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Diabetes and Metabolism

The Diabetes and Metabolism Research Group is search is lead by Dr. Rafael Simó (Hirsch index:54), Head of the Endocrinology Department, Professor of Medicine & Endocrinology at UAB and current President of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes-Eye Complications. The group consists of 7 senior clinical investigators, 4 basic post-doctoral researchers, 4 pre-doc researchers, 3 laboratory technicians and one coordinator of clinical assays.  

The group belongs to “CIBER” of Diabetes and Associated Metabolic Diseases (CIBERDEM. ISCIII) and has been recognized as consolidated group by the Generalitat de Catalunya (AQU/AGAUR).

Since 2014 this group has been qualified as outstanding in the evaluations performed by the ANEP, CIBERDEM and the external Scientific Advisory Board of VHIR. 

The main lines of research are:

  • Complications of diabetes (in particular diabetic retinopathy)
  • Obesity and its co-morbidities
  • Type 2 diabetes and cognitive impairment
  • Thyroid diseases
  • Hospital Nutrition. 

Team

Josep A Villena Delgado

Josep A Villena Delgado

Main researcher
Diabetes and Metabolism
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David Sabater Martínez

David Sabater Martínez

Research technician
Diabetes and Metabolism
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Rosa Burgos Peláez

Rosa Burgos Peláez

Research technician
Diabetes and Metabolism
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Albert Lecube Torelló

Albert Lecube Torelló

Main researcher
Diabetes and Metabolism
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Albert Puig Pérez

Albert Puig Pérez

Predoctoral researcher
Diabetes and Metabolism
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Alberto Alegre Lifshitz

Alberto Alegre Lifshitz

Research technician
Diabetes and Metabolism
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Josep A Villena Delgado

Josep A Villena Delgado

Main researcher
Diabetes and Metabolism
Read more
David Sabater Martínez

David Sabater Martínez

Research technician
Diabetes and Metabolism
Read more
Rosa Burgos Peláez

Rosa Burgos Peláez

Research technician
Diabetes and Metabolism
Read more
Albert Lecube Torelló

Albert Lecube Torelló

Main researcher
Diabetes and Metabolism
Read more
Albert Puig Pérez

Albert Puig Pérez

Predoctoral researcher
Diabetes and Metabolism
Read more
Alberto Alegre Lifshitz

Alberto Alegre Lifshitz

Research technician
Diabetes and Metabolism
Read more

Research lines

Endothelial dysfunction, dyslipideamia and cardiovascular disease in type 2 diabetes.

IP: -

Insulin resistance and obesity: new pathogenic candidates and the study of co-morbidities.

1) To identify by proteomic analysis of cerebrospinal fluid new regulators of food intake.
2) To determine the influence of SHBG/sex-steroids on fat properties and distribution and the incidence of diabetes.
3) To investigate the role of the mitochondria in obesity, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.

IP: -

Physiopathology of diabetic retinopathy

A new approach using integrated biological systems.This is the main area of our research.


IP: -

Projects

Utilidad del TAC abdominal e inteligencia artificial para la evaluación de la composición corporal y condición metabólica en sujetos con obesidad: estudio FLASH

IP: Andreea Ciudin Mihai
Collaborators: Lucia Iglesias Sanchez, Manuel Escobar Amores, Nuria Roson Gradaille, Fiorella Ximena Palmas Candia, Aitor Rodriguez Martinez, Marta Comas Martinez, Enzamaría Fidilio Meli
Funding agency: Ministerio Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades
Funding: 431460
Reference: CPP2023-010524
Duration: 01/11/2024 - 30/10/2027

Ministerio de Ciencia

DESARROLLO DE EDL6D, UN PÉPTIDO MIMÉTICO DE SHBG PARA EL TRATAMIENTO DE LA ENFERMEDAD DEL HÍGADO GRASO NO ALCOHÓLICO (NAFLD) Y LA ESTEATOHEPATITIS NO ALCOHÓLICA (NASH)

IP: David Martinez Selva
Collaborators: Lidia Fuertes Rioja
Funding agency: Ministerio Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades
Funding: 370568
Reference: CPP2022-009831
Duration: 01/07/2023 - 30/09/2026

