
It is a meeting organised by VHIR to bring together its spin-offs and their corresponding investors
with the aim of building a community among them
Although many already know each other because they have met at other events
VHIR aims to be the link that reinforces the ties and provides visibility to all the stakeholders.&nbsp;
the attendees were able to get an overview of what the entrepreneurs are working on and the current stage they are at.&nbsp;
The round panel ‘The 3 perspectives of an investment round’ exposed the three visions of this stage which often generates conflict between investors and entrepreneurs
lawyers also play a very significant role mediating and supporting during all the stages of the investment rounds.&nbsp;
other investors were invited in order they could learn about new opportunities in this community
The event was also opened to all the Campus Vall d'Hebron researchers in order to encourage entrepreneurialism.&nbsp;
This meeting was created to become an annual event of reference in the sector to facilitate the recruitment of both national as well as international investors of and for our companies
Director of Innovation and Business Development at the VHIR
"it is a unique opportunity to create a network of connections between different environments
which will help us maintain our position as a reference centre in innovation management
It also allows us to continue positively impacting patient society'
Results obtained with the Winco USG simulator
Xavier Serres with the&nbsp;Winco USG simulator
is a simulation platform for holistic and integrated training of professionals performing this type of procedure
The training of healthcare professionals is essential to ensure the best results and guarantee the safety of patients
especially when involving invasive procedures
together with the Eurecat technology center and Medical Simulator
to teach punctures under ultrasound control
which is expected to offer great improvements in a multitude of medical specialties
interventional radiologist of the Diagnostic Imaging Service of the Vall d'Hebron University Hospital and principal investigator of the Molecular Medical Imaging group of the Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR)
The use of ultrasound-guided interventional procedures is becoming increasingly popular in medicine because they are minimally invasive
"They are techniques that require great precision and that is why it is important to have good training tools to acquire the necessary skills before a healthcare professional performs their first ultrasound-guided puncture on a patient"
gelatine or professionalized silicone models are currently used
they have limitations: they deteriorate rapidly and do not allow the quality of the procedure or the evolution of the professional's technique to be measured
To offer new options for professionals in training
Eurecat and Medical Simulator have developed a simulator that avoids the limitations encountered by the usual systems
"Winco USG is a new technological platform
that allows learning to perform punctures under ultrasound control with millimetric precision
in real time and with infinite possibilities
without the need for ultrasound equipment"
it is possible to evaluate the quality of the punctures and obtain an immediate score
trainees can know the degree of acquisition of the minimum essential skills before performing the procedures on real patients"
The system on which Winco USG is based allows great versatility in different health fields
this simulator can help in training in a multitude of medical specialties that use minimally invasive interventional procedures guided by ultrasound
treatments administered inside tumors guided by ultrasound
if ultrasound is needed to guide a blood extraction in cases where the veins are not palpable due to some pathology
And not only for the practice of procedures in humans
but also for use by veterinarians or researchers working with experimental models
to refine procedures and to perform ultrasound-guided punctures in animals
The team that has developed the device also emphasizes that
although it has been designed to practice punctures
Winco USG is also useful for training in ultrasound procedures in which a puncture is not required
to be ambidextrous and to learn how to perform ultrasound scans and interpret ultrasound images
"In the field of training healthcare professionals from different disciplines
there is a growing need for simulation systems and environments
we are proud to have contributed to the development of Winco USG
which will facilitate the learning of ultrasound techniques to future generations"
clinical director of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine at Vall d'Hebron University Hospital and researcher of the Molecular Medical Imaging group at VHIR
The Winco USG simulator is born out of the impulse of research and technological innovation in teaching of VHIR carried out for more than 10 years
when there was not yet this strong determination for the promotion of medical simulation
This simulator is an example of the commitment of VHIR
in collaboration with entities such as Eurecat and Medical Simulator
for innovation as a transformation engine to generate impact in the health sector
VHIR has become a global reference in the new healthcare ecosystems through projects such as this one
The creation of the Vall d'Hebron Advanced Clinical Simulation Centre has been key to complete the development of Winco USG
Winco USG is already on the market and the Vall d'Hebron Advanced Clinical Simulation Centre is the first center in the world to have this simulator and
it will begin to offer training with this simulator to all hospital residents and other professionals who perform guided punctures under ultrasound control
This new technology will be completely harmless for patients
and will offer superior image quality and better monitoring of tumours
The European <a href="https://www.qustom-project.eu/">QUSTom</a> project
which under the coordination of the Barcelona Supercomputing Center – Centro Nacional de Supercomputación (BSC-CNS) aims to introduce a new medical imaging modality based on 3D tomographic ultrasound and supercomputing
has begun clinical validation with patients for the early detection of breast cancer at the Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron
This new technique could revolutionise the diagnosis of this type of tumour
as it is completely harmless for women and offers a much more complete image from a functional and multiparametric point of view
volunteers will be enlisted to take part in this initiative among women involved in the early breast cancer screening program at Vall d'Hebron University Hospital
Unlike traditional ultrasound devices used in gynecology
this innovative technology prioritizes maximum image quality to enhance diagnosis accuracy
It aims not only to complement and enhance breast cancer diagnosis but also potentially to replace current diagnostic methods
a 3D Ultrasound Computed Tomography Scanner (3D USCT III) will be used
which has been designed and built by the Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT) in Germany
This is the only full 3D USCT device worldwide
Featuring a hemispherical 3D aperture consisting of 2304 individual transducers
which act as both transmitters and receivers
it is used to examine breast tissue for pathological changes
KIT has been working on developing further prototypes
but the first to undergo validation with patients for the full-wave inversion algorithms is the one currently in Barcelona
Before the device reached its current stage
it underwent a series of electrical safety and ultrasound tests overseen by a certified medical device testing laboratory in Germany
it will be reconstructed using the 3D full-wave inversion algorithm and transformed into high-resolution medical images using the power of the MareNostrum5 supercomputer at the Barcelona Supercomputing Center
a spin-off company of BSC and Imperial College London
The project also incorporates concepts such as multimodal imaging and the acquisition of real 3D images
representing an unprecedented combination in breast imaging using ultrasound
they need to conduct around 50,000 ultrasound wave simulations for each reconstructed image
this task is not a significant challenge and can be computed on a few Graphic Processing Units (GPU) in a conventional cloud
the problem becomes immense—so much so that no one has yet applied the best image reconstruction techniques through simulation to 3D data like those we'll use in this clinical validation
“We will be pioneers in this regard thanks to the utilization of MareNostrum 5
What we can accomplish in a few days at the BSC
says BSC researcher and QUSTom’s coordinator Josep de la Puente
the project constructs a digital twin of breast tissue and the ultrasound measuring device
This digital twin replicates any ultrasound emissions emitted by the physical device used by the radiologist
we can acquire not merely an image post-process but a comprehensive
three-dimensional map detailing tissue properties at each pixel”
"This new diagnostic tool will allow offering a more complete image from a functional and multiparametric point of view
avoiding the use of ionizing radiation and improving the comfort of women during their annual radiological examination
head of the Women's Radiology Service at Vall d'Hebron Hospital and principal investigator at the Molecular Medical Imaging group at Vall d’Hebron Research Institute (VHIR)
QUSTom's technology does not use radiation
The new device offers potentially superior image quality and better tracking of tumors through the use of ultrasound and supercomputing
The examination is painless and more comfortable for the patient
The technology has a broad application but may be particularly beneficial for individuals with dense breast tissue
according to the Spanish Society of Senology and Breast Pathology (SESPM)
the BSC has used its experience in the detection and analysis of data obtained in mechanical wave problems
so that the algorithms used for medical imaging are inspired by other algorithms used in completely different areas of research
such as the analysis of the earth's subsoil
the Vall d’Hebron Research Institute (VHIR) and the company FrontWave Imaging
the project has three other partners: Karlsruher Institut für Technologie
Statistics from the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology (SEOM) shows that breast cancer is one of the most common tumors worldwide
with 2.3 million women diagnosed in 2020 and 700,000 deaths due to this disease during the same year
it is expected that in 2024 there will be approximately 36,395 new cases of breast cancer
representing a slight increase compared to the previous year
as it can significantly increase survival rates
Although mammography is a widely used tool for breast cancer detection and has contributed to saving numerous lives
it is interesting to have a range of options for new non-irradiating technologies that can be used for diagnosis
QUSTom was selected in 2022 to be part of the first call of the Pathfinder Open program of the European Innovation Council
financed by the Horizon Europe Framework Program of the European Union and the English UKRI
aimed at supporting disruptive ideas and projects with great international potential
The project has received 2,744,300 euros for its European part
the European Commission evaluated a total of 868 projects; of which only 56 were selected
This project of personalized and regenerative medicine will carry out the first clinical trial in Spain to treat burns and skin wounds with bioprinted autologous human skin substitutes
The 4D-Bioskin project – Validation and scale-up strategy of bioprinted tissues for medical applications; a skin substitute – covers the development and translation of autologous skin tissue manufacturing for clinical practices
The project focuses on the optimization of the cell growth and bioink development protocols
the assessment of the viability of industrialization and commercialization of biomanufacturing
the digitalization of the process to enhance the scale-up
and the achievement of the validation of bioprinted skin tissues to be used in clinical trials
The development of this innovative therapy based on skin bioprinting is a potential therapeutic alternative for the treatment of burns and skin wounds that will have a great impact on society and the healthcare system
According to the World Health Organization (WHO)
non-fatal cases are closely related to infectious episodes
prolonged hospitalizations and/or mental traumas
During the three years that the project lasts for
a multidisciplinary team involving clinicians
biomedical engineers and experts from the pharmaceutical and industrial sectors from seven public and private institutions will work together to develop this innovative therapeutic alternative
The project consortium is coordinated by the biomedical engineering firm Biorem
and also includes public entities – the University of Barcelona (UB)
the IMIB - Foundation for Health Research and Training in the Region of Murcia (FFIS) and the Vall d’Hebron Research Institute (VHIR) – and other private companies – Reig Jofre Laboratories SA
“The 4D-Bioskin project is the seed for the research
development and industrial development of innovative tissue engineering therapies that will boost the Spanish State economy and the Spanish biomedical leadership and international recognition”
Joan-Pere Barret Nerín Head of the Department of Plastic Surgery and Burns of Vall d'Hebron University Hospital
researcher of VHIR and Professor at the School of Medicine of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
The objective of the project is to improve the value chain of the biofabrication of 3D bioprinted tissues through the validation
production and commercialization scale-up of autologous skin substitutes
a clinical trial will be carried out in the facilities of the Vall d’Hebron University Hospital – VHIR and the Virgen de la Arrixaca University Hospital – FFIS in pediatric patients affected by burns
These patients will be treated with autologous skin substitutes that will be generated during the project from the same patients’ cells
The cells will be integrated into a collagen matrix covered by a second layer of skin cells
This “artificial skin” will be manufactured with the only 3D bioprinter currently certified for the fabrication of bioprinted products in Spain
The bioprinter is located at the Creatio facilities
The trial will evaluate aspects related to the efficacy of the treatment
such as the integration of the implant into the patients’ tissues
growth and formation of mature and scar tissue
such as the appearance of possible adverse effects
of which 159.232 euros have been awarded to the VHIR from the Public-Private Collaboration Projects call of 2022
Technical Research and Innovation 2021 – 2023
The project 4D-Bioskin (CPP2022-009969) is funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033, through the Next GenerationEU funds of the European Union under the&nbsp;<a href="https://planderecuperacion.gob.es/" target="_blank">Recovery, Transformation, and Resilience Plan</a>
Team of the clinical trial with CAR-T for lupus in Vall d'Hebron
It is the first international multi-centre clinical trial to analyse the safety and effect of this treatment for an autoimmune disease
Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease caused by an attack from the body’s immune system
Most patients suffer from tiredness and weight loss
haematological complications and kidney problems
Drugs currently exist to regulate the immune system and reduce inflammation
but they have to be taken continually and in some cases are ineffective
Vall d’Hebron has thus included its first patient in a pioneering study to test the safety and effect of CAR T-cell immunotherapy in people with lupus
Involved in this international phase Ib/IIa clinical trial
with the Vall d’Hebron University Hospital
the Vall d’Hebron Research Institute (VHIR) and Vall d’Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO)
in collaboration with the Catalan Banc de Sang i Teixits (Blood and Tissue Bank
CAR T-cell therapy is an innovative treatment which
has been developed to treat certain kinds of tumour and blood diseases
It is based on extracting immune system cells from patients
which are genetically modified to express a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) and then infused again into the patient
this change enables the modified cells to attack the tumour cells
director of the CAR-T Program at the Haematology Department at the Vall d’Hebron University Hospital
researcher at the with Experimental Haematology group at VHIO: “In lupus
the CAR T-cells eliminate patients’ B cells
which are responsible for producing the antibodies that cause lupus.”&nbsp;Dr
states that “This therapy reboots the patient’s immune system to attack the cells we want to target.”
A pilot test with five patients with lupus conducted in Germany at the end of 2022 showed positive results for CAR T-cell therapy
“In the clinical trial we are starting now
we want to show that using CAR-T cells to eliminate the CD19 B cells improves symptoms
especially if the antibodies causing the disease are eliminated,” highlights Dr
an internist and rheumatologist specialising in Lupus at the Vall d’Hebron University Hospital Rheumatology Department
head of the Lupus Unit in the Rheumatology group at VHIR and principal investigator on the project
we can offer new therapeutic options for patients who do not respond to the usual treatments and even for the remission of the disease.”
