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Genetics Medicine

The Genetics Medicine group of the VHIR belongs to the Clinical and Molecular Genetic Area of the Hospital Vall d’Hebron and combines genetic diagnosis and translational research in hereditary diseases and the study of pathologies and malformations during human development.

The group actively works in different consortiums and networks for rare disorders including ERN Ithaca, Cranio, Bond and NMD.

Specific research lines and teams include:

  • Neuromuscular development, genetics and molecular therapy for spinal muscular atrophy.
  • Genetic and functional evaluation of CFTR pathogenic variants in cystic fibrosis patients treated with modulators. 
  • Genetic bases of mental retardation, CNS malformations and autism spectrum disorders.
  • Epigenetic disorders secondary to alterations in the methylation of chromosomal regions subjected to imprinting.
  • Genetic bases of aortic pathology, RASopathies, 22q11.2 deletions and duplications,  tuberous sclerosis, disorders of sexual differentiation, hypothyroidism, growth disorders, skeletal dysplasias, cleft lip and palate.
  • Better phenotype delineations and genomic approach of rare and ultra-rare genetic syndromes including fetal pathology and malformations.
  • Development and validation of new tools and strategies for genetic diagnosis.

Team

Neus  Castells  Sarret

Neus Castells Sarret

Postdoctoral researcher
Genetics Medicine
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Núria Martínez Gil

Núria Martínez Gil

Postdoctoral researcher
Genetics Medicine
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Paula Barranco Bartolomé

Paula Barranco Bartolomé

Research technician
Genetics Medicine
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Paula Fernández Álvarez

Paula Fernández Álvarez

Research technician
Genetics Medicine
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Sebastian Lazaro

Sebastian Lazaro

Research technician
Genetics Medicine
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Susana Boronat Guerero

Susana Boronat Guerero

Senior researcher
Genetics Medicine
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Neus  Castells  Sarret

Neus Castells Sarret

Postdoctoral researcher
Genetics Medicine
Read more
Núria Martínez Gil

Núria Martínez Gil

Postdoctoral researcher
Genetics Medicine
Read more
Paula Barranco Bartolomé

Paula Barranco Bartolomé

Research technician
Genetics Medicine
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Paula Fernández Álvarez

Paula Fernández Álvarez

Research technician
Genetics Medicine
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Sebastian Lazaro

Sebastian Lazaro

Research technician
Genetics Medicine
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Susana Boronat Guerero

Susana Boronat Guerero

Senior researcher
Genetics Medicine
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Publications

Combination disease-modifying treatment in spinal muscular atrophy: A proposed classification.

PMID: 37691296
Journal: Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology
Year: 2023
Reference: Ann Clin Transl Neurol. 2023 Sep 10. doi: 10.1002/acn3.51889.
Impact factor:
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Benguerba, Kamal; De Vivo, Darryl C; Desguerre, Isabelle; Faulkner, Eric; Finkel, Richard S; Kirschner, Janbernd; Mercuri, Eugenio; Muntoni, Francesco; Proud, Crystal M; Quijano-Roy, Susana et al.
DOI: 10.1002/acn3.51889

IkappaB kinase-alpha coordinates BRD4 and JAK/STAT signaling to subvert DNA damage-based anticancer therapy.

PMID: 37737566
Journal: EMBO JOURNAL
Year: 2023
Reference: EMBO J. 2023 Sep 22:e114719. doi: 10.15252/embj.2023114719.
Impact factor:
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Alonso-Maranon, Josune; Alvarez-Villanueva, Daniel; Bertran, Joan; Bertran, Joan; Bigas, Anna; Bonfill-Teixidor, Ester; Borras, Eva; Espinosa, Lluis; Garcia-Hernandez, Violeta; Garrido, Marta et al.
DOI: 10.15252/embj.2023114719

Functional Insight into and Refinement of the Genomic Boundaries of the JARID2-Neurodevelopmental Disorder Episignature.

