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 broad purpose of the Epidemiology and Public Health research group is contributing to increase the available scientific evidence regarding preventive interventions, to promote health, and prevent morbidity and mortality from major diseases. Our group uses epidemiological methods to study etiology, surveillance, and efficacy of these interventions. We are primarily focused on epidemiology and prevention of infectious diseases, in both individual and population levels. Main lines of research:
To characterize the epidemiology of multiple sclerosis (MS) in Catalonia, a prospective registry of new cases of MS in Catalonia was set up in 2009 with the participation of 21 hospitals throughout Catalonia. Prevalence and incidence studies based on this population-based registry are being performed.
Recently, and in collaboration with the Center of Multiple Sclerosis of Catalonia (Cemcat), we have set up a prospective registry of vaccination in patients with Immuno-Mediated Inflammatory Disease (IMID) who are candidates for biological treatment with the aim of evaluating vaccine immunogenicity and safety that will allow establishing the best vaccination strategy. In addition, we will study the prevalence and impact of comorbidity on Multiple Sclerosis prognosis.
IP: Susana Otero Romero
Includes the evaluation of risk factors, features, evolution, host, and impact of these infections. The group has been pioneer in the organization of a national prevalence surveillance project for nosocomial infections (EPINE) that is underway since 1990, allowing the analysis and monitoring of this data for investigational purposes. We are currently working in a multilevel analysis to evaluate the characteristics associated with nosocomial infections due to antibiotic resistant microorganisms, based on data of EPINE study (PI15/00787). We are also involved in the national study of device-related infections in intensive care units (ENVIN-Helics).
IP: Jose Angel Rodrigo Pendás
The group has participated in different phase II, III and IV clinical trials focused on the study of the immunogenicity, efficacy and safety of several preventive vaccines (e.g. influenza, human papilloma virus, hepatitis B, herpes zoster, respiratory syncytial virus…).
Currently, our group has expanded its line of research on the adjuvanted recombinant Herpes Zoster vaccine testing its safety and immunogenicity in pediatric immunosuppressed patients and adults =50 years of age with a prior episode of Herpes Zoster. Regarding observational studies, the group is leading a population study about the incidence of herpes zoster by risk groups (PI15/02273).
Our team has also started a new line of investigation for a Respiratory Syncytial Virus vaccine in healthy pregnant women.
IP: Xavier Martínez Gómez
IP: Begoña Benito Villabriga Collaborators: Carmen Escudero Iriarte, Laia Ventura i Expósito, Susana Otero Romero, Ignacio Ferreira González, José Antonio Barrabés Riu, Carlos Nos Llopis, Pablo Velasco Puyó, Jose Fernando Rodríguez Palomares, Sunny Malhotra Sareen, Belen Perez Dueñas, Jaume Sastre Garriga, Joan López Hellin, Antonia Sambola Ayala, Jordi Rio Izquierdo, Nuria Rivas Gandara, Jordi Perez Rodon, Aroa Soriano Fernández, Manuel Comabella Lopez, Antonio Rodríguez Sinovas, Gisela Teixido Tura, Antonia Pijuan Domenech, Roser Ferrer Costa, Joaquin Seras Franzoso, Carmen Tur Gomez, Maria Cristina Díaz de Heredia Rubio, Laia Yañez Bisbe, Maria Jose Pérez García, Miguel Segura Ginard, Diego Baranda Martínez-Abasca, Cristina Auger Acosta, Neus Bellera Gotarda, Teresa Macarulla Mercadé, Herena Eixarch Ahufinger, M Mar Mañu Pereira, Deborah Pareto Onghena, Lorena Valero Arrese, Aitor Uribarri Gonzalez, Jordi Bañeras Rius, Alex Rovira Cañellas, Mar Tintore Subirana, Bruno García del Blanco, Ana Vivancos Prellezo, Maria Teresa Salcedo Allende, Marisol Ruiz Meana, Ana Belén Méndez Fernández, Xavier Montalban