Skip to main content

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

Vanesa Paola Flores Escobar

Vanesa Paola Flores Escobar

Junior researcher
Diabetes and Metabolism
Read more
Victoria Aubert

Victoria Aubert

Junior researcher
Diabetes and Metabolism
Read more
Alba Rojano Toimil

Alba Rojano Toimil

Predoctoral researcher
Diabetes and Metabolism
Read more
Alejandra Planas Vilaseca

Alejandra Planas Vilaseca

Diabetes and Metabolism
Read more
Ana Alvarez Guaita

Ana Alvarez Guaita

Postdoctoral researcher
Diabetes and Metabolism
Read more
Ana Maria Ortiz de Urbina Olive

Ana Maria Ortiz de Urbina Olive

Diabetes and Metabolism
Read more
Vanesa Paola Flores Escobar

Vanesa Paola Flores Escobar

Junior researcher
Diabetes and Metabolism
Read more
Victoria Aubert

Victoria Aubert

Junior researcher
Diabetes and Metabolism
Read more
Alba Rojano Toimil

Alba Rojano Toimil

Predoctoral researcher
Diabetes and Metabolism
Read more
Alejandra Planas Vilaseca

Alejandra Planas Vilaseca

Diabetes and Metabolism
Read more
Ana Alvarez Guaita

Ana Alvarez Guaita

Postdoctoral researcher
Diabetes and Metabolism
Read more
Ana Maria Ortiz de Urbina Olive

Ana Maria Ortiz de Urbina Olive

Diabetes and Metabolism
Read more

Projects

Topical administration of sitagliptin in experimental models of diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma: delving into mechanisms of action and changing the therapeutic positioning (“Sit@Retina”).

IP: Rafael Simó Canonge
Collaborators: Maria Llorian Salvador
Funding agency: Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación-MICINN
Funding: 321250
Reference: PID2022-138544OB-I00
Duration: 01/09/2023 - 31/08/2026

Ministerio de Ciencia

BIO-STREAM: Multi-Pillar Framework for children Anti-Obesity Behavior building on an EU biobank, Micro Moments and Mobile Recommendation Systems

IP: Andreea Ciudin Mihai
Collaborators: Marta Comas Martínez, Graciela Gastelum Varela, José Raul Herance Camacho
Funding agency: EUROPEAN COMMISSION
Funding: 317500
Reference: BIO-STREAM_HE-HLTH-STAYHLTH2022
Duration: 01/05/2023 - 30/04/2027

Utilitat de la inteligència artificial en l’anàlisi d’imatges de retina per identificar els pacients amb major risc de progressió de la retinopatia diabètica en el món real

IP: Olga Simó Servat
Collaborators: -
Funding agency: Associació Catalana de Diabetis
Funding: 10000
Reference: ACD/PROJECTES22/SIMO
Duration: 09/03/2023 - 08/03/2025

Beca VHIR PhD

IP: Josep A Villena Delgado
Collaborators: Laia Perez Lasarte, Rafael Simó Canonge, Laura Hidalgo Corbacho, Miriam Izquierdo Sans
Funding agency: Fundació Institut de Recerca HUVH
Funding: 69188.74
Reference: VPHD/LAURA_H
Duration: 01/04/2023 - 31/03/2026

Blog

News

The grants, amounting to more than €533,000 for VHIR, will allow clinical duties to be partially released over three years to promote strategic research projects in obesity, respiratory diseases, aortic pathology and metabolic fatty liver disease.

The study will validate the safety of a novel topical ocular administration route for sitagliptin.

Funding has been obtained for 43 projects under the calls for Health R&D&I Projects, Health Technology Development, and Independent Clinical Research