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 research conducted in our group is geared toward elucidating the cause and molecular mechanisms of neurodegeneration in Parkinson's disease (PD), a disabling, currently incurable common neurodegenerative disorder. To this end, we perform clinical and pre-clinical translational research in both PD patients and in human-relevant experimental in vitro and in vivo PD-related models.
Elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying neurodegeneration in PD should allow to:
Formation and accumulation of abnormal protein aggregates are a central hallmark of several neurodegenerative diseases. In Parkinson’s disease (PD), the aggregation-prone protein á-synuclein accumulates in several areas of the central and peripheral nervous system. Pathological á-synuclein accumulation in PD can result from (i) abnormally increased á-synuclein expression, (ii) defective intracellular clearance of á-synuclein protein, (iii) progressive self-propagation and spreading of pathological á-synuclein between interconnected brain areas. Targeting á-synuclein pathological changes may provide therapeutic benefit to delay, halt or prevent neuronal dysfunction and degeneration in PD.
IP: Miquel Vila Bover
Despite intensive efforts towards understanding the aetiology/pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD) and the development of novel therapeutic approaches for this neurodegenerative condition, the current treatment for PD remains symptomatic and yet far from modifying disease onset or progression. Before the manifestation of the classical motor symptoms, PD patients present with non-motor symptoms in a prodromal phase. The identification of deregulated molecular pathways or genes in peripheral blood and/or cerebrospinal fluid from these prodromal patients may help develop potential biomarkers for the early detection, diagnosis, risk assessment and/or progression of PD, which are currently lacking, as well as to stratify patients at very early stages to apply more specific, personalized disease-modifying treatments.
IP: Miquel Vila Bover, Ariadna Laguna Tuset
Defective lysosomal-mediated turnover of mitochondria may play a pathogenic role in Huntington’s disease neurodegeneration.
IP: Marta Martínez Vicente
In Parkinson's disease (PD), there is a selective degeneration of neurons that contain a dark-brown pigment called neuromelanin, especially dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra, which leads to the classical motor symptoms of the disease. However, the physiological significance of neuromelanin and its potential contribution to PD pathogenesis remain unknown.
IP: Marta Martínez Vicente Collaborators: Mercedes Arrúe Gonzalo, Maria Camprodon Gomez, Pablo Castillo Sánchez Funding agency: Agència Gestió Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca Funding: 42000 Reference: 2024 PROD 00073 Duration: 02/12/2024 - 01/06/2026
IP: Ariadna Laguna Tuset Collaborators: Anna Santamaria Margalef, Maria Mar Hernandez Guillamon, Sara Mas Assens Funding agency: Fundación Española Ciencia y Tecnología (FECYT) Funding: 15000 Reference: FCT-2023-19804 Duration: 01/12/2024 - 30/11/2025
IP: Ariadna Laguna Tuset Collaborators: - Funding agency: EUROPEAN COMMISSION Funding: 20000 Reference: EC/IMPETUS/2024/LAGUNA Duration: 07/06/2024 - 17/01/2025
IP: Ariadna Laguna Tuset Collaborators: Laia Perez Lasarte Funding agency: Agència Gestió Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca Funding: 74452.89 Reference: 2024 FI-1 00557 Duration: 01/05/2024 - 30/04/2025