Gairín, Simon Schwartz Navarro, Anna Llort Sales, Carmen Espejo Ruiz, Raquel Hladun Alvaro, Sandra Mancilla Zamora, Ana Zabalza de Torres, Javier Inserte Igual, Luciana Midaglia Fernandez, Elizabeth Pando Rau, Gabriela Guillén Burrieza, Ana Laura Cazurro Gutierrez, David Gómez Andrés, Alvaro Cobo Calvo, Alvaro Calabuig Goena, Joaquin Castillo Justribo, Lydia Dux-Santoy Hurtado, Lucas Moreno Martín-Retortillo, Andres Miguez Gonzalez, Josep Roma Castanyer, Laura Dos Subirá, Nicolás Miguel Fissolo, Maria Nazarena Pizzi, Paolo Giovanni Nuciforo, Tian Tian, Diana Fernandes de Rafael, Andrea Guala Funding agency: Instituto de Salud Carlos III Funding: 2494527.53 Reference: FORT23/00034 Duration: 01/01/2024 - 31/12/2027
IP: Susana Otero Romero Collaborators: Imane Boutitah Benyaich, Blanca Borras Bermejo, Anna Falcó Roget, Mar Tintore Subirana, Ana Zabalza de Torres, Jesus Trejo Zahinos, Enrique Rodríguez Zafra Funding agency: Instituto de Salud Carlos III Funding: 115000 Reference: PI23/01654 Duration: 01/01/2024 - 31/12/2026
IP: Cleofé Romagosa Pérez-Portabell Collaborators: Xavier Martínez Gómez, Ximena Garcia Torres Funding agency: Asociación Española Contra el Cáncer Funding: 270130 Reference: ECAEC222952DEAL Duration: 01/12/2022 - 30/11/2027
IP: Juan Jose Gonzalez Lopez Collaborators: Manuel Hernández González, Jose Angel Rodrigo Pendás, Maria Belén Viñado Perez, Aina Aguiló Cucurull, Alba Mir Cros, Albert Moreno Mingorance, Andrea Martín Nalda, Nuria Serre Delcor, Josep Roca Grande, Laura Batlle Masó Funding agency: Instituto de Salud Carlos III Funding: 123420 Reference: PI21/00132 Duration: 01/01/2022 - 30/06/2026
PhD student: Sandra Helena Suescún Carrero Director/s: Lluis Armadans Gil University: Year: 2022
PhD student: Luz Maria Vilca Yengle Director/s: Magda Campins Martí University: Universidad Autònoma de Barcelona Year: 2019
PhD student: Luz Maria Vilca Yengle Director/s: Magda Campins Martí University: Universidad Autònoma de Barcelona Year: 2018
PhD student: Yuani Miriam Román Morillo Director/s: Magda Campins Martí University: Universidad Autònoma de Barcelona Year: 2017
PhD student: José María Sánchez García Director/s: Josep Vaqué Rafart University: Universidad Autònoma de Barcelona Year: 2016
PhD student: Susana Otero Romero Director/s: Xavier Montalban Gairín, Jaume Sastre Garriga, Josep Vaqué Rafart, Xavier Montalban Gairín University: Universidad Autònoma de Barcelona Year: 2016
PhD student: Maria Isabel Fernández Cano, Maria Isabel Fernández Cano, Maria Isabel Fernández Cano Director/s: Magda Campins Martí, Lluis Armadans Gil University: Universidad Autònoma de Barcelona Year: 2016
PhD student: Roser González Baulies, Roser González Baulies, Roser González Baulies Director/s: Magda Campins Martí University: Universidad Autònoma de Barcelona Year: 2015
PhD student: Dolors Carnicer Pont Director/s: Josep Vaqué Rafart University: Universidad Autònoma de Barcelona Year: 2015
PhD student: Flavia Maria Barkokebas Director/s: Josep Vaqué Rafart University: Universidad Autònoma de Barcelona Year: 2014
PhD student: Berta Ortiga Fontgivell Director/s: University: Universidad Autònoma de Barcelona Year: 2013
PhD student: Elvira Torné Vilagrasa Director/s: Josep Vaqué Rafart University: Universidad Autònoma de Barcelona Year: 2013
PhD student: Fernando Parrilla Valero Director/s: Josep Vaqué Rafart University: Universidad Autònoma de Barcelona Year: 2012
PhD student: Alberto Tobón Castaño Director/s: Josep Vaqué Rafart University: Universidad Autònoma de Barcelona Year: 2011
The Lancet Neurology publishes the new criteria, the result of a global expert consensus led by Dr Xavier Montalban.
On European Antibiotic Awareness Day, we highlight the importance of using these medications responsibly and finding innovative solutions to combat this issue.
This strategy protects almost two thirds of patients. It also reduces the waiting time between vaccination and initiation of immune suppressive treatment.
