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Clinical Neuroimmunology

The group of Clinical Neuroimmunology - Centre d'Esclerosi Múltiple de Catalunya (Cemcat) at the Vall d'Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR) is a multidisciplinary group dedicated to clinical assistance, physical and cognitive rehabilitation, and clinical and basic research on multiple sclerosis (MS). Cemcat is a national but also an international reference center in the clinical assistance of MS patients. The research performed in the group is divided and further combined in clinical and basic research. In addition, basic research has a marked translational character since the ultimate goal of the group is to improve the quality of life of patients suffering from MS, through in-depth knowledge of the pathogenic mechanisms of the disease and the development of new and more effective therapeutic approaches. 

Team

Imane Boutitah Benyaich

Imane Boutitah Benyaich

Predoctoral researcher
Clinical Neuroimmunology
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Laura Ludovica Gramegna .

Laura Ludovica Gramegna .

Predoctoral researcher
Clinical Neuroimmunology
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Llorente Blasco, Helena

Llorente Blasco, Helena

Research technician
Clinical Neuroimmunology
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Luca Bollo

Luca Bollo

Predoctoral researcher
Clinical Neuroimmunology
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Marquez Parra, Jose David

Marquez Parra, Jose David

Maintenance staff and general services
Clinical Neuroimmunology
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Nerea Morilla Pérez

Nerea Morilla Pérez

Research technician
Clinical Neuroimmunology
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Imane Boutitah Benyaich

Imane Boutitah Benyaich

Predoctoral researcher
Clinical Neuroimmunology
Read more
Laura Ludovica Gramegna .

Laura Ludovica Gramegna .

Predoctoral researcher
Clinical Neuroimmunology
Read more
Llorente Blasco, Helena

Llorente Blasco, Helena

Research technician
Clinical Neuroimmunology
Read more
Luca Bollo

Luca Bollo

Predoctoral researcher
Clinical Neuroimmunology
Read more
Marquez Parra, Jose David

Marquez Parra, Jose David

Maintenance staff and general services
Clinical Neuroimmunology
Read more
Nerea Morilla Pérez

Nerea Morilla Pérez

Research technician
Clinical Neuroimmunology
Read more

Projects

Convocatoria Juan Rodés (Preliminar: Enfermedades neurológicas mediadas por anticuerpos antineuronales)

IP: Mar Tintore Subirana
Collaborators: Genoveva Arqueros Sánchez, Xavier Montalban Gairín, Helena Ariño Rodríguez, Miriam Izquierdo Sans
Funding agency: Instituto de Salud Carlos III
Funding: 180000
Reference: JR22/00071
Duration: 20/02/2023 - 19/02/2026

Valorización de una terapia antígeno-específica para el tratamiento disruptivo de la diabetes tipo 1; esclerosis múltiple, miastenia gravis, enfermedad celíaca y artritis reumatoide.

IP: Carmen Espejo Ruiz
Collaborators: Sara Marsal Barril, Herena Eixarch Ahufinger, Helena Borrell Paños, Maria America Lopez Lasanta
Funding agency: Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación-MICINN
Funding: 217313.9
Reference: CPP2021-008475
Duration: 10/02/2022 - 09/02/2025

Ministerio de Ciencia

Caracterización de la DIScapacidad y la COgnición en sujetos con Esclerosis múltiple a partir de secuencias de Resonancia magnética convencional (DISCOvER).

IP: Deborah Pareto Onghena
Collaborators: Ingrid Galán Cartaña, Juan Fco. Corral Gamez, Herena Eixarch Ahufinger, M Jesus Arevalo Navines, Andrea De Barros Figueredo, Neus Mongay Ochoa, Giorgio Colangelo
Funding agency: Instituto de Salud Carlos III
Funding: 87120
Reference: PI22/01709
Duration: 01/01/2023 - 31/12/2025

ResEM Project - Desarrollo de un modelo global de reserva funcional y estructural del sistema nervioso central en esclerosis múltiple

IP: Jaume Sastre Garriga
Collaborators: Cristina Auger Acosta, Carme Santoyo Medina, Manel Alberich Jordà, M Jesus Arevalo Navines, Xavier Montalban Gairín, Lucía Gutiérrez Ruiz, Neus Mongay Ochoa
Funding agency: Instituto de Salud Carlos III
Funding: 157300
Reference: PI22/00750
Duration: 01/01/2023 - 31/12/2025

Publications

Soluble mutant huntingtin drives early human pathogenesis in Huntington's disease.