This is the first international multi-centre clinical trial to analyse the safety and effect of the treatment for an autoimmune disease
opening the door to new therapies for other diseases of this type
The phase Ib/IIa trial is being conducted internationally on 12 patients aged 18 to 65 with severe lupus that has proven unresponsive to the usual treatments
All of them will have immune cells extracted to create targeted CAR-T cells
Patients will then receive follow-up for two years
Germany and Australia are participating in the study
The participating hospitals in Spain are Vall d’Hebron and the Gregorio Marañón University General Hospital in Madrid
The Vall d’Hebron University Hospital is the hospital conducting the most CAR-T cell immunotherapy in Spain
especially unresponsive patients with B- and T-cell lymphomas and acute lymphoblastic leukaemia
It is the only centre in Catalonia authorised to use the treatment in children and adults
It also carries out research to broaden the therapy to patients with other oncological diseases and
presented on the International Day of Women and Girls in Science
is almost 40 metres long and portrays nine women
who have contributed to the progress of sciences in the field of health
the International Day of Women and Girls in Science
Vall d’Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus unveils today the mural Pioneres (Pioneers)
an action promoted by the Catalan Foundation for Research and Innovation in conjunction with the biotech pharmaceutical company Amgen
aligned with the Vall d’Hebron and ICS Arts in Health policy
The mural aims to humanise the Vall d’Hebron Campus setting through art
have contributed to progress in health sciences
Measuring nearly 40 metres in length with an area of 160 square metres
the mural is the work of the Barcelona artist Meteo Lara “Ma’La”
who has been painting it from 31 January up to today
finishing it with the help of a group of professionals and patients from Vall d’Hebron
to coincide with the International Day of Women and Girls in Science
The mural is striking for the rich expressiveness of the nine faces
“serves to emphasis the humanity and connection between these nine pioneers and the spectator”
manager of Vall d’Hebron University Hospital
this mural “helps to humanise the Vall d’Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus through art
raising the visibility of women who have marked a turning point in health sciences and shattered many stereotypes that still exist today”
“Although much progress has been made in recent years
less than 30% of scientific researchers in the world are women”
“This is why we have been so involved in this mural: not just to highlight those who paved the way
but also to encourage girls to join in the adventure of health sciences”
“We want this to be a homage on two levels”
the head of the Vall d’Hebron Women in Science programme: “A homage to women as a fundamental element at the heart of caring
and a homage to female excellence which is not just forgotten but often deliberately hidden throughout history”
the mural also reflects the Campus commitment “to excellence and acknowledging these female scientists”
Pioneers - The nine women who forged a path in health science featured in the mural
Metrodora (200 – ?) (date of death unknown)
The last figure in the mural represents a currently anonymous researcher such as those who work at Vall d’Hebron
we emphasise the young female scientific talent of the present and also the future of women in health sciences research in our country
<a href="https://pinturamuralbarcelona.com/">https://pinturamuralbarcelona.com/</a>
an institution committed to gender equality
Women in Science is structured into four key areas: an equality-based labour model
outreach (visibility for women in and outside the Campus) and the value of alliances
The initiative stems from the Campus’s firm commitment to placing women at its heart
Vall d’Hebron is committed to gender equality in all areas of activity which is why it strengthens female leadership
72% of the 9,000 professionals who work at Vall d’Hebron University Hospital are women
women hold over 60% of management positions
With regard to the Vall d’Hebron Research Institute (VHIR)
as well as 48% of the principal investigators and 76% of researchers and research support staff
The Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR) has taken part six times in the “Science by Women” programme
promoted by the Women for Africa Foundation (FMxA)
This foundation aims to contribute to empowering women as key figures in the development of the African continent
The VHIR takes in candidates who for six months conduct a research project in some of their research groups
which they will later implement in their countries of origin to the benefit of the community
Amgen is committed to maximising the potential of biology for patients suffering from severe diseases
manufacturing and providing innovative human therapies
This approach starts with the use of tools such as advanced human genetics to discover the complexities of the disease and understand the fundamentals of human biology
72% of the Vall d’Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus employees are women: We have celebrated 8-M with an act where our professionals have been the headliners
Women make up 72% of professionals working at the Vall d’Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus: Of the 9 307 people working at the University Hospital
6 657 are women and 50 hold management positions
They also play a fundamental role in research: Of the 1,327 professionals who are dedicated in total to the Vall d’Hebron Research Institute (VHIR) and the Vall d’Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO)
As well as the Centre for Multiple Sclerosis of Catalonia (Cemcat)
where of the total of 52 professionals on staff
Vall d’Hebron recognises the value and leadership capacity of its professionals
Demonstrated at moments of maximum complexity such as the Covid-19 pandemic
which led to the emergence of the essential work of women who were in the front line
Vall d’Hebron is an institution committed to gender equality in all its areas of activity
which is why it strengthens internal female leadership and parity in decision-making bodies
The Vall d’Hebron Research Institute (VHIR) is directed by Dr Begoña Benito
one of the few women who heads research centres in Spain
there is still space for improvement: 13 women are heads of a hospital department
about 50% of its primary researchers are women
our professionals have been the protagonists
president of the Gender Perspective in Health Commission
and attending physician in the Acute Cardiological Care unit of the Vall d’Hebron University Hospital
has emphasised that the Gender Perspective in Health Commission
aims to improve equality in health care to women
“The Commission wants to guarantee the same therapeutic effort for men and women: equal access to both sexes in hospitals for the same need; equal delay time and wait from the first symptoms to health care; the same therapeutic strategies for the same pathology
the same consumption and expense of medications by sex
in accordance with the treated pathology; and avoid over-prescription of analgesia in women
without prescribing therapeutic drugs,” stated Dr Antonia Sambola.&nbsp;
and one step was the expansion of the mural of Pioneers
to continue giving visibility to women in science
We must empower future generations,” added Dr Begoña Benito
medical oncologist and head of the Melanoma and Other Cutaneous Tumors Group at the VHIO
commented that we must continue to defend “the cultural transformation that we are living
It is the task of all of us to work locally so that equality is a reality globally.” “It is a day to remember women who still do not enjoy a right as fundamental as freedom
Today we take stock to continue moving toward equality,” added Dr Àngela Vidal
attending physician in the Neurology service at the Vall d’Hebron University Hospital and Cemcat neurologist.&nbsp;
head of the Citizen Care Unit of the Children’s and Women’s Hospital
a leading figure in equality at the Vall d’Hebron University Hospital and a Human Resources Department Management Technician
head of the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department; Zaira Benítez
head of the Data Architecture Unit; Ariadna Gomà
a specialist in the Clinical Practice Quality and Improvement Unit; Marta Pegueroles
member of the Electromedicine Unit; Mònica Queraltó
head of the Asset Management and Registration Unit; Roser Cobos
director of the Legal Advisory Department; Dr Cristina Soler
attending physician in the Emergency Department and member of the Cross-Sectional Commission for Sexist Violence of the Vall d’Hebron University Hospital; and Hakima Ouaarab
member of the Community and Public Health Team of the Drassanes-Vall d’Hebron Centre for International Health and Transmissible Diseases
with the reading of Little Tales of Misogyny by Patricia Highsmith
which fascinated them with their irony and mordacity.&nbsp;
“Which woman inspires you most”: Messages from 8-M
Vall d’Hebron professionals have been able to leave messages indicating “Which woman inspires you most” on panels located in the lobbies of the Children’s and Women’s Hospital
These same messages have been available on social networks with the hashtag #FEMVHambTu along with #8M2023
also talked to the Sant Genís dels Agudells Neighbourhood Association about the stress and pressure that women suffer in each of the stages of life
how it affects them in mental health and what tools can be useful to manage it.&nbsp;
representative of Vall d’Hebron in “Barcelona
On the occasion of the International Women’s Day
the Barcelona City Council launched the “Barcelona
which represents a symbolic map of the Barcelona underground and the urban train stations of Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya
with which some of the women who have left their mark on the city are honoured
head obstetrician at Vall d’Hebron Hospital
head of the Maternal and Foetal Medicine Research Group of the VHIR and professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Vic-Central University of Catalonia
has been selected for the Vall d’Hebron subway station
Dr Elena Carreras is also president of the Advisory Council for Gender Policies of the Department of Health
and as a woman and as a professional is a pioneer in incorporating the gender perspective in health issues and in lobbying for women to be department heads and have positions of responsibility within health institutions.&nbsp;
The map is an adaptation of the well-known City of Women that writer Rebecca Solnit made for the cities of New York and London
the 153 stations that make up the project are symbolically re-named with names of women referring to the past and current history of the city
It is a small token representing all women that are part of the history of the city and are often whitewashed in the public eye or in popular memory.&nbsp;
The result is a diverse and transversal cartography that puts in value and visibility a series of women that have played a relevant role in the city
A diverse selection of relevant women from the past
but also from the present and future of Barcelona
Intellectuals and writers such as Mercè Rodoreda stand out; anonymous historical figures such as Josefa Vilaret who initiated the “rebomboris del pa” revolt in the Raval of the late 18th century; current important athletes such as footballer Alexia Putelles; neighbourhood activists such as Custòdia Moreno
artists such as Carmen Amaya; scientists such as Josefina Castellví; historic anti-fascist fighters such as Maria Salvó; anti-colonialist feminist activists such as Remei Sipi; icons of the trans fight such as Sonia Rescalvo; and artists from the iconic Paral·lel such as Mary Santpere
which has reviewed the records of more than one million patients who have received a new organ
has found significant differences between women and men
This shows that sex is a variable that is not normally taken into account in transplantation studies
The research team analyzed the 22 selected scientific studies that contained data from 1,045,380 patients
Women have lower mortality rate after kidney or liver transplantation
The group of researchers from five countries
head of the Innovation in Pneumonia and Sepsis group at the Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR) and Node 18 of the Center for Biomedical Research Network on Respiratory Diseases (CIBERES) and Professor of Medicine at the International University of Catalonia
was able to draw a number of relevant conclusions
The first is that more than double solid-organ transplants are performed in men than in women (63.7% versus 36.3%)
after kidney and/or liver transplantations
there were no differences between the two sexes
whereas in lung transplants there was insufficient data to draw definitive conclusions
men had a lower rate of readmission for postoperative complications in all types of transplants
The oncologic risk of people who had received a transplant was also analyzed
Although the differences in incidence were not significant
discrepancies in the types of cancer observed were observed
Women were more at risk for Kaposi's sarcoma
while men were more likely to develop kidney or bladder cancer
coordinator of Transplantations at Vall d'Hebron University Hospital
principal investigator VHIR's group Donation and Transplantation of Organs
Tissues and Cells and one of the authors of the study: "The differences recorded should make us think about whether we are making an adequate approach or whether we should include more parameters in our studies"
She adds that "when the breakdown by sex is not taken into account
vital information is lost in order to know the particularities of the patient's situation
Having segregated information is the first step in rethinking why and how gender biases can affect certain diseases
It should be remembered that a bias is a distortion resulting from an inadequate estimation of facts or data that is often deeply rooted and difficult to recognize
it can distort the entire healthcare process
to adequate healthcare from the onset of symptoms
diagnostic errors...) and the derived effort (type of therapeutic strategies
The only defence against a bias is high-quality data that show beyond any doubt where the error of perception that has caused it exists
Sex is a variable that has long been ignored by medical research
women were not included in clinical trials
since it was considered that their hormonal variations invalidated the results
The importance of taking into account the biological sex of the donor
When analyzing the percentages of rejection of the new organ
it is necessary to take into consideration not only the sex of the recipient but also that of the donor
A variable that is almost never taken into account
The results showed that in the case of kidney transplants
if the donor is male and the recipient is female
the percentage of graft failure is higher in the latter
female recipients over 45 years of age have less rejection than male recipients of any age
"sex hormones are regulated by the sex chromosomes and influence the intensity of the inflammatory response
which affects infections and the risk of rejection
depending on whether you are male or female (and your age)"
he suggests that "it is important for professionals to consider these variables when deciding on the treatment strategy post-transplant
and that new specific studies should be conducted to be able to decipher the complex interaction of these factors and how they influence the acceptance or not of the new organ"
Rello affirms that "the hope of the researchers is to contribute to improving the survival and quality of life of the patients
providing knowledge to optimize transplants and to continue advancing towards personalized treatments"
As this is the first meta-analysis of this type
it is certain that some of the conclusions of the study can be attributed to biological differences
but not all; others are the result of social and cultural differences between the genders in our society
some studies have pointed out that men statistically have a more irregular pattern of taking post-kidney transplant medication
which seems to be solidly due to social factors
may be one of the causes of the higher mortality of the male sex after this intervention
The research team hopes that their results will be useful for further studies to add sex and gender among the variables to be taken into account in order to better understand how they influence the survival and quality of life of transplanted women and men
This initiative of the ”la Caixa” Foundation offers the selected entrepreneurial scientists financial support and support through individual mentoring and training
”la Caixa”&nbsp;Foundation, within the&nbsp;<a href="https://fundacionlacaixa.org/ca/caixaimpulse-convocatoria-innovacio-salut-descripcio">CaixaImpulse Health Innovation Call</a>&nbsp;2023,&nbsp;has awarded a total of €3.3 millions to 29 health innovation projects
Four of these projects are led by researchers at Vall d'Hebron Campus
CaixaImpulse Innovation helps to transfer scientific knowledge to society and encourages the creation of new products
services and companies related to life sciences
It supports innovative biomedical projects by helping them to validate their asset/s and define their valorisation and exploitation strategy
The call is carried out in collaboration with Caixa Capital Risc
one of the leading venture capital investors in Spain
Below is a list of Vall d'Hebron projects that have been selected for this programme:
A new therapeutic approach to increase efficiency of existing cancer immunotherapies based on checkpoint inhibitors
significant progress has been made in the field of cancer immunotherapy
Immune checkpoint inhibitor-based therapies have shown benefits in the treatment of several types of tumours and
after showing exceptional improvements in some patients
have been approved for use in the fight against melanoma
but have also shown promising results in other tumour types
most patients do not respond to these treatments: the overall response rate is only 20 %
There is therefore an urgent need to identify new therapeutic targets and design new drugs that can be used in combination with existing immunotherapies to enhance their therapeutic efficacy and patient outcomes
The project will design and test the effectiveness and safety of a new drug molecule that can be combined with these immunotherapies to increase their efficacy
This molecule will target the ferroptosis pathway
a lipid oxidation process that causes cell death and can regulate the efficacy of immunotherapy
The results of the project could pave the way for a new therapeutic approach based on the combination of immunotherapy and new drugs to overcome resistance to immune checkpoint inhibitors
New predictive biomarker for the development and progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is one of the most common liver diseases in the world
It is caused by excessive fat accumulation in the liver and is exacerbated by factors like obesity and diabetes
It is known as the "silent killer disease" because its progression is very gradual and most patients with the disease do not experience symptoms and therefore remain unaware of their condition
Around 25 % of patients develop non-alcoholic steatohepatitis
characterised by liver inflammation and fibrosis
which can lead to pathologies such as liver cirrhosis or cancer
It is estimated that by 2023 this disease will become the main reason for liver transplantation globally
There are still no approved drugs available to treat non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
One of the main reasons for this is the lack of non-invasive clinical biomarkers
which poses a significant challenge for the development of new medications
While certain molecules have been identified as potential biomarkers
biopsy remains one of the most routine diagnostic techniques
Its main disadvantages include its invasive nature and the variability of the technique
This highlights the urgent need for non-invasive biomarkers that facilitate both the diagnosis and monitoring of disease progression and the therapeutic efficacy of treatments under development
the team has identified two proteins which
when combined with a mathematical algorithm
can be used as a non-invasive biomarker to predict the onset and progression of various stages of the disease
The project aims to advance in the validation of this new biomarker
which could offer an alternative to liver biopsy
It will help identify individuals suffering from the disease and predict its progression
which will have important implications for improving their quality of life
It will also facilitate the development of new drugs to treat these conditions
Validation of a new technique to detect breast cancer from breast milk
Breast cancer that occurs during pregnancy and postpartum
the most common in women under 45 years of age
is usually diagnosed at advanced stages compared to other breast cancers
Postpartum breast cancer is particularly aggressive
with a higher risk of metastasis and mortality
In previous studies the project team has shown that breast milk of breast cancer patients contains tumour-cell-derived DNA (or ctDNA)
Tests conducted so far indicate that tumour variants are found in the DNA isolated from breast milk in up to 78 % of cases
