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Microbiology

The Microbiology research group of the Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR) focuses on the study of microbiological aspects —in basic, translational and clinical research— that could improve the outcome of patients with infectious diseases.

Our priority research areas are:

  • Microbiological surveillance of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases.
    • Diseases due to viral infections of the respiratory tract
    • Microorganisms that cause vaccine-preventable diseases
    • Infectious diseases of sexual transmission
  • Antimicrobial resistance
  • Sepsis
  • Development and validation of rapid microbiological diagnostic devices.
  • International Health
  • Hepatitis 

We actively collaborate with other microbiology laboratories, health services, national and international centres and organizations, as well as with the different research networks of the Carlos III Health Institute in Spain.

In addition, we carry out an important activity in the surveillance of the genotypic and phenotypic evolution of microorganisms present in the community in terms of their virulence, transmissibility, antigenic escape and antimicrobial resistance, in collaboration with public administrations, both at the national and international level.
 

Team

Marta Vila Salvador

Marta Vila Salvador

Research technician
Microbiology
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Mayli Lung Suarez

Mayli Lung Suarez

Microbiology
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Olaya López  Perez

Olaya López Perez

Administration and Management
Microbiology
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Rosa María Bartolomé Comas

Rosa María Bartolomé Comas

Microbiology
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Tomàs Pumarola Suñé

Tomàs Pumarola Suñé

Main researcher
Microbiology
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Virginia Rodríguez Garrido

Virginia Rodríguez Garrido

Predoctoral researcher
Microbiology
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Marta Vila Salvador

Marta Vila Salvador

Research technician
Microbiology
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Mayli Lung Suarez

Mayli Lung Suarez

Microbiology
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Olaya López  Perez

Olaya López Perez

Administration and Management
Microbiology
Read more
Rosa María Bartolomé Comas

Rosa María Bartolomé Comas

Microbiology
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Tomàs Pumarola Suñé

Tomàs Pumarola Suñé

Main researcher
Microbiology
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Virginia Rodríguez Garrido

Virginia Rodríguez Garrido

Predoctoral researcher
Microbiology
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Projects

Caracterización de Neisseria meningitidis tras la introducción de la vacuna frente al serogrupo B e identificación de factores predisponentes para la enfermedad meningocócica invasiva

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

Vigilancia y control de la infección relacionada con la asistencia sanitaria por bacterias multirresistentes a través de la secuenciación de genomas completos. Proyecto IRAS 2

IP: María Nieves Larrosa Escartin
Collaborators: Jose Angel Rodrigo Pendás, Maria Belén Viñado Perez, Mª Carmen Ferrer Barberà, Nuria Fernández Hidalgo, Rosa Alcaraz Peñarrocha, Ma Dolores Rodríguez Pardo, Vanessa Casares Rodríguez, Albert Moreno Mingorance
Funding agency: Instituto de Salud Carlos III
Funding: 90750
Reference: PI21/01786
Duration: 01/01/2022 - 30/06/2026

PHITBAC - Biosensores nanofotónicos para el diagnóstico y gestión clínica de infecciones bacterianas en el punto de atención

IP: Juan Jose Gonzalez Lopez
Collaborators: María Nieves Larrosa Escartin, Ricard Ferrer Roca, Juan Carlos Ruiz Rodriguez, Alba Mir Cros, Claudia Gomariz Querol
Funding agency: Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación-MICINN
Funding: 115970
Reference: PLEC2021-007739
Duration: 01/10/2021 - 30/09/2025

Ministerio de Ciencia

Dispositivo cuantitativo y estable para el diagnótico point-of-care. EuroNanoMed Call 2021 (VHIR coordinator)

IP: Eva Baldrich Rubio
Collaborators: Israel Molina Romero, Adrián Sánchez Montalvá, Elena Sulleiro Igual, Judit Prat Trunas, Menyar Ben Jaballah
Funding agency: Instituto de Salud Carlos III
Funding: 214333.35
Reference: AC21_2/00021
Duration: 01/01/2022 - 31/12/2025

Blog

News

The study results show that the local presence of IL-1β promotes the development of myeloid cells with an immunosuppressive function.

The project has developed a low-cost system to diagnose malaria and schistosomiasis using artificial intelligence and a robotic microscope.

The collaboration will focus on several key areas of mutual interest in microbiology in particular antimicrobial resistance and stewardship.