BRIDGE project The BRIDGE project at VHIR promotes a new decentralised model for paediatric clinical trials. Funded by the Carlos III Health Institute and the EU – NextGenerationEU, it aims to ensure access to innovative therapies for all children, regardless of their place of residence or socioeconomic status, by improving the capacity, inclusiveness and interoperability of clinical trials. The decentralisation of clinical trials The decentralisation of clinical trials is key to reducing the access barriers that currently limit participation, including geographical distances, socioeconomic inequalities and a lack of inclusiveness. Through hybrid and digital models, patients can participate from their own environment, without the need for extensive travel or additional burdens on families, thus ensuring fairer and more representative access. Barriers to access to clinical trials in children There is a significant need for new paediatric medicines, but their development faces obstacles such as limited private-sector interest, perceived risks and insufficient funding, as well as barriers to accessing clinical trials. In Spain, there are approximately 8.5 million children (18% of the population), yet only 8% of clinical trials include children. The gap is even greater in rare diseases: in 2023, only 0.15% of patients with rare diseases participated in a clinical trial. Three pillars To address this societal need, VHIR proposes a systematic restructuring of paediatric clinical trials through a hybrid model (partly digital and decentralised, and partly face-to-face), based on three pillars: increased capacity, interoperability and cooperation, and accessibility and inclusiveness. Educational plan The retention, development and recruitment of qualified professionals are essential to achieving excellence in clinical research. Therefore, BRIDGE includes a commitment to consolidating and harmonising all training opportunities available at VHIR and the Vall d’Hebron Campus into a unified Clinical Trials Educational Plan. BRIDGE – Laying the Foundations BRIDGE establishes the initial structures for capacity, interoperability and inclusiveness that will make it possible to consolidate a more robust, collaborative and patient-centred system. In this way, the project not only paves the way for new opportunities in paediatric clinical research, but also lays the foundations for ensuring that this transformation is implemented in a robust and sustainable manner over time. Active clinical trials 2025 688 688 Clinical trials 317 317 PAS (Post-Authorisation Studies) 83 83 Medical devices 241 241 Rare diseases clinical trials 224 224 Paediatric clinical trials 825 825 Patient enrolment in clinical trials Paediatric and Perinatal Research Hub The Paediatric and Perinatal Research Hub will help promote research in paediatrics and adolescence, highlighting the centre’s expertise and bringing together efforts and capabilities to drive system-wide change initiatives and achieve the objectives agreed upon by the entire community of professionals involved in paediatric and adolescent research at the Vall d’Hebron Campus. More information