in this project the team will conduct a clinical trial involving more than 5,000 women
with the aim of incorporating this new diagnostic system into routine clinical practice
The aim is to verify the suitability of liquid biopsy in breast milk as a diagnostic test for detecting pregnancy-associated breast cancer in early stages
The clinical trial will use a test developed in the team’s laboratory based on next-generation technology
which has already been employed in the previously mentioned studies
This test must comply with the current European regulation governing in vitro diagnostic medical products
A new immunosuppressive drug to prevent organ transplant rejection
tissue and cell transplantation has become a global practice that can prolong and improve the quality of life for patients
transplantation and immunosuppression techniques have improved the effectiveness of transplants
although the volume of organ transplants has grown exponentially over recent years
long-term transplant outcomes have not improved much in the last few decades
This is primarily due to the significant side effects of current immunosuppressive drugs
which are essential to prevent immediate transplant rejection but result in high associated morbidity and mortality
The project team has developed a second-generation immunosuppressive molecule
structurally modified to enhance its immunomodulatory properties and effectively prevent transplant rejection by suppressing the activity of T and B cells
which are the main immune system cells responsible for causing transplant rejection
This molecule inhibits the production of antibodies against the transplanted organ by B lymphocytes
thereby improving the immunosuppressive profile of the immunosuppressants currently in use
but with the important difference that it lacks the most relevant adverse effects associated with these drugs
the objectives of the project are to compare the in vivo efficacy of this new immunosuppressive drug with respect to commonly used treatments in two experimental animal models
evaluate the mechanisms that prevent transplant rejection through the new molecule
conduct performance studies including the development of a stable production line for the drug and establish a pre-clinical regulatory strategy for technology transfer
The presentation was given by doctors Benito
VHIR and VHIO students have given a series of short lectures
More than 200 people have participated in a day full of short talks
Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus has celebrated its first PhD Day
a whole day of scientific activities created for and by the PhD community of Vall d'Hebron
The event was jointly organised by the Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR) and the Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO)
which collectively have more than four hundred pre-doctoral students
Both institutions wanted to create a day dedicated to promote and empower the doctoral community
The initiative was a success with more than 200 participants
it was officially opened at the highest institutional level with the presence of Dr Begoña Benito
Healthcare Director of the Vall d'Hebron University Hospital
Dr Benito congratulated and thanked the doctoral students for organizing this important day
and said that “you are the future of science
Dr Tabernero also put emphasis on the potential of PhD students
with a future full of potential and opportunities
Thank you for your ambition and determination in promoting the best science for our patients”
Dr Roman pointed out the privileged location of the campus
with two research centres next to a third-generation hospital with more than 9,000 professionals and a million patients a year
forming an international institution in healthcare
He added that "to be successful in research it is vital to share and communicate with your peers" and hoped that today will be a day to do that
One of the objectives of the day was to highlight the different lines of investigation undertaken by the pre-doctoral researchers
each given by a different doctoral student
The speakers were selected by a committee composed of members of the doctoral collective
and they illustrated the wide variety and high quality of research lines currently being studied in the Campus
with topics ranging from translation strategies to microRNA analysis
radiopharmaceuticals and physicochemical properties
Focus on Open Science and professional career options in an out of the academy
The event also included external experts who focused on topics of high interest to PhD students
Head of the Research Unit at the Learning and Research Resources Centre (CRAI) of the University of Barcelona (UB) and Head of the Office for the Dissemination of Knowledge of the UB
spoke about the importance of Open Science
He shared his experience as a member of several Open Science working groups at national and international level
Labastida stressed the importance of a good data management “is it crucial to have a Data Management Plan from the beginning
but don’t use a template and accept that it not just a one- time document
it has to be dynamic and adapt to the evolution of the project”.&nbsp;
there was a round table with four doctors who have embarked on different professional paths: a junior PI
a founder of a Spin-Off and a person who spend some time in private company and has returned to the Academy recently
The aim of the talk was to show the diversity of career options after the pre-doctoral period
The round table was open to questions from the audience to answer their doubts and queries about the different career paths
The day concluded with its most informal activities: outdoor games and a scientific Quizlet
This was the only portion of the day that was only available to PhD students
as its main objective was to foster networking among them
has a High Complexity Area with replicas of a critical care unit
outpatients clinic and operating theatre using state-of-the-art virtual reality
Vall d’Hebron has inaugurated the new Advanced Clinical Simulation Centre to coincide with Simulation Week
The space is equipped with cutting-edge technology to recreate clinical processes and procedures of any degree of complexity in environments comparable to the real ones
Any errors do not have any impact on the patient
making these useful learning opportunities
It allows for education and training in technical skills (specific to each speciality) and non-technical skills such as communication skills
which are not usually emphasised in the academic world and which are essential for the proper development of healthcare activities
“Simulation allows for experience-based and immersive training in a controlled and error-free space”
director of Teaching at Vall d’Hebron and at the new Advanced Clinical Simulation Centre: “it also serves to develop non-technical skills and to rehearse difficult situations and procedures to improve quality of care and patient safety”
Vall d’Hebron not only uses simulation for resident training
but health professionals of all professional categories and specialities — medical staff
— have incorporated it into their professional development
It is also planned to be incorporated into the training of security guards and other professionals in the near future
The new Advanced Clinical Simulation Centre at Vall d’Hebron
located on the fifth floor of the Traumatology
is one of the largest simulation centres integrated in a hospital in Europe and has a direct impact on healthcare
A total of 200 simulation instructors have already been trained among Vall d’Hebron professionals
lead training programmes for technical and non-technical skills and design and evaluate simulation environments
Vall d’Hebron is promoting the new centre to mark Simulation Week
and also wishes to create a space for debate on the use of simulation as a tool for training and educating professionals while raising awareness of the latest developments in this field
&nbsp;“With the simulation we not only recreate a physical environment but also a human one
where the participants are the protagonists: the interaction they establish with each other as a team and their emotions play a fundamental role,” stated Dr Jordi Bañeras
coordinator of the Advanced Clinical Simulation Centre at Vall d’Hebron and assistant physician in the Cardiology Department
“The introduction of simulation in aviation has helped to significantly reduce accidents
as it allows for rehearsal and training in real-life situations
Any medical procedure is indiscernible from the human factor
And simulation in healthcare lends the human factor the prominence it has in real life in the process of embedding knowledge,” he stated
simulation has been used to improve stroke code times
drastically reduce shoulder dystocia in neonates and make cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) equipment more effective
The new Advanced Clinical Simulation Centre has a High Complexity Area that reproduces a critical care unit
an operating theatre and two outpatient clinics
allowing healthcare workers to be trained and educated under real-life situations
It covers a total surface area of 1,400 m2
Its renovation has been made possible thanks to a 5.2 million euro grant received through the ERDF (European Regional Development Fund)
It also has virtual reality simulators that allow rehearsal of everything from obstetric procedures to laparoscopic surgery and robotic operations
To improve the degree of fidelity of the simulation scenarios
and even the clinical signs of certain pathologies
can be recreated to make the simulation as realistic as possible
Each simulation space in the High Complexity Area —critical care unit
operating theatre and outpatients clinic— has an adjacent control room and debriefing room where instructors
technicians and colleagues can observe the simulation without being seen
They are separated from the action by one-way glass
which the participants perceive as a mirror from the inside
As important as the simulation itself is the subsequent reflection on and analysis of the process
The simulations can be recorded by cameras inside the rooms and then subsequently analysed in the debriefing room
Audiovisual recordings of each simulation can be saved through a specific piece of software
and these may end up proving useful for analysing the procedure for research purposes
“Simulation makes it possible to recreate the vast majority of situations that arise in a hospital
both common and uncommon,” explained biomedical engineer Ignasi Maspons: “for example
it is possible to reproduce a complex surgical procedure on a simulator based on the patient’s pathology
This is why it is useful for all professionals
regardless of their years of medical practice”
Vall d’Hebron will celebrate Simulation Week for the first time between 25 and 29 April
which is due to take place in the new Advanced Clinical Simulation Centre
Through a series of round-table discussions
the latest developments in the use of simulation as a tool for educating and training professionals will be analysed through face-to-face and streamed sessions
the integration of simulation with healthcare services and its role in the training of medical residents will be some of the issues addressed
In the showrooms you can attend practical demonstrations of how the new simulators work
which teaches safe puncture under ultrasound control
which can be used to practice breaking up thrombi
There is also the Hybrids VITA simulator in ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation)
a technique used for patients in a critical condition and with very severe respiratory and/or cardiological diseases where conventional life support is not sufficient
All of these simulators have been designed by Vall d’Hebron professionals and the Vall d’Hebron Research Institute (VHIR) has participated in their development
There is also an exhibition that allows participants to connect to Simoons (SerIous gaMe per a la formaciÓ OnliNe amb Simulació)
a virtual simulation platform developed at the Advanced Clinical Simulation Centre involving the participation of almost a hundred clinical experts from Vall d’Hebron and in collaboration with an external virtual design company (PsicoVR)
It is an example of the innovative potential and co-creation opportunities offered by this new simulation centre
The Simoons platform has been used to help train professionals for over a year
providing virtual scenarios that recreate real environments such as an A&amp;E unit that was used during the Covid-19 pandemic for professionals to rehearse the correct use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Some of the topics to be addressed in round-table discussions during Simulation Week are what residents think about learning through simulation
the role of gamification and virtual reality and where simulation will lead to in the coming decades
with the intervention of world leaders in this field
This is a collaborative work of the Spanish Society of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology that aims to promote precision medicine in the national health system
The collaborative work of SEHOP started in 2019 and aims to boost precision medicine in the national health system in the field of childhood cancer
It has four main objectives: to assess the current situation in Spain
to define the molecular tests that should be used for each type of tumor
to facilitate access for all pediatric oncology patients to these programs regardless of the center where they are diagnosed and treated
and to facilitate access to targeted therapies and clinical trials of new drugs based on the results of molecular testing
The study published now is the first part of this work that analyzes national data on tumor molecular studies and genomic sequencing performed at diagnosis and relapse
and the clinical applicability of the results
The analysis was based on surveys carried out in 29 centers
which provide care to 84% of the total number of children with cancer in Spain
in order to obtain an overall view of the situation
The use of genomic sequencing techniques was studied
thanks to which cancer patients can receive a more accurate diagnosis and facilitate the identification of potential prognostic biomarkers that can help to improve their survival
Proper analysis of tumor mutations also helps to access clinical trials of targeted therapies when there is no success with conventional therapies
The results showed that 41% of hospitals have access to molecular characterization of tumors at the time of a new diagnosis
These molecular studies are carried out in 62% of the centers when there is a relapse
The most commonly used method for tumor sequencing is next generation sequencing (NGS)
which allows the simultaneous analysis of alterations in different genes and allows its application in clinical practice
there are other advanced methods for molecular analysis of the tumor
which are still not widely used due to their high cost but which provide additional information on the genetic alterations of the tumor
Vall d'Hebron is one of the hospitals using them
The study has observed that the degree of implementation is heterogeneous across the different regions
patient access to tumor sequencing has been the result of individual initiatives by the centers
which means that each one follows different protocols.&nbsp;"National coordination is necessary to overcome inequalities
Collaboration between different hospitals to create a homogeneous strategy will ensure equity in access to precision medicine for all patients and the future implementation of the national precision medicine program in routine clinical practice"
head of the Department of Hematology and Pediatric Oncology at Vall d'Hebron Hospital and head of the research group in Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders at VHIR
There are also some challenges to solve in order to apply these techniques in routine clinical practice
such as the limited access to targeted therapies or the high cost of personalized medicine
the following hospitals have participated in the study: Hospital Sant Joan de Déu
Hospital Infantil Universitario Niño Jesús (Madrid)
Hospital Infantil Virgen del Rocío (Sevilla)
Clínica Universitaria de Navarra and Instituto de Salud Carlos III
This work has established the basis for the PENCIL-SEHOP project
recently awarded by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III and led by Vall d'Hebron
which will be launched in the coming months
This is a project for the implementation of personalized medicine programs to which pediatric patients from all over Spain can have access
Pacient que ha participat a l'estudi i equip mèdic implicat en el nou tractament que permet el trasplantament de ronyó en pacients fins ara inoperables
cap del Servei de Nefrologia i Trasplantament Renal i Adela Amat
Equip mèdic implicat en el nou tractament que permet el trasplantament de ronyó en pacients fins ara inoperables
The Kidney Transplantation Unit of Vall d'Hebron Hospital was the first European center to include patients in the post-authorization efficacy study
the step prior to approval by the European Medicines Agency
The Kidney Transplantation Unit of Vall d'Hebron is the first European transplant center to treat a patient in a Phase III clinical study to demonstrate the efficacy of a new drug that will allow kidney transplantation in people with a hyperactivated immune system
there is an excess of antibodies in the blood against most of the antigens of the population's HLA system
which is expressed by the cells of the different tissues of the organism and marks whether an organ can be compatible for a specific patient
organ rejection would occur rapidly and practically irreversibly
these patients have an extremely low probability of finding a compatible donor
an organ without any HLA antigen against which these antibodies are directed
This new drug has the ability to eliminate the antibodies and may be an effective therapeutic alternative for such patients with end-stage renal disease
who are destined to remain on dialysis for many years
Kidney transplantation is the treatment of choice for patients with end-stage renal disease
The transplanted organ has a median survival of about 15 years and therefore
a new transplant will often be necessary in the future
"In the cases in which there has already been a previous transplant
especially if it has been lost due to chronic rejection
or in women with previous pregnancies that have allowed contact with biological material from other individuals
the patient's immune system is more activated than usual and generates a large repertoire of specific antibodies that persist over time (immunological memory)
This can lead to rejection very quickly if the patient is transplanted with an organ expressing previously recognized HLA antigens"
head of the Nephrology and Kidney Transplantation Department at Vall d'Hebron University Hospital and of the Nephrology and Kidney Transplantation group at Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR)
this rejection can be immediate (hyperacute) and can cause transplant failure even when the patient is still in the operating room
there are very successful prioritization programs for receiving organs to facilitate transplantation in these cases in which it is very difficult to find compatible donors
there are people with such high levels of antibodies that
they are unable to find a compatible organ
multiple drugs and combinations have been studied to eliminate these antibodies that are generated
but the vast majority have not shown sufficient efficacy to allow the transplant to be successful
The new research in which Vall d'Hebron is participating is testing the efficacy of a new drug to eliminate the antibodies
In previous studies carried out in the United States and Sweden in a small group of patients
it was demonstrated that it is capable of transiently eliminating the antibodies in blood and the cells that produce them
thus making kidney transplantation possible and showing positive results up to 3 years after surgery
The treatment with imlifidase is carried out intravenously and is effective very quickly
at which time the patient can go to the operating room and be transplanted without having antibodies against the donor
"The drug gives us a window of opportunity of 5 to 6 days to perform the transplant
we know that afterwards the antibodies are produced again
but then the patient is under treatment with other immunosuppressants that can modulate the immune system in the short and medium term"
"It is very likely that transplant survival in these patients is not comparable to that of those who receive a compatible organ
but it may allow the patient to live with a functioning kidney for a long period of time without the need for dialysis
this drug can have a very positive impact on these patients
The first patient at Vall d'Hebron to participate in this study was a 54-year-old man who had required dialysis since 1984 due to a malformation of the urinary tract that caused the progressive onset of chronic end-stage renal failure
After two unsuccessful transplantation attempts in 1991 and 1996
the patient's immune system became sensitized and his antibody levels were very high
making it impossible to find a compatible donor during all these years
the patient received imlifidase treatment followed by a kidney transplant