PMID: 37762546
Journal: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
Year: 2023
Reference: Int J Mol Sci. 2023 Sep 18;24(18):14240. doi: 10.3390/ijms241814240.
Impact factor:
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Alders, Marielle; Campos, Berta; Castells, Neus; Haghshenas, Sadegheh; Henneman, Peter; Lasa-Aranzasti, Amaia; Levy, Michael A; Maas, Saskia; Mannens, Marcel M A M; McConkey, Haley et al.
DOI: 10.3390/ijms241814240

Evolution of clinical and radiological presentations of spondyloepimetaphyseal dysplasia, RPL13-related: Description of 11 further cases.

PMID: 37121912
Journal: CLINICAL GENETICS
Year: 2023
Reference: Clin Genet. 2023 Apr 30. doi: 10.1111/cge.14351.
Impact factor:
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Ballesta-Martinez, Mary J; Codina-Sola, Marta; Cueto-Gonzalez, Anna M; Diaz-Gonzalez, Francisca; Heath, Karen E; Lucas-Castro, Elsa; Modamio-HOybjOr, Silvia; Parron-Pajares, Manuel; Prieto, Pablo; Santos-Simarro, Fernando et al.
DOI: 10.1111/cge.14351

Correspondence on "Loss-of-function and missense variants in NSD2 cause decreased methylation activity and are associated with a distinct developmental phenotype" by Zanoni et al.

PMID: 34906509
Journal: GENETICS IN MEDICINE
Year: 2022
Reference: Genet Med. 2022 Mar;24(3):754-756. doi: 10.1016/j.gim.2021.11.007. Epub 2021 Dec 6.
Impact factor: 8.822
Publication type: Letter or abstract
Authors: Cueto-Gonzalez, Anna Ma, Fernandez-Alvarez, Paula, Palafoll, Irene Valenzuela, Lasa-Aranzasti, Amaia, Vendrell Bayona, Teresa, Tizzano, Eduardo F et al.
DOI: 10.1016/j.gim.2021.11.007

Differences between genetic dilated cardiomyopathy and myocarditis in children presenting with severe cardiac dysfunction.

PMID: 34286374
Journal: EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PEDIATRICS
Year: 2022
Reference: Eur J Pediatr. 2022 Jan;181(1):287-294. doi: 10.1007/s00431-021-04175-z. Epub 2021 Jul 20.
Impact factor: 3.183
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Fernandez-Alvarez, Paula, Codina-Sola, Marta, Balcells, Joan, Izquierdo-Blasco, Jaume, Gran, Ferran, Garrido, Marta, Dolader, Paola, Fidalgo, Andrea, Navarro, Alexandra, Sabate-Rotes, Anna et al.
DOI: 10.1007/s00431-021-04175-z

Clinical and molecular characterization of five new individuals with WAC-related intellectual disability: Evidence of pathogenicity for a novel splicing variant.

PMID: 35018708
Journal: AMERICAN JOURNAL OF MEDICAL GENETICS PART A
Year: 2022
Reference: Am J Med Genet A. 2022 May;188(5):1396-1406. doi: 10.1002/ajmg.a.62648. Epub 2022 Jan 12.
Impact factor: 2.802
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Morales, Jose Andres, Valenzuela, Irene, Cusco, Ivon, Cogne, Benjamin, Isidor, Bertrand, Matalon, Dena R, Gomez-Ospina, Natalia et al.
DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.a.62648

Severe COVID-19 during pregnancy and the subsequent premature delivery.

PMID: 33039313
Journal: Pediatrics and Neonatology
Year: 2021
Reference: Pediatr Neonatol. 2021 Jan;62(1):113-114. doi: 10.1016/j.pedneo.2020.09.005. Epub 2020 Sep 19.
Impact factor: 2.083
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Fernandez-Garcia, Cristina, Montaner-Ramon, Alicia, Hernandez-Perez, Susana, Camba-Longueira, Fatima, Ribes-Bautista, Carmen, Frick, Marie Antoinette, Castillo-Salinas, Felix et al.
DOI: 10.1016/j.pedneo.2020.09.005

Chromosomal microarray analysis in fetuses with Central Nervous System anomalies: An 8-year long observational study from a tertiary care university hospital.