PMID: 37535170
Journal: CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR LIFE SCIENCES
Year: 2023
Reference: Cell Mol Life Sci. 2023 Aug 3;80(8):238. doi: 10.1007/s00018-023-04882-w.
Impact factor:
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Alberch, Jordi; Allen, Nicholas D; Bombau, Georgina; Borras, Francesc E; Canals, Josep M; Fernandez-Garcia, Sara; Fernandez-Medina, Helena; Galofre, Mireia; Garcia-Bravo, Maria; Gomis, Cinta et al.
DOI: 10.1007/s00018-023-04882-w

Molecular signature associated with cladribine treatment in patients with multiple sclerosis.

PMID: 37559720
Journal: Frontiers in Immunology
Year: 2023
Reference: Front Immunol. 2023 Jul 25;14:1233546. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1233546. eCollection 2023.
Impact factor:
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Borras, Eva; Boschert, Ursula; Calvo-Barreiro, Laura; Comabella, Manuel; Costa-Frossard, Lucienne; Eixarch, Herena; Espejo, Carmen; Ferrer, Mireia; Fissolo, Nicolas; Montalban, Xavier et al.
DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1233546

Transfusion-transmission of hepatitis E virus through red blood cell transfusion but not through platelet concentrates: A case report from Spain.

PMID: 37593971
Journal: TRANSFUSION
Year: 2023
Reference: Transfusion. 2023 Aug 18. doi: 10.1111/trf.17498.
Impact factor:
Publication type: Letter or abstract
Authors: Alvarez Arguelles, Marta Elena; Garcia-Gala, Jose Maria; Mata, Pablo; Munoz, Maria Del Carmen; Ojea, Ana Maria; Quer Sivila, Josep; Rando Segura, Ariadna; Rodriguez, Mercedes; Rodriguez-Frias, Francisco; Seco, Carolina et al.
DOI: 10.1111/trf.17498

Wall enhancement as a biomarker of intracranial aneurysm instability: a histo-radiological study.

PMID: 37589724
Journal: ACTA NEUROCHIRURGICA
Year: 2023
Reference: Acta Neurochir (Wien). 2023 Aug 17. doi: 10.1007/s00701-023-05739-8.
Impact factor:
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Arikan, Fuat; Coscojuela, Pilar; De Barros, Andrea; Dinia, Lavinia; Gandara, Dario; Gramegna, Laura Ludovica; Hernandez, David; Luzi, Michele; Martinez-Saez, Elena; Quintana, Manuel et al.
DOI: 10.1007/s00701-023-05739-8

Long-term safety and efficacy of ozanimod in relapsing multiple sclerosis: Up to 5 years of follow-up in the DAYBREAK open-label extension trial.

PMID: 35765217
Journal: Multiple Sclerosis Journal
Year: 2022
Reference: Mult Scler. 2022 Jun 28:13524585221102584. doi: 10.1177/13524585221102584.
Impact factor: 6.312
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Sheffield, James K; Minton, Neil; Cheng, Chun-Yen; Silva, Diego; Kappos, Ludwig; Cohen, Jeffrey A; Havrdova, Eva K; Montalban, Xavier; Hartung, Hans-Peter; Cree, Bruce Ac et al.
DOI: 10.1177/13524585221102584

Immunotherapy for people with clinically isolated syndrome or relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: treatment response by demographic, clinical, and biomarker subgroups (PROMISE)-a systematic review protocol.

PMID: 35778721
Journal: Systematic Reviews
Year: 2022
Reference: Syst Rev. 2022 Jul 1;11(1):134. doi: 10.1186/s13643-022-01997-2.
Impact factor: 2.522
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Rahn, Anne C; Heesen, Christoph; Fittipaldo, Andrea V; Chard, Declan; Rio, Jordi; Kopke, Sascha; Rover, Christian; Lehnert, Thomas; Friede, Tim et al.
DOI: 10.1186/s13643-022-01997-2

The role of specialist nurses in detecting spasticity and related symptoms in multiple sclerosis.

