About the VHIR
Here at the Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR) we promote biomedical research, innovation and teaching. Over 1,800 people are seeking to understand diseases today so the treatment can be improved tomorrow.
Research
We are working to understand diseases, to find out how they operate and to create better treatments for patients. Get to know about our groups and their lines of research.
People
People are the centre of the Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR). This is why we are bound by the principles of freedom of research, gender equality and professional attitudes that HRS4R promotes.
Clinical trials
Our work is not just basic or translational; we are leaders in clinical research. Enter and find about the clinical trials we are conducting and why we are a world reference in this field.
Progress
Our aim is to make the research carried out at the Vall d’Hebron Research Institute (VHIR) a driving force for transformation. How? By identifying new channels and solutions for the promotion of people's health and well-being.
Core facilities
We offer specialist support for researchers, internal and external alike, ranging from specific services to preparing complete projects. All this, from a perspective of quality and speed of response.
News
We offer you a gateway for staying up to date on everything going on at the Vall d’Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), from the latest news to future solidarity activities and initiatives that we are organising.
The Biomedical Research in Urology group is interested in the study of hormone-dependent cancers, in particular prostate cancer (but not limited to it).
Our efforts are focused on finding, on the one hand, tools that help us in the early diagnosis of the disease, in the best differentiation of tumors according to their aggressiveness and their response to therapy, and finally in finding effective therapies against it.
From a molecular point of view, we focus our studies mainly on cell signaling processes related to the cell cycle and mitosis (with kinesins, kinases and ubiquitin ligases as main targets).
Our multidisciplinary group is made up of molecular biologists and urologists, and we collaborate with oncologists, pathologists and specialists in other diseases when required.
We work with in silico data obtained with different "omics" techniques, samples and clinical data from patients, in vitro and in vivo models, to answer the questions raised.
The development of the HOLEP (Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate) technique and its outcome is the main objective of this line. We are presently testing different lasers in order to increase the efficacy of the technique.
IP: José Placer Santos
One main objective is the discovery of useful markers for detection and prognosis of tumors of the kidney. In addition, we are analysing the outcomes of minimal invasive radio-frequence ablation technique.
IP: Enric Trilla Herrera
The main objective of this line is to understand the clinical significance of PIA and/or HGPIN lesions present in prostate biopsy. Once these are diagnosed, the search of markers specific for each lesion is also an objective of this line.
IP: Inés de Torres Ramirez
Once the tumor metastasizes to bone, the metastatic disease become incurable and current therapies are palliative. Thus, to better understand the biology of PC bone metastasis and to investigate new therapeutic options it is crucial to develop new animal models.
We have established new experimental models of PC bone metastasis by inoculation (intratibial and intracardiac) of human PC cell lines in immunodeficient mice to make a suitable model for evaluating novel compounds as future therapeutic approaches. Extensive bone metastases were monitored by in vivo bioluminescence imaging. By applying different strategies we have described new molecular targets involved in the mechanisms of PC bone metastasis.
1) Garcia M, et al. BJU Int. 2014;113:E164-77.
2) Doll A, et al. Arch Esp Urol. 2013;66:463-74.
IP: Joan Morote Robles
IP: Anna Santamaria Margalef Collaborators: Mercè Cuadras Solé, Jacques Planas Morin Funding agency: Instituto de Salud Carlos III Funding: 159720 Reference: PI21/00977 Duration: 01/01/2022 - 30/06/2026
On World Cancer Research Day, we highlight research aimed at improving treatments for both pediatric and adult cancers through innovative techniques.
The work led by Dr. Regis demonstrates that performing robotic reconstruction after radical prostatectomy is associated with better urinary control.
A clinical trial with the prototype of the device shows that the use of this technology improves patient monitoring by nurses and reduces post-surgical complications.