PMID: 36902552 Journal: Journal of Clinical Medicine Year: 2023 Reference: J Clin Med. 2023 Feb 22;12(5):1765. doi: 10.3390/jcm12051765. Impact factor: Publication type: Review in international publication Authors: Arens, Jutta; Dabrowski, Marek; Duinmeijer, Wytze C; Fresiello, Libera; Halfwerk, Frank R; Obreja, Valentina; Puslecki, Mateusz; Riera, Jordi; Riera, Jordi; Swol, Justyna et al. DOI: 10.3390/jcm12051765
PMID: 37254155 Journal: Health and Quality of Life Outcomes Year: 2023 Reference: Health Qual Life Outcomes. 2023 May 30;21(1):53. doi: 10.1186/s12955-023-02139-5. Impact factor: Publication type: Letter or abstract Authors: Alonso-Garcia, Lucia; Bruguera, Andreu; Casabona, Jordi; Diaz, Yesika; Egea-Cortes, Laia; Folch, Cinta; Forero, Carlos G; Hernandez, Juan; Mesias-Gazmuri, Jocelyn; Miro, Jose M et al. DOI: 10.1186/s12955-023-02139-5
PMID: 37328754 Journal: RESPIRATORY RESEARCH Year: 2023 Reference: Respir Res. 2023 Jun 17;24(1):159. doi: 10.1186/s12931-023-02462-x. Impact factor: Publication type: Paper in international publication Authors: Anon, Jose M; Barbe, Ferran; Barbera, Carmen; Belmonte, Thalia; Benitez, Ivan D; Bermejo-Martin, Jesus F; Bustamante-Munguira, Elena; Caballero, Jesus; Carbonell, Nieves; Ceccato, Adrian et al. DOI: 10.1186/s12931-023-02462-x
PMID: 37356622 Journal: JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR DIAGNOSTICS Year: 2023 Reference: J Mol Diagn. 2023 Jun 23:S1525-1578(23)00134-4. doi: 10.1016/j.jmoldx.2023.06.006. Impact factor: Publication type: Paper in international publication Authors: Antolin, Maria; Blasco-Perez, Laura; Camprodon-Gomez, Maria; Garcia-Arumi, Elena; Iranzo-Nuez, Leticia; Lopez-Ortega, Ricard; Martinez-Cruz, Desiree; Tenes, Anna; Tizzano, Eduardo F et al. DOI: 10.1016/j.jmoldx.2023.06.006
PMID: 35805133 Journal: Cells Year: 2022 Reference: Cells. 2022 Jun 28;11(13). pii: cells11132046. doi: 10.3390/cells11132046. Impact factor: 6.6 Publication type: Paper in international publication Authors: Rodriguez-Urrutia, Amanda, Torres, Ines de, Santos-Briones, Ignacio, Azpiroz, Fernando, Lobo, Beatriz, Alonso-Cotoner, Carmen, Santos, Javier, Gonzalez-Castro, Ana M, Vicario, Maria, Guagnozzi, Danila et al. DOI: 10.3390/cells11132046
PMID: 35626681 Journal: Cells Year: 2022 Reference: Cells. 2022 May 14;11(10). pii: cells11101644. doi: 10.3390/cells11101644. Impact factor: 6.6 Publication type: Review in international publication Authors: Salvo-Romero, Eloisa, Rodino-Janeiro, Bruno K, Albert-Bayo, Merce, Lobo, Beatriz, Santos, Javier, Farre, Ricard, Martinez, Cristina, Vicario, Maria et al. DOI: 10.3390/cells11101644
PMID: 35429504 Journal: NEUROPHARMACOLOGY Year: 2022 Reference: Neuropharmacology. 2022 Jul 1;212:109058. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2022.109058. Epub 2022 Apr 13. Impact factor: 5.251 Publication type: Paper in international publication Authors: Gonzalez-Sepulveda, Marta, Omar, Muhammad Yusof, Hamdon, Sally, Ma, Guofen, Rosell-Vilar, Santi, Raivio, Noora, Abass, Doaa, Martinez-Rivas, Anna, Vila, Miquel, Giraldo, Jesus et al. DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2022.109058
PMID: 34794916 Journal: Revista Espanola de Medicina Nuclear e Imagen Molecular Year: 2022 Reference: Rev Esp Med Nucl Imagen Mol (Engl Ed). 2022 Jan-Feb;41(1):52-54. doi: 10.1016/j.remnie.2021.05.002. Epub 2021 Nov 16. Impact factor: 1.359 Publication type: Letter or abstract Authors: Carrillo-Villamizar, E, Cardozo-Saavedra, A, Lorenzo-Bosquet, C, Lucas Del Pozo, S, Martinez-Saez, E, