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 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:
IP: -
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.
A new approach using integrated biological systems.This is the main area of our research.
IP: - Collaborators: - Funding agency: Instituto de Salud Carlos III Funding: 208750 Reference: PI24/00852 Duration: 01/01/2025 - 31/12/2027
IP: Maria Llorian Salvador Collaborators: - Funding agency: Fundación Lucha contra la Ceguera FUNDALUCE Funding: 30000 Reference: FUNDALUCE/2024/LLORIAN Duration: 12/09/2025 - 12/09/2027
IP: Rafael Simó Canonge Collaborators: - Funding agency: Fundació Institut de Recerca HUVH Funding: 160000 Reference: SIMO/BOOST/2024 Duration: 15/11/2024 - 14/11/2028
IP: Carles Zafon Llopis Collaborators: Jordi Temprana Salvador, Carmela Iglesias i Felip Funding agency: Fundación Sdad Española Endocrinologia y Nutrición Funding: 10000 Reference: SEEN/PROJECTE/ZAFON/2024 Duration: 01/01/2025 - 01/01/2026
PhD student: Fiorella Ximena Palmas Candia Director/s: Rosa Burgos Peláez, Andreea Ciudin Mihai University: Year: 2024
PhD student: Anna Casteras Román Director/s: Andreea Ciudin Mihai, Betina Biagetti Biagetti University: Year: 2024
PhD student: Marc Velilla Cajo Director/s: Josep A Villena Delgado University: Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona Year: 2023
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
PhD student: Alejandra Planas Vilaseca Director/s: Olga Simó Servat, Cristina Hernández Pascual University: Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona Year: 2023
PhD student: Angel Michael Ortiz Zúñiga Director/s: Cristina Hernández Pascual, Rafael Simó Canonge University: Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona Year: 2022
PhD student: Laura Brianso Llort Director/s: Cristina Hernández Pascual, Rafael Simó Canonge, David Martinez Selva University: Universidad Autònoma de Barcelona Year: 2022
PhD student: maria Vila Rovira Director/s: Josep A Villena Delgado University: Universidad Autònoma de Barcelona Year: 2022
PhD student: Enzamaría Fidilio Meli Director/s: Andreea Ciudin Mihai, Rafael Simó Canonge University: Universidad Autònoma de Barcelona Year: 2022
PhD student: Betina Biagetti Biagetti, Betina Biagetti Biagetti Director/s: Rafael Simó Canonge University: Universidad Autònoma de Barcelona Year: 2020
PhD student: Joel Sampedro Vida Director/s: Patricia Bogdanov Baruj, Rafael Simó Canonge, Cristina Hernández Pascual University: Universidad Autònoma de Barcelona Year: 2020
PhD student: Olga Simó Servat Director/s: Rafael Simó Canonge, Cristina Hernández Pascual University: Universidad Autònoma de Barcelona Year: 2019
PhD student: Luis Maximo García Pascual Director/s: Rafael Simó Canonge University: Universidad Autònoma de Barcelona Year: 2019
PhD student: Cristina Solà Adell Director/s: Patricia Bogdanov Baruj, Rafael Simó Canonge, Cristina Hernández Pascual University: Universidad Autònoma de Barcelona Year: 2019
PhD student: Joana Nicolau Ramis Director/s: Rafael Simó Canonge University: Universidad Autònoma de Barcelona Year: 2018
PhD student: Nuria Freixenet Guitart Director/s: Rafael Simó Canonge University: Universidad Autònoma de Barcelona Year: 2018
PhD student: Andreea Ciudin Mihai Director/s: Rafael Simó Canonge, Cristina Hernández Pascual University: Universidad Autònoma de Barcelona Year: 2017
PhD student: Cristina Sáez Lopez Director/s: Rafael Simó Canonge University: Universidad Autònoma de Barcelona Year: 2016
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
PhD student: Jaime Lasheras Márquez Director/s: Josep A Villena Delgado University: Universidad Autònoma de Barcelona Year: 2016
PhD student: David Martinez Selva, David Martinez Selva Director/s: Jaume Reventós Puigjaner, Francina Munell Casadesus University: Universidad Autònoma de Barcelona Year: 2015
PhD student: Natàlia Enguix Elena Director/s: Josep A Villena Delgado University: Universidad Autònoma de Barcelona Year: 2014
PhD student: Albert Lecube Torelló, Albert Lecube Torelló Director/s: University: Universidad Autònoma de Barcelona Year: 2005
Funding has been obtained for 43 projects under the calls for Health R&D&I Projects, Health Technology Development, and Independent Clinical Research
The work represents a paradigm shift in the clinical approach to this chronic, multifactorial disease, based on the clinical context of each patient and not only on weight loss.
The results of a phase 3 clinical trial show that orforglipron reduces body weight by an average of 11% and improves cardiovascular risk factors.