PMID: 35799407
Journal: JOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING
Year: 2022
Reference: J Clin Nurs. 2022 Jul 7. doi: 10.1111/jocn.16421.
Impact factor: 3.036
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Artola, Montse; Sola-Valls, Nuria; Saiz, Albert; Montero, Laura; Fornali, Olga; Mercade, Laura; Matamoros, Mandi; Molinos, Consuelo; Leon, Isabel; Zabay, Cinta et al.
DOI: 10.1111/jocn.16421

Fitbeat: COVID-19 Estimation Based on Wristband Heart Rate Using a Contrastive Convolutional Auto-Encoder.

PMID: 34720200
Journal: PATTERN RECOGNITION
Year: 2022
Reference: Pattern Recognit. 2022 Mar;123:108403. doi: 10.1016/j.patcog.2021.108403. Epub 2021 Oct 26.
Impact factor: 7.74
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Liu, Shuo; Han, Jing; Puyal, Estela Laporta; Kontaxis, Spyridon; Sun, Shaoxiong; Locatelli, Patrick; Dineley, Judith; Pokorny, Florian B; Costa, Gloria Dalla; Leocani, Letizia et al.
DOI: 10.1016/j.patcog.2021.108403

Immunosenescence in multiple sclerosis: The identification of new therapeutic targets.

PMID: 34237417
Journal: AUTOIMMUNITY REVIEWS
Year: 2021
Reference: Autoimmun Rev. 2021 Sep;20(9):102893. doi: 10.1016/j.autrev.2021.102893. Epub 2021 Jul 5.
Impact factor: 9.754
Publication type: Review in international publication
Authors: Dema, Maria, Eixarch, Herena, Villar, Luisa M, Montalban, Xavier, Espejo, Carmen et al.
DOI: 10.1016/j.autrev.2021.102893

Adding brain volume measures into response criteria in multiple sclerosis: the Rio-4 score.

PMID: 33237430
Journal: NEURORADIOLOGY
Year: 2021
Reference: Neuroradiology. 2021 Jul;63(7):1031-1041. doi: 10.1007/s00234-020-02604-8. Epub 2020 Nov 25.
Impact factor: 2.804
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Perez-Miralles, Francisco Carlos, Rio, Jordi, Pareto, Deborah, Vidal-Jordana, Angela, Auger, Cristina, Arrambide, Georgina, Castillo, Joaquin, Tintore, Mar, Rovira, Alex, Montalban, Xavier et al.
DOI: 10.1007/s00234-020-02604-8

Quantitative comparison of subcortical and ventricular volumetry derived from MPRAGE and MP2RAGE images using different brain morphometry software.

PMID: 34052900
Journal: MAGNETIC RESONANCE MATERIALS IN PHYSICS BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
Year: 2021
Reference: MAGMA. 2021 Dec;34(6):903-914. doi: 10.1007/s10334-021-00933-0. Epub 2021 May 29.
Impact factor: 2.31
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Alonso, Juli, Pareto, Deborah, Alberich, Manel, Kober, Tobias, Marechal, Benedicte, Llado, Xavier, Rovira, Alex et al.
DOI: 10.1007/s10334-021-00933-0

Scoring the 10-year risk of ambulatory disability in multiple sclerosis: the RoAD score.

PMID: 33786942
Journal: EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY
Year: 2021
Reference: Eur J Neurol. 2021 Aug;28(8):2533-2542. doi: 10.1111/ene.14845. Epub 2021 Apr 19.
Impact factor: 6.089
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Rovira, Alex, Tintore, Mar, Sastre-Garriga, Jaume, Tortorella, Carla, Haggiag, Shalom, Galgani, Simonetta, Capra, Ruggero, Pozzilli, Carlo, Montalban, Xavier, Rio, Jordi et al.
DOI: 10.1111/ene.14845

Inhibition of the BMP Signaling Pathway Ameliorated Established Clinical Symptoms of Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis.