Ministerio de Ciencia

Clinical development of RetSit@, a first-in-class neuroprotective drug to treat Early Stages of Diabetic Retinopathy

IP: Olga Simó Servat
Collaborators: Marta Garrido Marin, Miguel Angel Zapata Victori
Funding agency: Ministerio Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades
Funding: 602031
Reference: CPP2023-010602
Duration: 01/10/2024 - 30/09/2027

Ministerio de Ciencia

Desarrollo clínico de GlauSit@, un tratamiento neuroprotector innovador para el glaucoma.

IP: Miguel Angel Zapata Victori
Collaborators: Anna Duarri Piqué, Mercè Abad Martín, Olga Simó Servat, Patricia Bogdanov Baruj, Marta Castany Aregall
Funding agency: Ministerio Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades
Funding: 624300
Reference: CPP2024-011455
Duration: 01/11/2025 - 31/10/2028

Ministerio de Ciencia

Thesis

Optimització de la valoració de la composició corporal mesurada mitjançant tècniques d'imatge: tomografia computaritzada i ecografia muscular.

PhD student: Fiorella Ximena Palmas Candia
Director/s: Rosa Burgos Peláez, Andreea Ciudin Mihai
University:
Year: 2024

Nivells de cortisol (sèric matutí, salivar nocturn, lliure urinari 24h i test de supressió amb 1mg de dexametasona) en pacients amb obesitat severa i en relació amb la cirugia bariàtrica.

PhD student: Anna Casteras Román
Director/s: Andreea Ciudin Mihai, Betina Biagetti Biagetti
University:
Year: 2024

Characterization of secretome of adipose tissues in adipocyte-specific PGC-1alpha/beta knockout mice and its implications in the control of glucose homeostasis.

PhD student: Marc Velilla Cajo
Director/s: Josep A Villena Delgado
University: Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
Year: 2023

Unravelling the underlying mechanisms involved in the beneficial effects of DPP-4 inhibitors in early stages of diabetic retinopathy

PhD student: Hugo Ramos Abellan, Hugo Ramos Abellan
Director/s: Patricia Bogdanov Baruj, Rafael Simó Canonge, Cristina Hernández Pascual
University: Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
Year: 2023

New clinical strategies to detect cardiovascular disease in subjects with type 2 diabetes.

PhD student: Alejandra Planas Vilaseca
Director/s: Olga Simó Servat, Cristina Hernández Pascual
University: Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
Year: 2023

Diabetis Mellitus com accelerador de deteriorament cognitiu i malaltia d'alzheimer

PhD student: Angel Michael Ortiz Zúñiga
Director/s: Cristina Hernández Pascual, Rafael Simó Canonge
University: Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
Year: 2022

Mecanismes moleculars que participen en la regulació de la Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin: factors nutricionals i fibrosi hepàtica

PhD student: Laura Brianso Llort
Director/s: Cristina Hernández Pascual, Rafael Simó Canonge, David Martinez Selva
University: Universidad Autònoma de Barcelona
Year: 2022

Role of nuclear receptor ROR?1 in white adipose tissue

PhD student: maria Vila Rovira
Director/s: Josep A Villena Delgado
University: Universidad Autònoma de Barcelona
Year: 2022

Biomarkers of response to bariatric surgery

PhD student: Enzamaría Fidilio Meli
Director/s: Andreea Ciudin Mihai, Rafael Simó Canonge
University: Universidad Autònoma de Barcelona
Year: 2022

Acromegalia y huella metabólica

PhD student: Betina Biagetti Biagetti, Betina Biagetti Biagetti
Director/s: Rafael Simó Canonge
University: Universidad Autònoma de Barcelona
Year: 2020

Desarrollo de un tratamiento tópico en colirio para la retinopatía diabética basado en el efecto neuroprotector de GLP-1

PhD student: Joel Sampedro Vida
Director/s: Patricia Bogdanov Baruj, Rafael Simó Canonge, Cristina Hernández Pascual
University: Universidad Autònoma de Barcelona
Year: 2020

Neurodegeneration and inflammation: two crucial pathogenic events in diabetic retinopathy. New experimental insights and clinical perspectives

PhD student: Olga Simó Servat
Director/s: Rafael Simó Canonge, Cristina Hernández Pascual
University: Universidad Autònoma de Barcelona
Year: 2019

Predictive biomarkers of hypercalciuria in patients with permanent postsurgical hypoparathyroidism. Clinical implications.