he continues to be followed up on an outpatient basis and does not require dialysis
"This drug may open the door to transplantation for a group of highly sensitized individuals with virtually no option for a compatible transplant
the proportion of this type of patients can reach 10-15% of the total who are currently on the waiting list for a kidney transplant"
head of section of the Kidney Transplantation Unit at Vall d'Hebron University Hospital and researcher of the Nephrology and Renal Transplantation group at VHIR
This process requires a very high level of specialization of the teams
as well as a great multidisciplinary coordination between nephrologists
transplant coordination and a highly specialized nursing team
"This type of patient is also quite complex from the surgical point of view
since they have a biological age that does not generally represent the chronological age due to the fact that they have been on dialysis for so many years
which requires a great deal of surgical experience in the field of transplantation"
head of the Urology Department at the Vall d'Hebron University Hospital
Their management after surgery requires great expertise for nursing care during hospital admission"
supervising nurse of Transplantation at Vall d'Hebron University Hospital
"Patients are susceptible to developing serious complications
It is important to have very precise follow-up and monitoring and a lot of experience of the team to be able to anticipate possible complications after transplantation"
Prior step to approval by the European Medicines Agency
The study in which Vall d'Hebron is participating is a post-authorization efficacy study (PAES)
a Phase III clinical trial that is considered the previous step to approval by the European Medicines Agency (EMA)
It will involve 50 highly sensitized patients who need a kidney transplantation but who
due to their immunological characteristics
are considered highly unlikely to find a compatible donor
The study is promoted by Hansa Biopharma AB
The Hospital Clínic in Barcelona and the Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre in Madrid will also participate
Vall d'Hebron was the first European center to begin including patients
Equips que han rebut finançament a&nbsp;La Marató de 3Cat 2022
The Cardiovascular Diseases and Neurovascular Diseases groups at VHIR will investigate new therapeutic strategies for heart failure
nanomedicine in stroke and the prevention of cardiovascular toxicity in the case of oncological treatments
You can find out about VHIR's projects below:
The role of amino acid metabolism reprogramming and calpain dysregulation in fibroblast activation and diffuse myocardial fibrosis in heart failure
principal investigator of the Cardiovascular Diseases group at VHIR
in collaboration with Dr Arantxa González from the Foundation for Applied Medical Research (CIMA) in Pamplona
Heart failure (HF) is a complex and heterogeneous syndrome with a great socio-economic impact
there is an urgent need to find new strategies focussed on alterations that cause heart dysfunction
which refers to the excessive deposition of collagen within the cardiac tissue
is one of the main disorders found in patients with HF
Cardiac fibroblasts are the main promoters of DMF
but the mechanisms that modulate their activation and excessive collagen production are poorly characterised and no specific treatments are available
It is hoped that the knowledge generated by this multidisciplinary and innovative project will contribute to the design of new treatments to improve the life expectancy and quality of life of HF patients and to identify biomarkers with diagnostic potential
Endovascular delivery of therapeutic nanomaterials for stroke recovery
head of the Neurovascular Diseases group at VHIR
in collaboration with Dr Anna Roig's research group at the Institute of Materials Science of Barcelona (ICMAB)
Stroke occurs when a blood clot or thrombus blocks a cerebral artery (ischaemic stroke) or when an intracranial artery is blocked (haemorrhagic stroke) and causes cell death in specific areas of the brain
The only treatments available are thrombolytics for ischaemic strokes with tissue plasminogen activator to dissolve the clot or endovascular treatments for its mechanical removal
These treatments must be received within the first few hours after the onset of symptoms
which means that only around 15% of total strokes can be treated with these techniques
there is an urgent need to investigate new treatments to protect the brain or repair damaged tissue
new endovascular interventions could be very useful
as they use microcatheters to travel through the arterial blood system and remove the clots blocking the cerebral blood vessels
This system opens the door to new opportunities for directly accessing damaged brain areas and administering treatments through safe surgery
proposes to take advantage of this clinical procedure to investigate the administration of therapeutic nanomaterials for the recovery of tissues affected by stroke in order to improve the delivery and arrival of therapeutic agents to the affected area of the brain
the team is interested in testing molecules with proven therapeutic actions in the recovery of brain cells in nanometric-sized capsules
Administration through the blood vessels directly into the brain will help the treatment to reach the small cerebral vessels better
and the use of an external magnet will improve its retention in the damaged areas of interest
which will be tested in animal stroke models* in this project
will be useful in restoring the brain from stroke damage in a more effective way than if the treatment were administered freely to the general circulation
Cardiovascular toxicity in early HER2-positive breast cancer: from risk assessment to prevention
head of the Cardiology Department at Vall d'Hebron University Hospital and head of the Cardiovascular Diseases group at VHIR
HER2-positive breast cancer (HERBCA) is the leading cause of cancer death in women
HER2 is a protein that confers the tumour an aggressive biological behaviour and a worse prognosis
Several drugs have so far been developed to block HER2
among which trastuzumab stands out as the first and most widely used against breast cancer
in addition to being expressed in breast cancer cells
HER2 is also expressed in myocardial (heart) cells
and it has been observed that in some cases
HER2-positive breast cancer treatment is associated with a high incidence of heart damage
This damage to the heart can sometimes limit the therapy against the tumour and even cause death
The aim of the study is to diagnose cardiotoxicity at an early stage by using analytical markers of cardiac damage (troponin) and cardiac imaging techniques (echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging)
the aim is to study the association of these alterations with progression to more advanced stages of cardiotoxicity
such as the appearance of left ventricular dysfunction
It will also assess how some possible cardioprotective drugs
can attenuate the progression of cardiotoxicity from the initial stages to the development of cardiac dysfunction
the study aims to demonstrate whether there is a certain genetic predisposition to the development of cardiotoxicity and will delve deeper into the physiopathological mechanisms involved in the toxicity of the heart
<a href="https://vhir.vallhebron.com/sites/default/files/2022-05/declaracio-institucional-us-animals-experimentacio.pdf" target="_blank">*Institutional Declaration on the use of animal research</a>
has observed that adding Bevacizumab to treatment with different chemotherapy drugs reduces tumor size in a greater number of patients
The BEACON clinical trial, in which Vall d'Hebron has participated, has shown that the combination of antitumor drugs in chemotherapy improves the response to treatment and survival in patients with relapsed or refractory neuroblastoma, a very aggressive type of childhood cancer. The results of the study, led by the University of Birmingham, have been published in the <a href="https://ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/JCO.23.00458">Journal of Clinical Oncology</a>
the largest clinical trial conducted so far in relapsed or refractory neuroblastoma
involved 160 patients between 1 and 21 years of age from 43 hospitals in 11 European countries
Half of them received conventional treatment with chemotherapy
while the second group was additionally administered Bevacizumab
This drug blocks the tumors from forming blood vessels and thus makes it more difficult for them to receive food and oxygen and helps the cancer cells to die
in the group receiving Bevacizumab together with conventional therapy
in the group receiving standard therapy alone
only 18% of patients responded to treatment
patients with Bevacizumab had better survival rates after one year
especially with the three-drug combination of Bevacizumab
"BEACON has helped us to identify new treatment combinations for patients with relapsed neuroblastoma
The results offer new therapeutic options for patients with poor prognosis who until now did not respond to any established treatment"
international coordinator of the clinical trial and head of the Pediatric Oncology and Hematology Department at Vall d'Hebron University Hospital and of the Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders group at Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR)
BEACON study to improve neuroblastoma treatment
BEACON is a Phase II clinical trial aimed at improving the treatment of children and adolescents with relapsed or non-responsive neuroblastoma
The study is the result of collaboration between 43 hospitals in Europe
with the participation of the expert groups SIOPEN (International Society of Paediatric Oncology European Neuroblastoma) and ITCC (Innovative therapies for children with cancer)
Hospital Infantil Universitario Niño Jesús
Hospital de Cruces and Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío
which will test new therapeutic combinations to improve the response to treatment and
the survival and quality of life of children affected by the disease and their families
Team of the IPOV project in Vall d'Hebron: Vanessa Bueno
The team will design and implement a training program for professionals for the respectful care of maternity and childbirth
«Obstetric Violence (IPOV): An innovative tool for a respectful maternity and childbirth care» is an international and multidisciplinary staff exchange project focused on tackling the harmful and disrespectful treatment suffered by women in labour in health facilities
Obstetric violence is a worldwide concern in need of urgent attention (WHO 2014
The UNIUD (coordinator) was successful in its application to the European programme HORIZON-MSCA-2022-Staff Exchange
The agreement between the Italian University and the European Commission was officially signed on 23 October 2023 allowing for the IPOV-RESPECTFUL CARE project to start on 1 January 2024
The Maternal and Fetal Medicine group takes part of the project
Professor Patrizia Quattrocchi of the Department of Humanities and Cultural Heritage at UNIUD is the Principal Investigator of the project
She takes this position as is an expert in medical anthropology who has studied the politics of birth and childbirth in different contexts for many years
Professor Quattrocchi will coordinate the large international partnership made up of 19 institutions from 6 European countries and 3 Latin American countries
health professionals and members of civil society organisations
will work to achieve four scientific objectives:
dissemination and communication activities are also planned for both the scientific community and civil society
These activities include the development of graphic materials and awareness-raising campaigns targeted at women and couples
as well as the production of scientific publications
The relevance of the IPOV-RESPECTFUL CARE project
which invites reflection on the systemic and structural dimensions of obstetric violence (defined in the international literature as gender-based
institutional violence and a violation of human rights as part of an increasingly interventionist model of care)
is also reflected in the growing interest in the topic shown by European and international institutions (UN 2019
political and medical debates on this issue
considered by the WHO as a major public health problem
and to build an alliance between the scientific community
women and civil society in order to rethink the modalities of a fundamental act par excellence: how we come into the world
In addition to Vall d’Hebron and the University of Udine
the following partners are involved in the project: for Spain
the Universitat Rovira I Virgili (Tarragona)
En Positivo Comunicación y Diseño Social for NGOs (Malaga)
the Observatorio de Violencia Obstétrica (Madrid); for France
the Institut National d’Études Démographiques (Aubervilliers Cedex); for Norway
the Universitetet i Søraust-Noreg (Porsgrunn); for the United Kingdom
the Instituto Universitário (Lisbon) and Gimnográvida – Preparação Para Parto e Maternidade (Porto); for Italy
the Istituto di Cura a Carattere Scientifico e Ospedale materno infantile Burlo Garofolo-Who collaborating Centre for maternal and Childbirth health (Trieste) and the Scuola elementare di arte ostetrica in Firenze; for Argentina
the Universidad Nacional de Entre Ríos (Concepción del Uruguay)
the Municipalidad de San Isidro-Hospital materno-infantil de San Isidro (Buenos Aires)
the Asociación Civil Argentina de Puericultura (Buenos Aires); for Costa Rica
the Universidad de Costa Rica (San José); and for Uruguay
the Universidad de La República (Montevideo)
Vall d’Hebron professionals can participate in this contest in two categories: People's Hospital and Scientific Category
participation increased: 115 photographs were submitted and more than 1,500 people voted
the winners of the photo contest have picked up their photographs in a printed form
the names of the authors of the twelve winning photographs in each category in the 2019 edition were announced
professionals from Vall d’Hebron can participate in two categories: “People’s Hospital” category and “Scientific Category”
People’s Hospital category includes daily moments of the general activity of Vall d’Hebron Campus
Photographs have to reflect the relationship between professionals or between professionals and patients and their families in a creative way
The Scientific Category aims to make research known
parallelism and synergies that are established between science
two calendars (planning and table formats) are designed with the winning photographs
has been the most voted winner thanks to the photograph “Un nou cor per tornar a començar”
researcher at the Ophthalmology research group at VHIR
has been the most voted winner the photograph “hiPSC-brain cells”
They both won a Polaroid camera as a prize
Title: Un nou cor per tornar a començar i Mirades entre germans
Title: El pacient quirúrgic i la importància de la prehabilitació multimodal
Title: Neural flowers i  hiPSC-brain cells
Title:  Colonias rojas y blancas i Ramillete de levaduras
We remind you that the 2020 edition is still open and the last day to apply is November 2
2020 Bases and more information: <a href="https://nlsomvh.vallhebron.com/forms/concurs-fotografic/" target="_blank">https://nlsomvh.vallhebron.com/forms/concurs-fotografic/</a>
The European University Hospitals Alliance (EUHA) is made up of nine reference hospitals in Europe and Vall d'Hebron is one of the founders together with the Karolinska University Hospital in Stockholm
The inclusion by the Department of Health of the Vall d'Hebron University Hospital in the European University Hospital Alliance (EUHA) is official today
The Government approved it last Tuesday and today the Alliance itself ratifies it in its assembly
The EUHA is a strategic alliance of nine hospitals that was founded in 2017
promoted by the Vall d'Hebron University Hospital and the Karolinska University Hospital in Stockholm
the following are part of the EUHA: the Assistance Publique - Hòpitaux de Paris (AP-HP) (France)
the Charité Universitatsmedizin in Berlin (Germany)
the Ospedale San Raffaele in Milan (Italy)
UZ Leuven in Leuven (Belgium) and AKH Wien &amp; MedUni Wien in Vienna (Austria)
Each of the members is a leading university hospital within their country with a capacity of more than 1,000 beds that offer the most advanced and specialized healthcare in most clinical specialties
they reach 100% of the existing European Reference Networks (ERN)
all members of the Alliance have centers of excellence in research and are associated with a university
education and innovation and knowledge transfer occupy a central place in its present and future strategy
The general objective of its members is to play an active role in shaping the future of healthcare for the European Union
sharing best practices for the benefit of the patient and maximizing efforts to promote high-quality research
One of the tools to achieve this will be the creation of a network of sustainable health ecosystems in Europe that achieve the best possible quality of care with the available resources
the Alliance allows widening opportunities for researchers
clinicians and other workers to gain experience in other European university hospitals and to develop professional networks
From an opportunity and strategy point of view
the participation of the Vall d'Hebron University Hospital of the Institut Català de la Salut in this international association will make it possible to work together with the best university hospitals in Europe and achieve the objective of learning and sharing good practices in different areas (management
and at the same time it will also allow the establishment of relevant collaborations and synergies with high added value in Europe
the positioning of the center as one of the leading European university hospitals in the European biomedical ecosystem is strengthened
with the capacity to influence within this environment
values ​​that the incorporation of the Vall d'Hebron University Hospital into the main strategic alliance of hospitals at a European level “not only highlights and certifies the high level of excellence of this health center
but also positions to the Catalan Health System as a reference model among the best health systems in Europe”
“Being part of this alliance will allow us to strengthen international relations with our European counterparts but
to share experiences and good practices that become an improvement in the health of our citizens”
emphasizes Vergés before adding that in some moments of health emergency such as the current ones
and in the midst of a pandemic with global affectations
collaborations between hospital centers “are not only strategic but essential: the EUHA is the alliance of maximum excellence where to debate and configure the future of European health systems”
“The Vall d'Hebron University Hospital leads the Research and Innovation pillar within the EUHA
a fact that strategically positions us to be able to contribute to decision-making in health policies and the financing of health research at the European level through dialogue directly with the European Commission”
and with the vocation of being an active part of the European strategic health agenda
the EUHA is already working to conceptualize a white paper of strategies based on health data to empower patients and promote the principles of RRI (responsible research and innovation) in health organizations
in the conceptualization of a European Health Data Space
in the promotion of advanced therapies in Europe and especially in the design of systemic solutions that stimulate the transformation of health ecosystems to respond in an effective way to the new global challenges that society is facing
The new Vall d’Hebron Research Institute (VHIR) building is a clear strategic commitment that will benefit the Institute’s current researchers and offer an opportunity to lay the foundation for continued growth
It is a commitment to attracting and retaining talent
enhancing public and private alliances and consolidating the VHIR as a benchmark research centre with leading techniques
It is not just a question of money or infrastructure
but it also directly impacts on the care we offer our patients
The team of Catalan architects formed by BAAS Arquitectura i Espinet/Ubach won the tender to build the new VHIR building and change the layout of Vall d’Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus
Their design was selected from five finalists by an international panel comprising well-known architectural figures
The proposal from the team led by Jordi Badia
Antoni Ubach and Miquel Espinet solves the issue of internal mobility within the Campus using a vertical axis of escalators
It also eliminates internal vehicle traffic and allows the Campus to be opened up to neighbouring areas
structured through a system of courtyards and squares
it will have an expandable area of 5,000 m2 and budget of €15 million
The area earmarked for the construction of the new VHIR building is on the same plot as Vall d’Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus
where the hospital laundry (no longer in use) was located
VHIR has been granted part funding by the European Union
through the ERDF (European Regional Development Fund)
They will provide 50% of the capital required
The rest will be co-financed by foundations