PMID: 32681355
Journal: Neurotherapeutics
Year: 2020
Reference: Neurotherapeutics. 2020 Oct;17(4):1988-2003. doi: 10.1007/s13311-020-00885-8.
Impact factor: 6.035
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Castillo, Mireia, Eixarch, Herena, Calvo-Barreiro, Laura, Costa, Carme, Reverter-Vives, Gemma, Montalban, Xavier, Espejo, Carmen, Del Rio, Jose Antonio, Gil, Vanessa et al.
DOI: 10.1007/s13311-020-00885-8

Preliminary Experience Using a Covered Stent Graft in Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke and Carotid Tandem Lesion.

PMID: 32676962
Journal: CARDIOVASCULAR AND INTERVENTIONAL RADIOLOGY
Year: 2020
Reference: Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol. 2020 Nov;43(11):1679-1686. doi: 10.1007/s00270-020-02594-3. Epub 2020 Jul 16.
Impact factor: 2.034
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Pinana, Carlos, Gramegna, Laura Ludovica, Folleco, Edgar, Requena, Manuel, Hernandez, David, Tomasello Weitz, Alejandro et al.
DOI: 10.1007/s00270-020-02594-3

Real-World Goal Setting and Use of Outcome Measures According to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health: A European Survey of Physical Therapy Practice in Multiple Sclerosis.

PMID: 32630765
Journal: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Year: 2020
Reference: Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020 Jul 2;17(13). pii: ijerph17134774. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17134774.
Impact factor: 2.849
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Rasova, Kamila, Martinkova, Patricia, Soler, Bernadita, Freeman, Jenny, Cattaneo, Davide, Jonsdottir, Johanna, Smedal, Tori, Romberg, Anders, Henze, Thomas, Santoyo-Medina, Carme et al.
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17134774

Real-time assessment of COVID-19 prevalence among multiple sclerosis patients: a multicenter European study.

PMID: 32617741
Journal: NEUROLOGICAL SCIENCES
Year: 2020
Reference: Neurol Sci. 2020 Jul 2. pii: 10.1007/s10072-020-04519-x. doi: 10.1007/s10072-020-04519-x.
Impact factor: 2.415
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Dobson, Richard J B, Dalla Costa, Gloria, Leocani, Letizia, Montalban, Xavier, Guerrero, Ana Isabel, Sorensen, Per Soelberg, Magyari, Melinda, Hotopf, Matthew, Comi, Giancarlo, Narayan, Vaibhav A et al.
DOI: 10.1007/s10072-020-04519-x

Simultaneous CMV and Listeria infection following alemtuzumab treatment for multiple sclerosis.

PMID: 30587519
Journal: NEUROLOGY
Year: 2019
Reference: Neurology. 2019 Feb 5;92(6):296-298. doi: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000006801. Epub 2018 Dec 26.
Impact factor: 8.689
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Pappolla, Agustin, Midaglia, Luciana, Boix Rodriguez, Claudia P, Puig, Adaia Albasanz, Lung, Maiylyi, Camps, Isabel Ruiz, Castillo, Joaquin, Mulero, Patricia, Arrambide, Georgina, Rodriguez-Acevedo, Breogan et al.
DOI: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000006801

[Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy and non-specific immune dysfunction].

PMID: 30687923
Journal: REVISTA DE NEUROLOGIA
Year: 2019
Reference: Rev Neurol. 2019 Feb 1;68(3):132-133.
Impact factor: 0.485
Publication type: Letter whit IF
Authors: Llaurado-Gayete, A, Campos-Fernandez, D, Olive-Gadea, M, Ballve-Martin, A, Rio, J, Rovira, A, Santamarina, E et al.
DOI: 10.33588/rn.6803.2018377

Frequency and relevance of IgM, and IgA antibodies against MOG in MOG-IgG-associated disease.

PMID: 30623863
Journal: Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders
Year: 2019
Reference: Mult Scler Relat Disord. 2019 Feb;28:230-234. doi: 10.1016/j.msard.2019.01.007. Epub 2019 Jan 3.
Impact factor: 2.725
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Sepulveda, Maria, Armangue, Thais, Sabater, Lidia, Martinez-Hernandez, Eugenia, Arrambide, Georgina, Blanco, Yolanda, Llufriu, Sara, Martinez-Lapiscina, Elena H, Mulero, Patricia, Sola-Valls, Nuria et al.
DOI: 10.1016/j.msard.2019.01.007

Patient and caregiver involvement in formulation of guideline questions: Findings from the EAN Guideline on Palliative Care of People with Severe Multiple Sclerosis.

