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Epidemiology and Public Health

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:

  • Vaccines: This research line includes the organization, participation and collaboration in different clinical trials related to the evaluation of the immunogenicity, efficacy and safety of different vaccines (e.g. Herpes Zoster, Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Influenza, Covid-19).
  • The epidemiology and prevention of healthcare acquired infections: This research line includes the evaluation of risk factors, characteristics, evolution, host, and impact of these infections. 
  • Clinical Epidemiology of Multiple Sclerosis: The objective of this project is to characterize the epidemiology of Multiple Sclerosis in Catalonia. 

Publications

The frequency of defective genomes in Omicron differs from that of the Alpha, Beta and Delta variants.

PMID: 36581627
Journal: Scientific Reports
Year: 2022
Reference: Sci Rep. 2022 Dec 29;12(1):22571. doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-24918-8.
Impact factor:
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Adombi, Caroline Melanie; Andres, Cristina; Anton, Andres; Borras, Blanca; Campos, Carolina; Codina, Maria Gema; Colomer-Castell, Sergi; Esperalba, Juliana; Esteban, Juan Ignacio; Garcia-Cehic, Damir et al.
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-24918-8

A year living with SARS-CoV-2: an epidemiological overview of viral lineage circulation by whole-genome sequencing in Barcelona city (Catalonia, Spain).

PMID: 34842496
Journal: Emerging Microbes & Infections
Year: 2022
Reference: Emerg Microbes Infect. 2022 Dec;11(1):172-181. doi: 10.1080/22221751.2021.2011617.
Impact factor: 7.163
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Andres, Cristina; Pinana, Maria; Borras-Bermejo, Blanca; Gonzalez-Sanchez, Alejandra; Garcia-Cehic, Damir; Esperalba, Juliana; Rando, Ariadna; Zules-Ona, Ricardo-Gabriel; Campos, Carolina; Codina, Maria Gema et al.
DOI: 10.1080/22221751.2021.2011617

Treatment response scoring systems to assess long-term prognosis in self-injectable DMTs relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients.

PMID: 34596743
Journal: JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY
Year: 2022
Reference: J Neurol. 2022 Jan;269(1):452-459. doi: 10.1007/s00415-021-10823-z. Epub 2021 Oct 1.
Impact factor: 4.849
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Tur, Carmen; Auger, Cristina; Sastre-Garriga, Jaume; Montalban, Xavier; Cobo, Alvaro; Nos, Carlos; Arrambide, Georgina; Castillo, Joaquim; Rio, Jordi; Gasperini, Claudio et al.
DOI: 10.1007/s00415-021-10823-z

Humoral and Cellular Responses to SARS-CoV-2 in Convalescent COVID-19 Patients With Multiple Sclerosis.

PMID: 35105687
Journal: Neurology-Neuroimmunology & Neuroinflammation
Year: 2022
Reference: Neurol Neuroimmunol Neuroinflamm. 2022 Feb 1;9(2). pii: 9/2/e1143. doi: 10.1212/NXI.0000000000001143. Print 2022 Mar.
Impact factor: 8.485
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Arrambide, Georgina; Zabalza, Ana; Nos, Carlos; Sastre-Garriga, Jaume; Tintore, Mar; Montalban, Xavier; Comabella, Manuel; Espejo, Carmen; Castillo, Joaquin; Otero-Romero, Susana et al.
DOI: 10.1212/NXI.0000000000001143

Blog

News

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.

El VHIR va participar activament en l'assaig clínic d'aquesta vacuna que avaluava la seguretat, la tolerabilitat i l'eficàcia.