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 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:
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.
IP: -
Antimicrobial resistance is one of the main public health problems recognized by the main public health and sanitary agencies. Enterobacters such as Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae, and other bacterial species such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa or Staphylococcus aureus are among the main pathogens causing infections and deaths associated with antimicrobial resistance.
Our research group works on the study of the mechanisms of action and resistance to antimicrobials of these and other bacteria of clinical interest, as well as the study of the mobile genetic elements where their resistance determinants can be found and possible therapeutic alternatives that can be considered to treat the infections they produce. Likewise, we work on the development, application and implementation of state-of-the-art processes, analysis and technologies that allow us to identify the molecular epidemiology, distribution and population structure of multi-resistant bacteria in order to early detect the emergence of high-risk epidemiological clones that can be transferred between patients, producing infections and/or outbreaks related to healthcare.
IP: Juan Jose Gonzalez Lopez, María Nieves Larrosa Escartin
The liver disease unit is focused on studying the viral hepatitis with a special emphasis on the basic virology, its translational applications, and the evaluation of new serological and virological markers for patient follow-up thanks to the collaboration with both industry and basic/clinical research groups. Moreover, it is also centred in contributing to the elimination of the hepatitis C virus (HCV), in evaluating HDV epidemiology in high prevalence populations, in inspecting viral variability to determine its relationship with disease progression, immune activation and the development of new therapeutic gene therapy strategies. Of note, the unit is also interested in studying HBV and HDV interaction in collaboration with the gene therapy group of CIMA-University of Navarra.
IP: Ariadna Rando Segura
The microbiology laboratory of the Vall d'Hebron hospital has a unit dedicated to the diagnosis of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). In this context, the VHIR microbiology group directs its priorities towards bacterial STIs (Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis, Mycoplasma genitalium and Treponema pallidum).
Our area of knowledge and research covers the following aspects:
- Evaluation and quality control of new diagnostic techniques, specifically multiplexed molecular techniques and resistance tests for the diagnosis and screening of STIs.
- Evaluation and quality control of new techniques for the study of susceptibility to antimicrobials in Neisseria gonorrhoeae.
- Evaluation and quality control of new serological techniques for the control of syphilis.
- Chlamydia trachomatis typing, specifically the serotypes responsible for lymphogranuloma venereum.
- Development of typing techniques through sequencing for the different bacterial STIs, with the aim of:
1. Discriminate STI cases in our country with those described in other countries.
2. Discriminate grouped cases of STIs within our geographic area.
3. Detect clones of special epidemiological relevance.
IP: Yannick Hoyos Mallecot
IP: Antonio Moreno Galdó Collaborators: Andres Antón Pagarolas, Mª Purificación Casanova Angulo, Amanda Ferrer Barberá, Jorgina Vila Soler, Pere Soler Palacín, Inés de Mir Messa, Ana Díez Izquierdo, Anna Creus Costa Funding agency: Fundació La Marató de TV3 Funding: 132500 Reference: 202523-30 Duration: 30/04/2026 - 29/04/2029
IP: Eva Baldrich Rubio Collaborators: Xana Garcia Fernandez, Edgar Fuentes Fuentes, Maria Urpí Castany, Synthetic erythrocytes for the global control of influenza viruses: activities for technology transfer. , Cristina Andrés Vergés, Narcís Saubí Roca Funding agency: Agència Gestió Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca Funding: 84000 Reference: 2025 INNOV 00007 Duration: 17/11/2025 - 16/06/2027
IP: Ariadna Rando Segura Collaborators: Albert Blanco Grau, Luz María Cruz Carlos, Adrián Najarro Centeno , David Tabernero Caellas Funding agency: Gilead Sciences, S.L.U. Funding: 27500 Reference: GILD25_29524 Duration: 01/01/2026 - 30/06/2027