PhD student: Luis Maximo García Pascual
Director/s: Rafael Simó Canonge
University: Universidad Autònoma de Barcelona
Year: 2019

Efecte de la neurodegeneració de la retina en les alteracions microvasculars de la retinopatia diabètica. Estudi dels mecanismes patogènics i implicacions terapèutiques: l'exemple del dobesilat de calci

PhD student: Cristina Solà Adell
Director/s: Patricia Bogdanov Baruj, Rafael Simó Canonge, Cristina Hernández Pascual
University: Universidad Autònoma de Barcelona
Year: 2019

Prevalença de trastorns psicopatològics en l'obesitat i la Diabetis Mellitus tipus 2: Influència sobre el control metabòlic, complicacions de la Diabetis tipus 2 i resposta al tractament de l'obesitat

PhD student: Joana Nicolau Ramis
Director/s: Rafael Simó Canonge
University: Universidad Autònoma de Barcelona
Year: 2018

La sobrecàrrega bioquímica de ferro en l'atenció primària. Prevalença i relació amb l'hemocromatosi hereditària i amb l'obesitat

PhD student: Nuria Freixenet Guitart
Director/s: Rafael Simó Canonge
University: Universidad Autònoma de Barcelona
Year: 2018

Cognitive impairment as a complication of Type 2 Diabetes: Identification of new biomarkers

PhD student: Andreea Ciudin Mihai
Director/s: Rafael Simó Canonge, Cristina Hernández Pascual
University: Universidad Autònoma de Barcelona
Year: 2017

Mecanismos moleculares que regulan la expresión de la SHBG: implicaciones en la obesidad

PhD student: Cristina Sáez Lopez
Director/s: Rafael Simó Canonge
University: Universidad Autònoma de Barcelona
Year: 2016

Neurodegeneration as an early event in the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy: therapeutic implications

PhD student: Lidia Corraliza Marquez, Lidia Corraliza Marquez
Director/s: Patricia Bogdanov Baruj, Rafael Simó Canonge, Cristina Hernández Pascual
University: Universidad Autònoma de Barcelona
Year: 2016

Estudi dels mecanismes moleculars implicats en el desenvolupament de la cardiomiopatia diabètica: paper del receptor nuclear ERRgamma

PhD student: Jaime Lasheras Márquez
Director/s: Josep A Villena Delgado
University: Universidad Autònoma de Barcelona
Year: 2016

Acciones alternativas de la proteina transportadora de esteroides sexuales (SHBG/ABP) a la espermatogénesis y al cáncer de próstata.

PhD student: David Martinez Selva, David Martinez Selva
Director/s: Jaume Reventós Puigjaner, Francina Munell Casadesus
University: Universidad Autònoma de Barcelona
Year: 2015

Study of the function of PGC1beta in white adipose tissue and its contribution to the development of insulin resistance

PhD student: Natàlia Enguix Elena
Director/s: Josep A Villena Delgado
University: Universidad Autònoma de Barcelona
Year: 2014

Alteraciones hidrocarbonadas en los pacientes con infección crónica por el virus de la hepatitis C: estudio de prevalencia y de los mecanismos etiopatogénicos

PhD student: Albert Lecube Torelló, Albert Lecube Torelló
Director/s:
University: Universidad Autònoma de Barcelona
Year: 2005

Blog

News

The families of the professionals had the opportunity to visit the facilities and discover how we work at the institution.

The document provides recommendations for identifying people who are candidates for these treatments and for guiding their implementation and follow-up in clinical practice.

The publications update the pharmacological management guideline for obesity and its complications and present the first European comprehensive management guideline for patients with obesity treated with medications.