PMID: 30035845
Journal: EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY
Year: 2019
Reference: Eur J Neurol. 2019 Jan;26(1):41-50. doi: 10.1111/ene.13760. Epub 2018 Sep 9.
Impact factor: 4.387
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Kopke, Sascha, Giordano, Andrea, Veronese, Simone, Rahn, Anne Christin, Kleiter, Ingo, Basedow-Rajwich, Birgit, Fornari, Arianna, Battaglia, Mario Alberto, Drulovic, Jelena, Kooij, Liesbeth et al.
DOI: 10.1111/ene.13760

Blood lymphocyte subsets identify optimal responders to IFN-beta in MS.

PMID: 29027004
Journal: JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY
Year: 2018
Reference: J Neurol. 2018 Jan;265(1):24-31. doi: 10.1007/s00415-017-8625-6. Epub 2017 Oct 12.
Impact factor: 3.783
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Villar, Luisa M, Alvarez-Cermeno, Jose C, Montalban, Xavier, Dominguez-Mozo, Maria I, Alenda, Raquel, Costa-Frossard, Lucienne, Alvarez-Lafuente, Roberto, Espejo, Carmen, Rodriguez-Martin, Eulalia, de la Maza, Susana Sainz et al.
DOI: 10.1007/s00415-017-8625-6

[Rituximab: its efficacy, effectiveness and safety in the treatment of multiple sclerosis].

PMID: 29251340
Journal: REVISTA DE NEUROLOGIA
Year: 2018
Reference: Rev Neurol. 2018 Jan 1;66(1):25-32.
Impact factor: 0.601
Publication type: Review in national publication
Authors: Midaglia, L, Mora, L, Mulero, P, Sastre-Garriga, J, Montalban, X et al.
DOI: 10.33588/rn.6601.2017213

A supervised framework with intensity subtraction and deformation field features for the detection of new T2-w lesions in multiple sclerosis.

PMID: 29234597
Journal: NeuroImage-Clinical
Year: 2018
Reference: Neuroimage Clin. 2017 Nov 20;17:607-615. doi: 10.1016/j.nicl.2017.11.015. eCollection 2018.
Impact factor: 3.869
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Salem, Mostafa, Cabezas, Mariano, Pareto, Deborah, Oliver, Arnau, Salvi, Joaquim, Rovira, Alex, Llado, Xavier, Valverde, Sergi et al.
DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2017.11.015

NLRP3 inflammasome is associated with the response to IFN-beta in patients with multiple sclerosis.

PMID: 25586466
Journal: BRAIN
Year: 2015
Reference: Brain. 2015 Mar;138(Pt 3):644-52. doi: 10.1093/brain/awu388. Epub 2015 Jan 12.
Impact factor: 9.196
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Chan, Andrew, Martinelli-Boneschi, Filippo, Garcia-Merino, Antonio, Montalban, Xavier, Comabella, Manuel, Drulovic, Jelena, Lechner-Scott, Jeannette, Brassat, David, Malhotra, Sunny, Rio, Jordi et al.
DOI: 10.1093/brain/awu388

Blog

News

In total, different projects of six research groups will be promoted, focusing on precision medicine and advanced therapies.

Dr. Carmen Espejo and Dr. Georgina Arrambide, researchers at Cemcat and Vall d'Hebron Research Institute, are the first authors of the article.

The research findings propose to modify the McDonald 2017 criteria, only in those in whom diagnosis using the current criteria is not possible.

Job offers

PhD position - Clinical Neuroimmunology Group
Start date:
14/12/2022
End date:
08/01/2023
Document: Download
Clinical Trial Study Coordinator - Multiple Sclerosis Centre of Catalonia-VHIR
Start date:
02/12/2022
End date:
30/12/2022
Document: Download
Clinical Trial – Rater - Multiple Sclerosis Centre of Catalonia-VHIR
Start date:
25/11/2022
End date:
09/12/2022
Document: Download

Rates

Simoa HD1 equipment

We are seeking healthy volunteers for a study to find biomarkers of multiple sclerosis

We are looking for 100 healthy volunteers aged 18 or over to participate in a project where the usefulness of biomarkers in serum will be evaluated to predict the prognosis of the disease and the response to treatments.

More information