The Vall d’Hebron Research Institute has grown constantly since it was first founded
this growth has not been accompanied by the corresponding infrastructure
the more than 1,400 people who currently work at the VHIR are spread across different buildings on Vall d’Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus
The new building will bring together this talent and give them the infrastructure to allow them to enhance their competitiveness and excellence
The new VHIR building is a project that solves a current situation
but above all it does this while also thinking about the future and about knowledge transfer.&nbsp;To enhance this aspect
the new VHIR building will house a business centre
a key factor in the process of internationalisation of the Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus
It will also support our researchers in taking the step of transferring their knowledge through the creation of companies and by attracting biotech or pharmaceutical companies that wish to drive more of their activity in cooperation with our research groups.&nbsp;
The VHIR is taking advantage of the chance to plan a new challenge: the creation of an Advanced Therapies and Biomedicine Centre
to lead innovative research on gene transfer
at the same time ensuring their safe preclinical and clinical development
with the aim of making these types of treatment accessible to patients
That is why the new VHIR building has an area especially for dissemination and several spaces for teaching
It is vital to explain what researchers are doing
both to the scientific community and to society
New spaces to explain human stories of scientific progress
An incubator for knowledge in the service of society
The Campus Transformation Plan aims to govern the future growth and development of the hospital and the whole of the Vall d’Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus
It establishes the guidelines for the hospital’s evolution towards an environmentally sustainable healthcare model integrating care
The future campus of Catalonia’s largest health centre will have more green spaces and will be open to the city. This is the proposal put forward by the <a href="http://www.jordibadia.com/" target="_blank">BAAS</a> and <a href="https://espinet-ubach.com/" target="_blank">Espinet-Ubach</a> studies project
winners of the architectural tender for the urban transformation of the Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus
The main goals of this urban plan from a care point of view are to:
The Vall d’Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus transformation plan will change the layout of the environment
among others: recovering welcome and rest areas for patients
professionals and visitors; opening the campus up to the city; improving accessibility and mobility on-site; and decongestion of Campus surroundings
led by the Germans Trias Hospital and the ICS Hospital Directorate and presented at the European Stroke Congress
determines where patients should be transferred when they are suffering from a stroke and are far from a high-tech hospital center where endovascular treatment
necessary in 50% of the most serious strokes
professionals from the Germans Trias and Vall d'Hebron hospitals
with the coordination of the Director Plan for Cerebral Vascular Disease of the Ministry of Health of the Government of Catalonia
and in collaboration with the Medical Emergency System (SEM) and the 28 reference hospitals for stroke in the public network of Catalonia began a study to determine where patients suffering from a severe stroke should be transferred and who are far from a high-tech hospital center where endovascular treatment can be done
which is necessary in 50% of the most serious strokes
were presented at the European Stroke Congress
RACECAT study aims to determine which are the most effective transfer circuits for patients with severe stroke
These patients often require endovascular treatment to remove the thrombus
which is only available in some centers of the stroke care network
and which is often far from the place where the patient is
The results indicate that the chances of clinical recovery are just as good whether the transfer is made directly to one of the centers with the capacity for endovascular treatment or if a first care is made in one of the local centers and later a secondary transfer when be necessary
The results of the study provide an answer to a scientific question of great interest for the organization of stroke care systems
The characteristics of the Catalan model have made it possible to carry out the study with 28 hospitals involved and coordinated with SEM
the involvement of more than 2,000 professionals
the use of a common stroke code registry and central coordination from the office of the Director Plan for Cerebral Vascular Disease
The study was carried out over a period of 3 years and a total of 1,400 patients were included
“This study answers a key question in the management of stroke during the first minutes
if the patient is transferred to a nearby center and this is well coordinated with a tertiary center
neurologist at the Stroke Unit at Vall d’Hebron University Hospital
neurologist at the Germans Trias Hospital and head of the Stroke Director Plan of Generalitat de Catalunya
highlights that “the study has served to highlight that the model of the Stroke care network in Catalonia is exemplary and highly effective” and adds: “With these results it is clear that we must demand that we continue to maintain this quality of care
a highly coordinated system that goes from the first care of the emergency services (SEM) to the hospital
and that it has proven to be very beneficial for our patients”
The RACECAT study has been possible because in Catalonia there is a Stroke Code system with good coordination between prehospital and hospital care
and a highly consolidated registry of patients with the stroke code (CICAT registry)
"Both the network care model and the registry
have been key both for the execution of the study and for its results"
former director of the Director Plan for Cerebral Vascular Disease
and current director care of ICS hospitals
The RACECAT study shows the effectiveness of the stroke care circuits in our territory thanks to the high coordination between the EMS and the hospital centers
45% of patients with severe ischemic stroke receive a thrombectomy
which is one of the highest rates in Europe
with an average of 4 and a half hours from the onset of symptoms
even in patients who are far away and are initially cared for in a first local stroke center
The direct transfer to a center where the intervention can be done allows to accelerate the treatment in almost 1 hour
this circuit involves transferring to a hospital some patients in whom a sure diagnosis has not been made and who ultimately do not require advanced treatment to a remote hospital
The results indicate that both options are equally safe and the longer transfer does not carry an increased risk of complications during the transfer
The results of the RACECAT study are of global interest as they help to plan the organization of referral and transfers of stroke patients
making a first visit to a local hospital can lead to a significant delay in starting definitive treatment
and this can lead to fewer options for recovery
According to the results of the RACECAT study
in Catalonia patients receive care in the first hospital with 88 minutes on average
the first tests and the first care are performed in less than 40 minutes
and they arrive at the second hospital where thrombectomy can be performed with 180 minutes on average
These times are extremely fast compared to other territories
and show the effectiveness of the stroke care network in Catalonia
managed and monitored by the Director Plan for Cerebral Vascular Diseases
endovascular treatment is available in 6 tertiary stroke centers on a continuous basis
and it is being extended part-time to another 4 hospitals in the territory to make it accessible earlier and not have to make such long transfers by ambulance
when the SEM is notified of a person who has suffered a stroke
the ambulance transfers him to the proximity stroke center -up to 28 throughout the territory- in accordance with the instruction of the Stroke Code
This Stroke Code system organizes care based on SEM and a network of 28 hospitals with the capacity to accurately and quickly diagnose patients with suspected stroke
and administer intravenous thrombolytic treatment
The implementation of the RACE scale (acronym for Rapid Arterial oClusion Evaluation)
is a key element in the beginning of the stroke care chain
when medical emergencies provide patient care "in situ"
The incorporation of the RACE scale in the initial evaluation by the SEM allows adding information on the severity
of great value for the hospital that will receive the patient in the first instance because it allows an early approach to the treatment
RACE is a scale created by neurologists from the Germans Trias Hospital and developed by SEM professionals
which has become an international reference and allows easy evaluation in the same place of the events
and by SEM professionals (emergency medical technicians
the severity of the stroke and determine if it is possible that the patient may have one of the main arteries of the brain obstructed
When the patient is cared for in the hospital
they make an accurate diagnosis that determines whether the stroke was caused by a hemorrhage (hemorrhagic stroke) or by the obstruction of a blood vessel in the brain (ischemic stroke or cerebral infarction)
This conditions the treatment that will be done later
The degree of brain involvement is also evaluated
In the case of obstruction of one of the main blood vessels
the treatment that has been shown to be the most effective is the performance of a mechanical thrombectomy
If the hospital where the patient is treated cannot perform this intervention
the patient is administered a thrombolytic drug -when necessary
in coordination via telematics with a larger center- and
they are transferred to a center that can perform a brain catheterization
which does not present worse records than doing the service directly at the most distant high-tech center
Several studies have shown that patients from remote areas treated
in a hospital who cannot perform thrombectomy and who must later be transferred to a tertiary center
may have fewer options to benefit from catheterization but
no scientific evidence was available to support it
the results obtained by RACECAT have ruled out this hypothesis
showing that the initial evaluation using the RACE scale already allows the hospital center to prepare to start treatment as quickly as possible
The research team used nanotechnology to deliver the drug directly to liver cells
which eliminated side effects without reducing effectiveness
which are the primary inducers of liver damage
but a new delivery method that uses nanotechnology to allow the drug to act directly on key liver cells
a drug used as an adjunct therapy for cholesterol that had been shown to have a protective role for endothelial cells
which are essential in preventing the creation of liver fibrosis that causes liver inflammation
The problem is that oral or intravenous administration of the required dose causes a number of side effects
The aim of the research was to find a way to deliver the drug directly to the endothelial cells of the hepatic sinusoid without it spreading to other parts of the body and causing unwanted side effects
This active and specific targeting was achieved by binding polymeric micelles to peptides recognised by the liver endothelial cell-specific surface marker CD32b
a reduction in liver fibrosis was observed in in-vivo models without a significant increase in toxicity and
an effective and safe method to treat chronic liver diseases.&nbsp;
Abasolo adds "that once we have demonstrated the efficacy of the technology to directly reach the endothelial cells of the sinusoids
it opens up a wide range of possible medicaments with which we can use this nanotechnology to improve liver function"
These professionals are Dr Marc Miravitlles and Dr Miriam Barrecheguren
researchers from the Pneumology Research Group at the VHIR and assistant physicians in the Pneumology Department at Vall d'Hebron University Hospital
The 2021 European Respiratory Society (ERS) Congress
which are hosted in a different European city each year
bring together 20,000 to 25,000 professionals from the sector for each time
This year’s Congress was originally scheduled to be held in Barcelona
the event will now be held entirely online
the Congress has still decided to name two professionals who work in the host city as event ambassadors
from the Pneumology Department of Vall d'Hebron University Hospital and principal investigator of the Pneumology Research Group at the Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR); and Dr Miriam Barrecheguren
assistant physician in the same hospital department and investigator in the same VHIR Research Group
“We are delighted to be named ambassadors of the ERS Congress”
“because it is recognition of the fantastic work carried out by Vall d’Hebron University Hospital in international activities
These include helping to shape the ERS’ guidelines on asthma
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
as well as helping to coordinate various European collaborations such as the EARCO registry (European Alpha-1 antitrypsin Deficiency Collaboration)
which will take place between 6 and 8 September
will cover all aspects of respiratory diseases across 350 sessions and will include presentations of some 3,000 abstracts of scientific papers and articles
“the main theme of this year’s Congress is the use of digital healthcare to improve the quality of care received by patients suffering from chronic respiratory diseases”
during the event “there will be sessions dedicated to remote applications
portable devices and other technologies that allow for a more accurate treatment and follow-up of patients suffering from these pathologies”
Dr Miravitlles and Dr Barrecheguren will moderate the special Congress session on the topic of digital healthcare
Other Vall d’Hebron professionals set to participate in the ERS International Congress are Dr Xavier Muñoz and Dr Iñigo Ojanguren
both of whom belong to the Pneumology Department of Vall d'Hebron University Hospital and work as principal investigators for the VHIR's Pneumology Research Group
Dr Muñoz and Dr Ojanguren will give a presentation on the new regulations on the diagnosis of asthma in acute patients that incorporate the use of nitric oxide
various professionals from the Vall d’Hebron University Hospital’s Pneumology Department will present the preliminary results of the EARCO international registry
coordinated from the Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR) with the first 500 patients suffering from the rare alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency; and
in collaboration with members of the Biochemistry Department
they will also present a study on novel pathogenic pathways of this same disease
Dr Miriam Barrecheguren will also give a presentation on COPD biomarkers
New to this year’s ERS International Congress are the skills workshops
which are more geared towards clinical practice
Eight pre-recorded skills workshops will explore techniques such as chest ultrasounds
cardiopulmonary exercise testing and mechanical ventilation
The Congress will also have a section dedicated to Covid-19
in which the results of coronavirus-related clinical trials and basic scientific studies will be presented
Obstructive diseases such as asthma and COPD will also be discussed in depth
with presentations being given on the major advances on new biologic treatments based on biologically-produced monoclonal antibodies for the most severe patients who do not respond to corticosteroids
Another of the main sections will focus on pulmonary fibrosis
with new drugs for treating the disease due to be presented
Persona rebent la vacuna d'HIPRA contra la COVID-19
have started calling for volunteers to take part in the phase III trial of the COVID-19 vaccine developed by the biotechnology pharmaceutical company HIPRA
The Spanish Agency of Medicines and Medical Devices (AEMPS) has authorised the phase III clinical trial to start once the phase IIb trial showed good tolerability
a good safety profile and a powerful response to the variants
This is the last phase of the clinical trial before marketing the vaccine
which will involve 3,000 people aged over 16
assessment of the safety and efficacy of the HIPRA booster dose against COVID-19 will continue in a larger group of people who have received different vaccines (AstraZeneca
Pfizer and Janssen): This study aims to confirm that reinforced immunisation with the HIPRA vaccine can broaden protection to cover new variants and prolong the preventative effect of vaccination
The volunteers will be followed for a year to assess long-term safety and the immune response
People who wish to participate must have received one or two doses of one of the authorised vaccines (Comirnaty (Pfizer)
Janssen (Janssen) or combinations) at least 3 months before participating
Volunteers who have had COVID-19 in the last 1 month
Each hospital has prepared a section on their websites for people interested in enrolling
The trial is being assessed by the Hospital Clínic de Barcelona Ethics Committee and the AEMPS
The HIPRA vaccine against COVID-19 is an adjuvanted multivariate recombinant protein-based vaccine
based on s receptor binding domain (RBD) fusion heterodimer that contains the B.1.1.7 (alpha) and B.1.351 (beta) SARS-CoV-2 variants
The HIPRA vaccine can be kept at refrigerator temperature (2 to 8º C)
the technology used provides significant versatility in adapting to new variants of the virus
The results obtained so far show that the vaccine produces neutralising antibodies against current variants of concern (VOCs) and is effective in preventing the disease
Twenty hospitals to participate in the phase III trial
The finding opens the door to the development of new therapies that block neurodegeneration
beyond current treatments that focus on the inflammatory process and the control of relapses
led by the University of California - San Francisco and the University of Cambridge
researchers from the Clinical Neuroimmunology research group at the Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR) and the Multiple Sclerosis Center of Catalonia (Cemcat)
Multiple sclerosis is a disease in which the immune system attacks the brain and spinal cord
which is manifested by episodes or outbreaks with a time-limited increase in symptoms
and which also leads to a long-term degeneration of neurons
focused on the study of the progression of multiple sclerosis disability
certain variants in the genome were compared with the evolution of 22,000 patients
the first genetic variant associated with the severity of the disease was identified: a region located between the DYSF and ZNF638 genes
It was observed that people with two copies of this variant progressed more rapidly with the disease and needed help to walk about four years earlier than people who did not have it
it is known that DYSF is related to the repair of damaged cells in muscles
and that it could play a role in the survival of neurons
is involved in the control of viral infections
"These genes are very active in the central nervous system and not so much in the immune system
which tells us that the processes related to the repair and resilience capacity of the nervous system would determine the severity of multiple sclerosis"
from the Clinical Neuroimmunology Service at Vall d'Hebron University Hospital
principal investigator of the Clinical Neuroimmunology group at VHIR and head of the laboratory at Cemcat
The finding presented now offers the opportunity to develop new therapeutic options for patients with multiple sclerosis
"Knowing the mechanisms related to the evolution of the disease will help us to investigate new drugs that block neurodegeneration
since current treatments act essentially on the inflammatory process"
head of the Neurology Department at Vall d'Hebron University Hospital
head of the Clinical Neuroimmunology research group at VHIR and director of Cemcat
The results also highlight the effect of smoking and educational level on the disability caused by multiple sclerosis
it is observed that the educational level increases resistance to neurodegeneration
while smoking is related to the acceleration of disease progression
In addition to the variant between DYSF-ZNF638
the results also show that the DNM3-PIGC variant could play a role in the progression of severe disease symptoms and in difficulty in walking
although the association is not as marked as in the case of the former
The researchers therefore emphasize the need for further research to learn more about the impact of these and other possible variants on disease progression
The work has been possible thanks to the collaboration of more than 70 institutions from Europe
the United States and Canada that form part of two of the most relevant multiple sclerosis research consortia: the International Multiple Sclerosis Genetics Consortium (IMSGC) and The MultipleMS Consortium
Nurse Zahira Pérez at the Copenhagen conference
focuses on the description of possible factors that alter sexual function in people diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease
The <a href="https://www.ecco-ibd.eu/" target="_blank">European Crohn's and Ulcerative Colitis Organization</a> (ECCO) has awarded the N-ECCO grant to a research led by Zahira Perez
nurse at the Crohn's and Ulcerative Colitis Unit (UACC) of the Vall d'Hebron University Hospital and researcher of the multidisciplinary research group of Nursing of the Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR)
The project will look for potential factors that alter sexual function in people diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease
ECCO is a non-profit association focused on Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD) in Europe
It currently has more than 4,100 scientists and 20 partner organizations
with the aim of promoting international research projects led by expert nurses
This year's award ceremony took place during the annual congress held in Copenhagen between the 1st and 4th March
IBD currently affects more than 5 million people worldwide and has an increasing incidence
This age group usually coincides with the peak of reproductive age and life stages such as finding a partner
sexuality and intimate relationships are aspects that have a significant impact on their quality of life
This study on sexual well-being and quality of life in people diagnosed with IBD is part of the growing need to address issues related to sexual health with healthcare professionals
when analysing the different stages of sexual function
and sexual desire stand out as the phases most prone to suffer major alterations
the aim of this project is to study the prevalence and tendency of factors that may alter the sexual function of people with Crohn or Ulcerative Colitis's disease in comparison with the population without this diagnosis
we will differentiate the study of individual and partner sexual desire as well as its possible correlations with anxiety and depression
disease activity as well as quality of life
The data obtained from this population will be compared with healthy controls of the same age and gender
with the development of this project: "to be able to promote the early detection of sexual dysfunctions and to encourage the inclusion of psychoeducational interventions to the attention of the sexual sphere"
This clinical trial is part of the European project RBDCOV
led by HIPRA in which Vall d'Hebron participates
Vall d'Hebron and four other hospitals in Spain are conducting a clinical trial to study the safety
immunogenicity and efficacy of a booster dose of the COVID-19 adjuvanted recombinant protein vaccine (BIMERVAX®) from the biotech company HIPRA in healthy adolescents
150 participants have already been included in the study
and preliminary data show optimistic results for the vaccination of this group
it has already been confirmed that this vaccine has proven to be safe
low reactogenic and able to reactivate the immune response against COVID-19
also with respect to currently circulating variants
“With these initial results we see that it is a suitable vaccine for the pediatric population
It is important to continue research in order to have more robust data that will allow us to have a recombinant vaccine as a booster also in the pediatric population
it is important to recruit the 300 volunteers needed to complete this study and initiate it in children under 12 years of age”
head of the Infectious Pathology and Immunodeficiency Unit of Paediatrics at Vall d'Hebron University Hospital and of the Infection and Immunity in Paediatric Patients group at Vall d’Hebron Research Institute (VHIR)
The study will include a total of 300 adolescents aged between 12 and 18 years
who have already received two doses of Pfizer's Comirnaty at least six months ago
whether they have passed the COVID-19 or not
Hospital Universitario de la Paz (Madrid) and the hospitals HM Montepríncipe and Puerta del Sur (Madrid) are participating
Parents or tutors of minors interested in participating in this study can still do so to collaborate in the research of this vaccine
which has been completely developed and manufactured by the biotechnology company HIPRA in our country
they should contact the team responsible for the work by e-mail or telephone:
This clinical trial is part of the "RBD Dimer recombinant protein vaccine against SARSCoV2" (RBDCOV) project
tolerability and safety of HIPRA's recombinant COVID-19 vaccine in children (including adolescents) and immunocompromised individuals
RBDCOV is one of the international projects committed to test the vaccine against COVID-19 and allows the creation of links with other European initiatives to reinforce existing research infrastructures
Experts en esclerosi múltiple a la reunió celebrada a Barcelona
held between November 29 and December 2 in Barcelona
brought together experts and opinion leaders in the field of multiple sclerosis from around the world
The McDonald criteria are the clinical criteria used to diagnose multiple sclerosis
by an international panel of experts in the disease led by Ian McDonald
they have been modified in revisions in 2005
with the aim of facilitating their use in clinical practice
shortening the time to diagnosis and initiation of treatment and improving case detection
the body that has classically been in charge of reviewing the McDonald criteria
I proposed reexamining some of the more established concepts
This first seed culminated in a meeting held between November 29 and December 2 of this year
The meeting was attended by more than 55 experts and opinion leaders in multiple sclerosis from all over the world
assistant of the Neurology Service of the Vall d'Hebron University Hospital and principal investigator of the Clinical Neuroimmunology group of VHIR
clinical head of the Neurology Service of the Vall d'Hebron University Hospital and principal investigator of the Clinical Neuroimmunology group of VHIR
neurologist and researcher of Cemcat and the Clinical Neuroimmunology group of VHIR
assistant physician at the Preventive Medicine Service of the Vall d'Hebron University Hospital and head of the Epidemiology and Public Health group at VHIR
topics such as the isolated radiological syndrome
in which a person presents with white matter lesions suggestive of multiple sclerosis
the concepts of dissemination in time and space of lesions and the value of kappa-free light chains were discussed
The possibility of including the optic nerve as one of the typical topographies was also discussed
as well as the central vein sign (CVS) and paramagnetic rim lesions (PRL) as MRI biomarkers or the need to determine anti-MOG antibodies
"It was an honor to chair and collaborate in thoughtful discussions with key leaders from around the world to comprehensively explore and review numerous innovative concepts and advances in the field of multiple sclerosis," highlights Montalban
"We hope that the profound changes we have agreed upon will enable early diagnosis of multiple sclerosis
while maintaining or increasing its sensitivity and specificity
We also encourage the entire community of multiple sclerosis professionals to provide their comments
as we believe that all points of view are important."
“smart” means planning improvements in our physical surroundings
at the same time as promoting technological renovation
It also means enabling people’s experience
whether through new technologies in relation to patients
or working towards intelligent management of professional processes.&nbsp;
The environment and experience we offer people who pass through Vall d’Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus are key
and for this reason it is important they are at the same level of excellence as the healthcare and research
The goal is to build a Smart Campus to improve the quality of the patient and staff experience by using urban and sustainable resources
and technology to improve service experience and meet people’s needs
The Campus promotes the improvement of the experience and services for citizens and professionals
with measures that allow the most urgent shortcomings in our environment to be addressed
Vall d’Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus is developing projects to become a more accessible and smart campus
We are working to bring the Campus in line with the national and international benchmark we represent
projecting towards the new needs for the future and preparing us for the new challenges of public health over the next 20 years
The surroundings affect our level of service and patient experience
That is why the new Smart Campus model we are working on will guarantee its environmental sustainability and accessibility to the public
Changing the architecture throughout the Campus
establishing an architecture of unique buildings that symbolise the medicine of the future
opening up the hospital to the neighbourhood
providing green spaces and taking advantage of natural resources
Restricting traffic flow and rearranging the flow of authorised vehicles
All this is being planned in the context of the new VHIR building
which includes rearranging and reassessing the Campus buildings
evaluating them and applying sustainability measures aimed at efficiency and energy savings
constant maintenance and reduction of management costs
Vall d’Hebron is actively incorporating mobile technology into its relations with patients and staff
contribute to improving the public health system
The flagship app of the Vall d’Hebron Campus is a project that serves to put the healthcare system at patients’ fingertips
It facilitates access to and being on campus
with useful information about logistical aspects such as timetables
activities and other information of interest about the Campus
will allow the patient to track their history of appointments
and invite other people to share this information
The top functionality that “My Vall d’Hebron” incorporates is the ability to track operations
To improve professionals’ communication and knowledge
the Campus has also developed the We Are Vall d’Hebron application
and is partnering in the development of other applications to facilitate the relationship and experience of patients and citizens
“Smart” also means using technologies and new methods to accelerate and optimise processes
to organising work processes (relationships between staff
use of Big Data and global management systems)
1980) graduated at the ETSAB in Barcelona in 2005
From the beginning of his career he has combined his professional work with research
and obtained a Master degree in Theory and Practice of Architectural Projects from the UPC where he is currently a PhD Candidate
His thesis deals with the temporary occupations in the public space in Barcelona.Associate lecturer in Projects at the ETSAB since 2016
he taught Projects and Urban Design at the Reus School of Architecture and
He was also visiting professor in the Extra-Local workshop organised by Columbia GSAPP in 2019
has collaborated on international master’s degrees such as the BIARCH in 2012 and the master’s degree in Restoration at the UPC in 2014
and directed the Vertical Workshop at the UIC Barcelona School of Architecture in 2018.Carles Enrich’s aim of producing practice-based knowledge led him in 2013 to set up Carles Enrich Studio
where he develops projects that cover the entire habitable territory
The quality and rigour of the practice’s built work are endorsed by consecutive nominations for the European Union Mies Award (2017
2019) and the Lisbon Triennale Début Award 2016; the Spanish Architecture and Urban Design Biennale Awards in 2016 and 2018
They were also recognised in the studio’s participation in the Venice Architecture Biennale in 2012
with the exhibition Context in “Architectural Rowers” in the Catalan Pavilion and
which earned the Spanish Pavilion the Biennale’s Golden Lion
<a class="more_button" href="/en/category/architecture">Archive Architecture</a>
The Superbox initiative aims to provide an innovative tool for pediatric patients so that they can live the medication experience more positively and increase their well-being
Intravenous medication administration can cause anxiety
These factors add to the suffering inherent in the pathology due to the loss of quality of life and the long stays that children have to spend in the hospital
Vall d’Hebron University Hospital has made a firm commitment for years to humanize the treatment of patients and offer them the highest quality of life and well-being
Vall d’Hebron will now implement Superbox boxes to cover chemotherapies
Patients can decide which illustrations will decorate the boxes
the boxes are being used in pediatric oncology patients
Its use will then be extended to other pediatric and adult patients receiving this type of treatment
of the Pediatric Oncology and Hematology Service at Vall d'Hebron University Hospital and co-promoter of the Superbox project
parents and other relatives saw that when children come to receive treatment with serum or chemotherapy
many are worried because they know that they will have to be punctured and that they will have to be treated for hours”
Social Work Coordinator of the Vall d'Hebron University Hospital and co-promoter of the project
“we thought of creating a coverage for patients' serums with personalized and motivating illustrations that would transform the negative perception of admission and treatment
for the hope that the medication and the stay in the hospital will give them the necessary strength to improve their state of health”
the methodology of Design Thinking has been followed
which has demonstrated its success in the generation of innovative solutions in the healthcare environment
profiles are integrated that contribute with different interdisciplinary perspectives and generate an added value in the process of ideation and design
psychooncologists and engineers have participated in the Superbox project to develop the design and ensure that it meets the requirements of a healthcare team
100% recyclable and resistant to sterilization plastic
"Ensuring maximum security is one of the keys to this project,explains Dr
Superbox boxes allow the healthcare professionals to safely handle serum bags
the main added value of these boxes is preserved: humanization
children enjoy something that used to cause them anxiety and pain”
One of the most relevant phases in the implementation of this project has been the realization of a focus group
the implementation of the boxes in a small group of children to carry out a pre-implementation evaluation in the Pediatric Oncology and Hematology Service
“we have valued the project quantitatively with surveys of patients
relatives and professionals and qualitatively through a focus group that measures the experience of children through the scientific method
Both the children and the parents and professionals have valued them very positively”
“a group of professionals with an innovative profile such as social workers
professionals from the Preventive Medicine service and the Blood Bank
parents and engineers to continuously evaluate the patient experience and update the boxes if necessary”
In the patient experience groups organized during the design of the Superbox boxes
it was found that each patient has a different motivation to cover their medication with an illustration that excites him/her
or his/her favorite singer are some of the reasons that help patients find the strength to cope with difficult times in the administration of medication in the hospital
patients prefer to express their sadness or discomfort
emotions that can be conveyed through the illustrations
These are some of the texts with the design of Mr
Wonderful that they give positive and strong messages to patients while receiving treatment
Messages that go hand in hand with cute drawings such as hearts
The selection of sentences and illustrations has been done by three age groups to best connect with the children
the designs are classified into three groups: between 0 and 6 years
with more childish drawings and less text; between 6 and 12 years; and over 12
Eunice Blanco explains that this project has been possible thanks to the large Superbox family
"Without all of them we would not have gotten this far and
we want to recognize their generosity and professionalism
We also want to return this gratitude to our patients
The profits from Superbox will go towards the search for childhood leukemia
for all of them and for the smiles of all those who are no longer here”
The company Vecmedical has been responsible for the development and manufacture of the boxes
The Anima Foundation (Olga Adell and Ferran Martínez) has also collaborated in a very important way
An essential part of the project has been the participation of different illustrators such as: Mr
Chispum Studio (Javier Royo and Idoya García de Cortázar)
The photographers who provided the images were Toni Soriano
Miki Núñez and his team (Global Talent Services Universal Music) have put music to the project
Donations from individuals such as Francesc Ribalta and María del Carmen Sánchez (in memory of Francisco Sánchez Olmos and Emilia Conesa Martínez) have also contributed to the project
Noemí García and companies such as copyist Pelegrín
Vygon and Baxter have been fundamental in getting this far
Darko Peric and Oriol Bonet of Love of Lesbian have donated their images to motivate patients
8 prominent health institutions in the Barcelona area
and ICFO join forces through the creation of a network to bring cutting-edge photonic technologies to hospitals
Today we celebrate the consolidation of the Barcelona Medical Photonics Network that promotes the research and development activities carried out in and around Barcelona through long-standing collaborations between ICFO and its numerous clinical partners
The partner institutions initially participating in this network include 8 health institutions in Barcelona
together with their research institutes and ICFO
Vall d’Hebron Research Institute (VHIR) and Vall d’Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO) are part of it
photonics is playing an increasing role in medical techniques and practices
to the extent that today it is considered a key enabling technology in developing healthcare in Europe
Researchers at ICFO have extensive expertise in the development of photonic-based technologies for clinical use
in collaboration with doctors around the world
Successful ‘bench-to-bedside’ translation of new technologies require the collaborative efforts of experts in different fields
ensuring that research around medical technologies is continuously aligned with the needs of citizens and society at large
After over a decade of close collaboration with hospitals and health care specialists in the Barcelona area
the formalization of the Barcelona Medical Photonics network enables the solidification and expansion of the reach
scope and impact of these critical relationships
This network is part of the Light for Health program at ICFO
an initiative that was launched and took root thanks to the impetus of the Cellex Foundation
and continued to grow through the continuous support from the ”La Caixa” Foundation
from the perspective of the person or patient
must generate innovative solutions emerging as sparks from the collision of talents from multiple disciplines and sometimes very di erent worlds
Frailty and Transitions in Barcelona del VHIR and one of the researchers in the initiative
head of Section of Neurosurgery at Vall d’Hebron Hospital and researcher at the Neurotraumatology and Neurosurgery Unit at the VHIR
we have worked with ICFO to better understand the pathophysiology of complex pathologies such as severe head trauma
malignant heart attacks and various pathologies in children
This has allowed us to advance in the use of non-invasive monitoring systems of various intracranial parameters”
The Network aims to have an impact on society at many levels:
The main established joint endeavors to date have spanned initiatives in disciplines such as neurology and neurosurgery
The partner institutions initially participating in this network include: ICFO
Fundació Institut de Recerca de l'Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau
Institut d’Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau
Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS)
Institut d’Investigació i Innovació Parc Taulí
l’Institut d’Investigació en Ciències de la Salut Germans Trias i Pujol
Fundació Institut Hospital del Mar d’Investigacions Mèdiques (IMIM).The initiative is open to the participation of other entities that may contribute to its goals
Director of ICFO,highlights “It is incredibly rewarding to watch our science and technology
move into hospitals where it can help doctors better care for their patients
This journey requires a lot of perseverance and sustained support
for the past decade we have had this thanks to visionaries from the Cellex and ”La Caixa” Foundations
Barcelona City Council and the DGR of the Government of Catalonia
We thank everyone for their support and the doctors for their participation”
leader of the Medical Optics research group at ICFO
comments “Our goal is to see technologies enabled by advanced photonics in clinical practice
We will do that by working together with clinicians and biomedical researchers of this network
with industry and ultimately with governments
Barcelona area is a world-class place to achieve this goal with its diverse array of hospitals
research centers and companies as well as the support infrastructure.”