IP: Juan Jose Gonzalez Lopez Collaborators: Ester del Barrio Tofiño, Maria Belén Viñado Perez, David Téllez Velasco, Patricia Álvarez López, Luis Lopez Perez, Vicente Descalzo Jorro, Albert Moreno Mingorance, Maria Eugènia Agustí Carol, Manuel Solivella Rodriguez, Claudia Broto Cortes, Jesus Trejo Zahinos Funding agency: Instituto de Salud Carlos III Funding: 185000 Reference: PI24/00765 Duration: 01/01/2025 - 31/12/2027
PhD student: Carles Rubio Maturana Director/s: Joan Joseph Munné University: Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona Year: 2025
PhD student: Beatriz Pacín Ruíz, Beatriz Pacín Ruíz, Beatriz Pacín Ruíz Director/s: Francisco Rodríguez Frias, Maria Francesca Cortese , Maria Francesca Cortese University: Universidad Autònoma de Barcelona Year: 2023
PhD student: Garcia Garcia, Selene Director/s: Rodríguez Frias, Francisco, Tabernero Caellas, David, Cortese , Maria Francesca University: Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona Year: 2023
PhD student: Albert Moreno Mingorance, Albert Moreno Mingorance Director/s: Juan Jose Gonzalez Lopez University: Year: 2023
PhD student: Candela Fernandez Naval Director/s: Juan Jose Gonzalez Lopez University: Universidad Autònoma de Barcelona Year: 2022
PhD student: Chun Wei Chen Director/s: Joan Joseph Munné University: Year: 2022
PhD student: Aroa Silgado Gimenez Director/s: Elena Sulleiro Igual, Nuria Serre Delcor University: Year: 2022
PhD student: Maria Piñana Moro, Maria Piñana Moro Director/s: Tomàs Pumarola Suñé, Andres Antón Pagarolas University: Universidad Autònoma de Barcelona Year: 2022
PhD student: Ariadna Rando Segura Director/s: Rosa María Bartolomé Comas University: Universidad Autònoma de Barcelona Year: 2021
PhD student: Miguel Fernández Huerta, Miguel Fernández Huerta Director/s: Tomàs Pumarola Suñé University: Universidad Autònoma de Barcelona Year: 2021
PhD student: Alba Mir Cros, Alba Mir Cros, Alba Mir Cros Director/s: Juan Jose Gonzalez Lopez University: Universidad Autònoma de Barcelona Year: 2021
PhD student: Cristina Andrés Vergés Director/s: Tomàs Pumarola Suñé University: Universidad Autònoma de Barcelona Year: 2019
PhD student: Elena Sulleiro Igual, Elena Sulleiro Igual Director/s: Tomàs Pumarola Suñé, Israel Molina Romero University: Universidad Autònoma de Barcelona Year: 2019
PhD student: Zaira Moure Garcia Director/s: Tomàs Pumarola Suñé University: Universidad Autònoma de Barcelona Year: 2018
PhD student: Laura Gimferrer Arriaga Director/s: Tomàs Pumarola Suñé, Andres Antón Pagarolas University: Universidad Autònoma de Barcelona Year: 2018
PhD student: Nuria Piedra Carrasco Director/s: Juan Jose Gonzalez Lopez University: Universidad Autònoma de Barcelona Year: 2017
PhD student: Eva Moreno Pujol Director/s: Antònia Andreu Domingo University: Universidad Autònoma de Barcelona Year: 2016
PhD student: María Nieves Larrosa Escartin, María Nieves Larrosa Escartin Director/s: Guillem Prats Pastor, Rosa María Bartolomé Comas University: Universidad Autònoma de Barcelona Year: 2016
PhD student: Judit Serra Pladevall Director/s: Antònia Andreu Domingo University: Universidad Autònoma de Barcelona Year: 2016
PhD student: Estrella Caballero Requero, Estrella Caballero Requero Director/s: Antònia Andreu Domingo, Tomàs Pumarola Suñé University: Universidad Autònoma de Barcelona Year: 2015
PhD student: Antonio Mirambell Viñas Director/s: Tomàs Pumarola Suñé University: Universidad Autònoma de Barcelona Year: 2015
PhD student: Mª Teresa Tórtola Fernández, Mª Teresa Tórtola Fernández Director/s: Nuria Martín Casabona, Nuria Martín Casabona University: Universidad Autònoma de Barcelona Year: 2012
PhD student: Juan Jose Gonzalez Lopez, Juan Jose Gonzalez Lopez Director/s: Guillem Prats Pastor University: Universidad Autònoma de Barcelona Year: 2009
PhD student: Mayli Lung Suarez, Mayli Lung Suarez Director/s: Joan Sahuquillo Barris University: Universidad de Salamanca Year: 2004
The technology could help make stool sample screening more comprehensive and facilitate the identification of parasitic findings for subsequent expert review.
The initiative focuses on awareness, prevention, and the normalization of sexual health check-ups among young people.
All patients showed a favorable clinical course and responded well to antibiotic treatment, without complications.
