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.
Our research group is accredited by the Agency for Management of University and Research Grants (AGAUR) in Catalonia, and focuses on two main areas of interest which are related to Solid Organ Transplantation and especially Kidney, and in clinical Nephrology. We tackle these areas from an innovative perspective, both basic-experimental and mechanistic, always with a translational goal. On the one hand, we investigate, develop, and use novel diagnostic and therapeutic technologies to decipher and target main molecular and immune mechanisms of transplant rejection as well as the immune susceptibility to opportunistic infections and malignancies. Also, a main task force of the group is devoted to better understand the main mechanisms involved in certain autoimmune glomerular diseases and idiopathic nephrotic syndrome as well as in diabetic kidney disease, having a specific interest in the role of the renin-angiotensin system. Our ultimate goal is to improve the management and care of patients suffering from kidney diseases as well as their quality of life, reducing associated morbidity and mortality.
IP: Concepció Jacobs Cachá Collaborators: Laura Conesa Milian, Yolanda Villena Ortiz, Joan López Hellin, Mireia Salvadó Pau, Carmen Llorens Cebriá, Juan Carlos León Román Funding agency: Instituto de Salud Carlos III Funding: 71250 Reference: PI24/01573 Duration: 01/01/2025 - 31/12/2027
IP: Maria Jose Soler Romeo Collaborators: Sara Nuñez Delgado, Marina Lopez Martinez, Jordi Vilardell Vila, Irene Martinez Diaz, Sheila Bermejo Garcia, Vicent Muñoz Vaño, Carmen Llorens Cebriá, M Antonieta Azancot Rivero, Enzamaría Fidilio Meli, Juan Carlos León Román Funding agency: Instituto de Salud Carlos III Funding: 190000 Reference: PI24/01510 Duration: 01/01/2025 - 31/12/2027
IP: Oriol Bestard Matamoros Collaborators: Ana Pérez González, RESETTING THE IMMUNOLOGICAL SYSTEM OF HYPERSENSITIZED TRANSPLANT CANDIDATES TO ALLOW ACCESS TO HLA COMPATIBLE KIDNEY TRANSPLANT, Elena Isabel Crespo Gimeno, Laura Donadeu Casassas, RESETTING THE IMMUNOLOGICAL SYSTEM OF HYPERSENSITIZED TRANSPLANT CANDIDATES TO ALLOW ACCESS TO HLA COMPATIBLE KIDNEY TRANSPLANT, Maria Antonia Emilia Meneghini, Delphine Kervella, Cristina Font Miñarro Funding agency: Instituto de Salud Carlos III Funding: 465456.69 Reference: ICI24/00066 Duration: 01/01/2025 - 31/12/2029
IP: Oriol Bestard Matamoros Collaborators: Anna Martinez Lacalle, Delphine Kervella Funding agency: Generalitat de Catalunya - Departament de Salut Funding: 165165 Reference: SLT036/24/000043 Duration: 21/12/2024 - 20/12/2026
Antibody-mediated rejection remains one of the leading causes of graft loss following kidney transplantation. A VHIR study investigating a novel therapeutic strategy to address this challenge has been recognized with the Young Investigator Award 2026.
The distinction from the Catalan Transplant Society will allow her to become a member of the Royal Academy of Medicine of Catalonia.
The Department of Health of the Generalitat de Catalunya grants subsidies for carrying out validation tests on innovative projects in the field of health that are in the early stages of development.