Deputy Mayor for Agenda 2030 and Digital Transition
also stresses out the importance of science and technology development by stating that “Barcelona needs scientific and technological collaboration spaces to promote research and innovation
Areas of collaboration between public and private sectors
The Barcelona Medical Photonics Network is one of the best examples of this
An example of applied research and new technological solutions put to the service of improving health
using new techniques that will have a concrete effect on advancing healthcare solutions in the city's hospitals
From the City Council we will collaborate with the Network on everything we can
as we have done to date with the ‘Light for Health’ program.”
The Hepatobiliopancreatic Surgery Service of Vall d'Hebron Hospital has performed the first pancreatic resection of a pancreatic tail tumor using a first generation Da Vinci robot
This intervention is about the first surgery of this type that takes place in the hospital
there is a better range of movements of surgical instruments than using a laparoscopic technic
The latest generation Da Vinci robot (Xi) consists of three main elements
who controls the surgical instruments from here using two manipulators and pedals
The view from the console allows the surgeon to see the operative field in three dimensions
the surgeon can move the instruments inside the patient with much more precision
which has four mobile arms that intervene directly on it and that translate the movements of the surgeon's hand
extending the range of movement of the instruments; and the viewing tower
which allows to visualize the surgery through cameras that offer an image in high definition
the arms and camera that enter the patient are only 8 millimeters in diameter
This new robot also incorporates a fluorescent imaging system called "Firefly" that allows a very accurate localization of the correct vascularization of the tissue
very useful in the preparation of the anastomoses
The Hepatopancreatic Surgery and Transplantation Surgery Service of Vall d'Hebron is organized into two sections: a section devoted mainly to liver surgery and liver and intestinal transplantation
in both cases minimally invasive techniques are developed advanced
These actions have helped improve the diagnosis rate of Chagas disease from 5-10% to 45% in Catalonia
The Drassanes-Vall d’Hebron International Health Unit has led a 13-year study with the aim of improving detection and access to diagnosis and treatment of Chagas disease in the Barcelona metropolitan area. From 2004 to 2017, different strategies were established to reach people at higher risk of the disease, especially immigrants from Latin America. The results are now published in <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0235466">PLOS ONE</a>
Chagas disease is endemic in Latin America
a parasite that is generally transmitted by a kissing bug bite
although it can also pass from infected mothers to offspring during pregnancy
It can cause digestive and/or cardiac complications that can become serious
there are drugs to remove the parasite from the body and thus cure the disease
Chagas disease affects between 6 and 7 million people
in Europe it is estimated that only between 5 and 10% of infected people have been diagnosed
since many patients are asymptomatic or have mild symptoms
those that are most affected by Chagas disease
face multiple complex barriers to access diagnosis and treatment: administrative barriers
such difficulties accessing healthcare services; and also psychosocial barriers
often due to ignorance of the characteristics of the disease itself
“It is important to work to improve detection of Chagas disease in at-risk populations
since this can reduce cardiac involvement and increase the quality of life with a holistic view”
head of the Public and Community Health Team (ESPIC) from the Drassanes-Vall d’Hebron International Health Unit
from the Preventive Medicine Departament at Vall d’Hebron
these actions have helped improve the diagnosis rate of Chagas disease from 5-10% to 45% in Catalonia
The study and the actions carried out by Vall d’Hebron have taken into account the difficulties of people at risk to access the healthcare system
based on a comprehensive vision to facilitate diagnosis and treatment and to prevent stigma and exclusion
“This is a pioneering study across Europe in improving accessibility to diagnosis and treatment of Chagas disease
The first phase of this study carried out in the Barcelona metropolitan area took place between 2004 and 2013
actions were developed to understand how Chagas disease behaves in migrant populations from Latin America in Barcelona and define the best strategy to reach this community
“the success of our strategies is based on the involvement of people from the beginning
we take into account their opinion and their fears or concerns”
the researchers verified that 65% of the participants
which demonstrated the existence of the disease in Barcelona and the need to establish sanitary measures in these people
people stated that they were afraid of having diagnostic tests and knowing whether they were infected
since they inevitably thought that the disease was linked to death
groups and activities were launched to facilitate access to information about Chagas disease and its diagnosis
These initiatives included the creation of the Association of Friends of People with Chagas Disease (ASAPECHA)
as well as participation in public events to reach the general population
Based on the results and experience from the first phase of the study regarding the behavior of people in Latin America and the initiatives that are best accepted among the population
the researchers decided the methodology to be followed during the second phase
three strategies were implemented with the aim of improving access to diagnosis and treatment of Chagas disease: informative workshops
participation in events and in situ screening actions
The workshops consisted of one hour talks for a maximum of 15 participants with the aim of informing and educating about the disease
they were invited to have a visit at the Drassanes-Vall d’Hebron International Health Unit to take the test and find out whether they were infected with Trypanosoma cruzi
159 out of 313 people who attended the talks were tested
they carried out actions in cultural events or crowded meetings
the presence of a large number of people in the same place during their free time (for example
a festival) was useful to inform about Chagas disease
in situ actions were also organized in cultural events but
it was difficult for people to go to a healthcare center to take de test
since it usually coincides with their work hours
we were next to them during their free time so the screening was much more easy”
community health agent at the Drassanes-Vall d’Hebron International Health Unit
830 of whom were tested and a total of 138 positives for Trypanosoma cruzi were obtained
the program Pacient Expert Catalunya en malaltia de Chagas en fase crónica (Expert Patient Catalonia in chronic phase Chagas disease) was launched
together with the Department of Health and with the recognition of the World Health Organization (WHO) as a good strategy to empower affected people
“The fact of meeting people in the same situation creates an empowering environment
The strength of the group makes people lose their fear and decide to take the test”
nurse at the Drassanes-Vall d’Hebron International Health Unit
Taking into account the results and the effort required by each of the community actions
the researchers recommend establishing a cost-efficient strategy
but it must be taken into account the population we want to access and
if the prevalence of the disease is high in a specific population
it is advisable to carry out in situ actions or informative workshops
since they allow that more people can take screening tests
when the prevalence is not known in a certain group
it is more advisable to prioritize participation in cultural events to raise awareness about the disease
since it allows informing a large number of people with fewer resources
“All these actions are accompanied by a work to raise awareness both in the community and in the healthcare community and politicians
the researchers aim to reach the maximum possible number of people at risk
Vall d’Hebron team will carry out several initiatives in the coming months to bring knowledge of Chagas disease closer to the Latin American population living in Barcelona
to facilitate the diagnosis and treatment of people with the disease
The project will determine mechanisms of intestinal and central nervous system function underlying comorbidities in IBS and their interaction with the peripheral microbiota-gut-brain axis
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common chronic functional gastrointestinal (GI) disorder characterized by abdominal pain
predominantly seen in young and mid- age females
IBS constitutes 20-50% of the outpatient gastroenterology workload and is regularly encountered in general practice
there are a significant number of IBS patients
whose clinical severity is greatly magnified by the presence of mental (anxiety
While much has been gained recently in the understanding of the origin of IBS-alone
current knowledge on the aetiology and pathophysiology of comorbid IBS is poor and overtly unproven
and prognosis unsatisfactory and inefficient due to the lack of sensitive and specific biomarkers
This particular niche of comorbid patients seems to behave differently to patients with IBS alone
with treatment failure and extremely detrimental impaired quality of life being the rule
mainly as a result of the lack of specific management strategies
The societal resonance of IBS and mental and somatic comorbidities is enormous and on the rise
IBS represents a serious burden to the healthcare systems with current estimates indicating  that  85  million  citizens  suffer  from  IBS
also share mental comorbidities (generalized anxiety disorder and depression
the most common disorders affecting 25 to 44% of IBS)
and somatic comorbidities (about 14% have chronic fatigue syndrome and 32.5% have fibromyalgia)
The annual societal cost for IBS is around €43 billion in Europe
these are highly prevalent pathologies but until now they had never aroused the interest of European organizations to boost their research
It’s a pioneer project in Europe in the study of IBS and its comorbidities from an innovative and disruptive approach
The DISCOvERIE public private project was set up under the framework of Horizon2020
including small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and third parties and is coordinated by Dr Javier Santos
Gastroenterology Department of Vall d’Hebron University Hospital and principal investigator at the Physiology and Pathophysiology of the Digestive Tract research group of the Vall d’Hebron Research Institute (VHIR); and Dr Josep Antoni Ramos-Quiroga
head of the Psychiatric Department of Vall d’Hebron University  Hospital and principal investigator of the Psychiatry
Mental Health and Addictions research group at the VHIR
dIagnosis and prevention of gender-related Somatic and mental COmorbiditiEs in iRritable Bowel Syndromme In Europe) is to develop a personalised medicine solution to the problem by providing a thorough clinical and psychosocial characterization of IBS patients afflicted by mental and non-mental comorbidities with a particular focus on age and sex/gender-related differences
The strategic goal of DISCOvERIE is to provide an enhanced understanding on IBS and comorbidities and their risk factors
This will support a better diagnostic approach in clinical practice and facilitate the development of evidence-based medicine approaches leading to targeted therapy and personalized medicine in the future
The project will determine mechanisms of intestinal and central nervous system function underlying comorbidities in IBS and their interaction with the peripheral microbiota-gut-brain axis and identify biomarkers specific for prevention
diagnosis and therapy of comorbid and multi-comorbid IBS through integrative data analysis
validate them and pre-commercialize the non-invasive predictive and therapeutic tests
 By identifying the causative mechanisms of comorbid IBS and providing biomarkers for reclassification of this broad spectrum of disorders (anxiety
fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue) DISCOvERIE will lead to personalized medicine approaches
DISCOvERIE will translate specific comorbid IBS aetiological and physiopathological knowledge into clinical guidelines to improve prevention
and management of co- and multimorbidities
These guidelines will be delivered direct to the European healthcare system
By incorporating a user board involving national representatives of patient associations along with renownedspecialists in the field
 European healthcare experts and large pharma and  SME representatives into our management structure we aim to create a European Reference Networkfor comorbid IBS (COIBSnet) involving healthcare providers across Europe
findings of this project will directly impact patients’ and relatives’ quality of life
This project has received 6M euros funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement (Nº 848228) and will last 5 years (2020-2024)
The DISCOvERIE consortium represents a renowned group of clinical and research experts and opinion leaders in the field of neuro-gastroenterology
psychiatric disorders and somatic pain disorders
It is integrated by universitary hospitals and third parties across Europe: Vall d'Hebron Research Institute
Sweden; Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universitat Frankfurt Am Main and Universitaetsklinikum Heidelberg
Germany; Alma Mater Studiorum - Universita di Bologna
Hungary; Katholieke Universiteit Leuve KU Leuven and VIB
Belgium; Universitatea De Medicina Si Farmacie Iuliu Hatieganu
 Romania; Stichting Katholieke Universiteit and Universiteit Maastricht
Netherlands; and University College Cork - National University of Ireland
and Cliclab; in Austria is Emergentec Biodevelopment Gmbh; in Netherlands
would be useful to facilitate the correct diagnosis of patients and offer them the appropriate treatment for their pathology and also to prevent the appearance of flares
The intestinal microbiota consists of a set of microorganisms that live in the digestive tract
although the latter are found in smaller numbers
The researchers analyzed the number of these microorganisms in 294 stool samples from patients with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis
as well as from healthy people without relatives with inflammatory bowel disease
The Vall d'Hebron results were validated with patient samples from the Leuven University Hospital in Belgium
The work shows that Crohn's disease patients have fewer bacteria than healthy people
while in ulcerative colitis there is also a decrease in the number of bacteria
when a patient with ulcerative colitis suffers a flare
“By combining the information on the microbiota with the clinical data of the patients (results in medical tests
etc.) we will have a great capacity to discriminate between Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis
It will therefore help to diagnose the disease and also to predict if a flare is going to occur”
head of the Intestinal Microbiota research line of the Physiology and Pathophysiology of the Digestive Tract group at the VHIR
This change in the abundance of microorganisms is also observed in healthy relatives of patients
although the difference is smaller than in patients
The study authors explain that this tendency may be due to genetic causes or the fact of sharing the place of residence and having lifestyles and diets similar to their relative
This could indicate a certain predisposition to the disease
although they will not necessarily develop it in the future
“We do not yet know if changes in the microbiota are a cause or consequence of inflammatory bowel disease
Probably many factors participate in the development of the disease
specialist of the Digestive System Service of the Vall d'Hebron University Hospital and researcher of the group of the Physiology and Pathophysiology of the Digestive Tract group at the VHIR
Previous studies by the Physiology and Pathophysiology of the Digestive Tract group confirmed that there are differences between the types of bacteria present in the intestine of patients with Crohn's disease and that identifying the profile of microorganisms would help in the diagnosis of the disease
“to know what bacteria are in the intestine and the pathophysiology of the disease
it is necessary to perform a sequencing of some regions of the DNA of all microorganisms
This is feasible when we talk about research in the laboratory
it is still very difficult to apply it to the clinic so that it reaches all patients quickly
is much easier and adaptable to a clinical setting”
the objective of the researchers is to validate these results with a large number of samples
since the great variability of the microbiota between people makes a large-scale analysis necessary
including patients with different degrees of affectation and from different parts of the world
This will require collaboration between international centers working in this field
Crohn's and ulcerative colitis: two diseases with similar symptoms
Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are two inflammatory bowel diseases
Both are characterized by intestinal inflammation
but while ulcerative colitis is limited to the colon and inflammatory changes appear mainly in the inner layer of the intestine (mucosa)
Crohn's disease can affect any part of the digestive tract and the entire thickness of the intestinal wall
The first symptoms of both diseases can be the presence of blood in the stool
which makes the differential diagnosis difficult
which is important for adequate and individualized follow-up and treatment
"The usual diagnosis requires a compatible endoscopy
CT or MRI) and suggestive histological findings"
specialist of the Digestive System Service of the Hospital Vall d'Hebron and researcher at the Physiology and Pathophysiology of the Digestive Tract group at the VHIR
Vall d'Hebron became the first center in the world to include a patient (a 5-year-old boy) in the phase 3 gene therapy clinical trial for Duchenne muscular dystrophy
Vall d'Hebron became the first center in the world to include a patient (a 5-year-old boy) in the Pfizer phase 3 gene therapy clinical trial for Duchenne muscular dystrophy
The CIFFREO study will evaluate the efficacy and safety of PF-06939926 (the aforementioned gene therapy) in children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy
It is planned to recruit 99 male pediatric patients aged 4 to 7 years
Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a disease caused by mutations in the DMD gene
children present a muscle degeneration that progressively worsens with age to the point of requiring wheelchair and non-invasive ventilation in the second decade of life
life expectancy is greatly reduced due to respiratory and cardiac complications
It is estimated that there are approximately 140,000 children affected by Duchenne muscular dystrophy worldwide and approximately 30,000 in the United States and Europe
As explained by Dra. Francina Munell, of the Pediatric Neurology Service and coordinator of the Pediatric Neuromuscular Diseases Unit of Vall d'Hebron and researcher of the <a href="http://www.vhir.org/portal1/grup-equip.asp?s=recerca&amp;contentid=186880">Pediatric Neurology Group of the Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR)</a>
“although the disease has been known since many years ago and significant progress has been made in care to improve the quality of life of patients
the clearly significant impact on the evolution of the disease occurs with the emergence of therapies that manage to significantly increase the amount of dystrophin in the muscle"
The main objective of this study is to measure changes in motor function in children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy over one year from baseline
The NorthStar Ambulatory Assessment (NSAA) test is used for this
The NSAA is a 17-element test that measures gross motor function in children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy
Regardless of the assigned group (placebo or therapy)
it is planned that participants will receive gene therapy in research
either at the start of the study or after one year of placebo treatment
Participants will be randomly assigned to cohort 1 or cohort 2 (placebo or therapy)
Treatment will consist of two intravenous infusions
Approximately two-thirds will be in cohort 1 and will receive gene therapy PF-06,939,926 at the start of the study and placebo after one year
will receive placebo at the start of the study and gene therapy after one year
All participants will have a 5-year follow-up period after treatment with gene therapy
Preliminary results obtained in phase 1b of the Pfizer study showed a sustained increase in minidistrophin levels in muscle and improved motor function
Some patients experienced significant side effects after administration
which they were able to resolve with medication within two weeks
patients receiving the infusion are thoroughly monitored for the first few weeks and then the controls are spaced out
to administer therapy and monitor patients "requires the participation of multiple specialists
from pharmacists to the various members of the Pediatric Neuromuscular Diseases Unit
They are all well aware of the evolution of the disease to assess changes after administration and can act immediately in the case of any adverse event
with the help of specialists in nephrology
emergencies and the Intensive Pediatric Care Unit"
PF-06939926 is a gene therapy in development
based on the administration of a vector with a recombinant capsule of serotype 9 adeno-associated virus (rAAV9) that carries inside a shortened version of the human dystrophin gene (mini -dystrophin) under the control of a specific muscle promoter
The rAAV9 capsule was chosen as a vector for its potential to target muscle tissue
PF-06939926 received the Fast Track Designation from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in October 2020
as well as the Orphan Medication and the Rare Pediatric Diseases Designations in the United States in May 2017
The pharmaceutical treatment is manufactured at Pfizer’s gene therapy production plant in Sanford
“The start of Phase 3 Pfizer’s clinical trial for Duchenne muscular dystrophy
with screening of several patients and infusion of the first participant
is an important milestone for the patient community because currently there are no treatment options that modify the disease
medical director of the Rare Diseases Unit of Pfizer in Spain
“If our gene therapy candidate is successful in phase 3 and gets authorized
it has the potential to significantly improve the progression pathway of Duchenne muscular dystrophy,” adds Núria Mir
"Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a progressive disorder
and patients and parents are looking forward to treatment options"
president of Duchenne Parent Project Spain
"The start of this study is an important step forward for the community with Duchenne muscular dystrophy
It is hoped that one day we will have treatment options for children with this disease"
The innovative oral drug could provide a new therapeutic option for people with PBC who have not obtained the recommended therapeutic outcome or who do not tolerate first line therapy and cannot continue their treatment
The global phase III clinical RESPONSE study
senior consultant at the Hospital Vall d’Hebron Hepatology Department
principal investigator of the Vall d’Hebron Research Liver Diseases Group and Professor of Medicine at the Autonomous University of Barcelona
is including patients to assess the safety and efficacy of a research active pharmaceutical ingredient for people diagnosed with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) who have been using ursodeoxycholic acid (also known as UDCA and ursodiol) but have failed to obtain the recommended therapeutic outcome or are intolerant to UDCA
potentially fatal chronic liver disease in which 90% of cases are women
CBP is characterised by a deterioration in the flow of bile (known as cholastasis) and the accumulation of toxic bile acids in the liver
causing inflammation and destruction of the liver bile ducts and increased levels of alkaline phosphatase (ALF) and total bilirubin
The most frequent early symptoms of PBC are itching and fatigue
which can be very debilitating for some people
Other early symptoms include abdominal pain
Possible symptoms appearing with the progression of PBC include weakness
The progression of PBC increases the risk of liver cancer and liver-related death
The active ingredient in the study is a potent selective
oral peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor delta agonist (PPARδ)
which is being created to treat people with PBC and other liver diseases
It controls the metabolic and inflammatory pathways to the liver
fat and intestinal tissues and has the potential to improve cholestasis
The RESPONSE trial aims to learn more about the safety and efficacy of the active ingredient in people with an inadequate response or who are intolerant to UDCA
the researchers hope to find out whether the active ingredient can improve blood test results in PBC and its symptoms
over 500 people have received the active ingredient in clinical trials
and some have been exposed to the active ingredient for over a year
Seladelpar has been designated an innovative treatment by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and a priority medicine by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) because it has the potential to satisfy unmet medical needs in patients with PBC
In phase II preclinical and clinical studies
the active ingredient has demonstrated the capacity to reduce bile acid synthesis and inflammation
The study is open to adults aged 18 to 75 who have been diagnosed with PBC
recommended dose of UDCA for the last 12 months or cannot tolerate it
and have ALF levels at least 1.67 times higher than the upper normal limit (UNL) and bilirubin levels less than twice the UNL
Participants who meet the requirements and participate in RESPONSE will receive the study drug or placebo and UDCA (if necessary) and care related to the study from a physician with significant experience in treating people with PBC and will undergo tests related to the study
Neither the study drugs nor the care related to the study will be charged to the RESPONSE participants
The Spanish Agency of Medicines and Medical Devices (AEMPS) and the drug research ethics committees have approved the RESPONSE clinical trial at Vall d’Hebron University Hospital and other Spanish hospitals
the RESPONSE trial is currently also being carried out at the 12 de Octubre University Hospital in Madrid
specialist in Hepatology in the Gastroenterology Department at the hospital
This tower recreates extreme building situations for the training of firemen – using double and triple spaces
Cantilevered balconies are used for rappelling exercises and vertical rescue drills
Located in the fire station of Barcelona’s Vall d’Hebron neighborhood
the practice tower makes a visual connection with the surrounding constructions through its facade of exposed bricks
The envelope is configured as a perimetral circulation space that gives access to all the elements on the facade
and allows connecting the various levels without interfering with activities going on inside
The design of the outer enclosure is designed on the basis of the 28 x 12 x 18 cm extruded ceramic piece
A square-shaped floorplan of 7.15-meter sides is formed by a grid of pillars and girders of concrete
resulting in a three-dimensional mesh from which four 2 x 2 meter spaces are obtained on each floor
The structure is composed of a central core formed by eight 25 x 25 cm concrete pillars connected to one another by girders of the same thickness forming a cross
and a second level of 24 pillars on the facade which guarantee resistance to the horizontal pressure required for rappel practice
The new building expands the existing fire station by providing a transition floor coinciding with the roof of the maneuvers court
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aims to bring innovation closer to patients and promote research projects in this disease
The Relapsed Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia Network (ReALLNet) was born as a bridge between care and research in this paediatric disease so that advances are efficiently transferred to all centres in Spain equally
we are joining forces to make it easier for every child and adolescent to have access to the most advanced and personalised treatment options"
The ReALLNet team also proposes to generate a therapeutic recommendation guideline that applies the latest advances obtained in recent years and is applicable to all patients in first relapse who
are unable to participate in available clinical trials
ReALLNet has also developed a software tool to help healthcare professionals find clinical trials in which their patients can participate
ReALLNet works together with the SEHOP-PENCIL study
which aims to facilitate access to personalised medicine for all children and adolescents with cancer
ReALLNet serves as a platform focused on haematological cancers
The inhibition of integrin alpha9 (ITGA9) by the drug RA08 is a novel therapeutic strategy to prevent the dissemination of tumor cells
was carried out in collaboration with the Pediatric Oncology and Hematology
Pediatric Surgery and Pathological Anatomy Services of the Vall d'Hebron University Hospital and the Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBiS)
it has been described that the presence of high levels of the target protein integrin alpha9 (ITGA9) is associated with a high risk of metastasis
the researchers have analyzed the biological mechanisms by which ITGA9 favors the cells of some types of tumors to leave the primary tumor and travel through the organism to form a metastasis in another organ
the role of ITGA9 in tumor invasion was investigated in cells and mouse models of neuroblastoma and rhabdomyosarcoma
The researchers have identified that ITGA9 plays a key role in the metastasis of these childhood cancers
it binds to ADAM proteins and allows the tumoral cell to adhere to its environment
all of which are key factors for metastasis
Knowing these functions is important for developing new therapeutic strategies
"One of the added values of this study is that
in addition to describing a relevant biological mechanism for metastasis
it also tests the antimetastatic effect of a new pharmacological product that has given exceptional results in animal models* and that can have a high impact on the prevention of metastasis"
principal investigator of the Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders group at VHIR
A new therapeutic strategy against metastasis
"In the framework of this collaborative work
the company BCN Peptides has designed and is developing a new peptide drug
aimed at interfering with the binding between ITGA9 and ADAM proteins to block the invasion of metastatic cells to other organs
Based on the key role of ITGA9 in the occurrence of metastasis
we have evaluated the effect of inhibiting this protein using the peptide RA08"
this work has demonstrated in preclinical models that pharmacological inhibition of ITGA9 with the peptide RA08 significantly reduces metastasis formation
improving survival in mouse models of rhabdomyosarcoma and neuroblastoma
The three types of tumor share the common feature that
although they generally have a high survival rate
this is greatly reduced when patients develop metastases
The researchers also emphasize that RA08 does not present toxicity
since it does not affect cell proliferation or cause toxicity in preclinical models
In a therapy for the prevention of metastasis
having few side effects is key to ensuring success
ITGA9 inhibition could be a promising therapeutic strategy to prevent the establishment of metastases in different tumor types
If RA08 was administered with standard therapies
this research project was initiated thanks to a grant from La Marató de TV3 dedicated to minority diseases in 2009
which was subsequently supported by ACCIÓ/FEDER (RIS3CAT) and Instituto de Salud Carlos III
At a non-institutional level it has also had the support of Fundació Albert Bosch
the Abidal Foundation and Tot per tu Association
*<a href="https://vhir.vallhebron.com/sites/default/files/2022-05/declaracio-institucional-us-animals-experimentacio.pdf">Institutional Declaration on the Use of Animals in Research</a>
Investigadors del VHIR a la reunió anual de EBMT transplantament progenitors hematopoetics&nbsp;
Vall d'Hebron presents positive results from two studies in transfusion-dependent thalassaemia and severe bone marrow aplasia at the EBMT Annual Meeting on haematopoietic stem cell transplantation
Children with blood diseases have traditionally been cured by transplantation from an HLA-identical sibling donor
patients are subjected to long and even chronic treatments that do not guarantee a good quality of life
The annual meeting of the EBMT (European Society of Blood and Marrow Transplantation)
a European meeting on haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT)
where professionals from the Paediatric Oncology and Haematology Service of the Vall d'Hebron University Hospital and the Childhood Cancer and Haematological Diseases Group of the Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR) presented the results of two paediatric studies using a non-familial HLA-identical sibling donor
Dr Maribel Benitez presented the excellent results of HSCT in children with transfusion-dependent thalassaemia
a chronic inherited red blood cell disorder that causes severe anaemia
patients have received lifelong transfusions every 3 to 5 weeks
This treatment carries the risk of side effects from excess iron and alloimmunisation
where the patient's immune system produces antibodies against the transfused red blood cells
It also means being dependent on the hospital for transfusions
"The possibility of receiving a haematopoietic progenitor transplant not only from a sibling but also from a non-familial HLA-identical donor allows these patients to be cured and become transfusion independent," says Dr Maribel Benítez
assistant at the Paediatric Oncology and Haematology Service of Vall d'Hebron and researcher in the Childhood Cancer and Haematological Diseases Group at the VHIR
Dr Luz Uría presented the cure of children with severe bone marrow aplasia
also by transplantation of haematopoietic precursors from an HLA-identical unrelated donor
This disease is characterised by the total or partial disappearance of haematopoietic precursors in the bone marrow and
if a child did not have an HLA-identical sibling donor for a transplant
he or she had to undergo a long course of immunosuppressive treatment
Such treatment rarely cures patients and they are at risk of developing myelodysplastic syndrome or leukaemia.