PMID: 32926442
Journal: PRENATAL DIAGNOSIS
Year: 2021
Reference: Prenat Diagn. 2021 Jan;41(1):123-135. doi: 10.1002/pd.5829. Epub 2020 Sep 30.
Impact factor: 3.05
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Santirocco, Maddalena, Plaja, Alberto, Rodo, Carlota, Valenzuela, Irene, Arevalo, Silvia, Castells, Neus, Abuli, Anna, Tizzano, Eduardo, Maiz, Nerea, Carreras, Elena et al.
DOI: 10.1002/pd.5829

Neonates Born to Mothers With COVID-19: Data From the Spanish Society of Neonatology Registry.

PMID: 33479162
Journal: PEDIATRICS
Year: 2021
Reference: Pediatrics. 2021 Feb;147(2). pii: peds.2020-015065. doi: 10.1542/peds.2020-015065.
Impact factor: 7.125
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Fernandez Colomer, Belen, de Alba Romero, Concepcion, Alarcon Allen, Ana, Bana Souto, Ana, Camba Longueira, Fatima, Cernada Badia, Maria, Galve Pradell, Zenaida, Gonzalez Lopez, Maria, Lopez Herrera, M Cruz, Ribes Bautista, Carmen et al.
DOI: 10.1542/peds.2020-015065

Phenotypic variability of patients with PAX8 variants presenting congenital hypothyroidism and eutopic thyroid.

PMID: 33029631
Journal: JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ENDOCRINOLOGY & METABOLISM
Year: 2021
Reference: J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2021 Jan 1;106(1):e152-e170. doi: 10.1210/clinem/dgaa711.
Impact factor: 5.958
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Garcia-Arumi, Elena, Blasco-Perez, Laura, Paramonov, Ida, Mogas, Eduard, Soler-Colomer, Laura, Yeste, Diego, Antolin, Maria, Jaimes, Nadya, Campos-Martorell, Ariadna, Clemente, Maria et al.
DOI: 10.1210/clinem/dgaa711

IRF4-rearranged Large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) has a genomic profile distinct to other LBCL in children and young adults.

PMID: 31738823
Journal: BLOOD
Year: 2020
Reference: Blood. 2020 Jan 23;135(4):274-286. doi: 10.1182/blood.2019002699.
Impact factor: 17.543
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Azorin, Daniel, Ramis-Zaldivar, Joan Enric, Gonzalez-Farre, Blanca, Balague, Olga, Celis, Veronica, Nadeu, Ferran, Salmeron-Villalobos, Julia, Andres, Mara, Martin-Guerrero, Idoia, Garrido-Pontnou, Marta et al.
DOI: 10.1182/blood.2019002699

Further delineation of the phenotype caused by loss of function mutations in PRMT7.

PMID: 30006058
Journal: European Journal of Medical Genetics
Year: 2019
Reference: Eur J Med Genet. 2019 Mar;62(3):182-185. doi: 10.1016/j.ejmg.2018.07.007. Epub 2018 Jul 10.
Impact factor: 2.022
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Valenzuela, Irene, Segura-Puimedon, Maria, Rodriguez-Santiago, Benjamin, Fernandez-Alvarez, Paula, Vendrell, Teresa, Armengol, Lluis, Tizzano, Eduardo et al.
DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmg.2018.07.007

Blog

News

The results show that, in some patients with mutations in the X chromosome, the healthy gene is inactivated and the mutated gene manifests itself, which favors the onset of the disease.

On January 24, a session was held to explain what these three-dimensional models are and what advantages they have, as well as to review some of their applications in research.

The research has studied the structure and function of proteins related to this degenerative disease and their interaction with SMN2 messenger RNA (mRNA), which is key to the evolution of patients.

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Research Technician
Start date:
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End date:
23/03/2017
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Predoctoral Position
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End date:
30/05/2016
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Technical research in bioinformatics
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20/04/2016
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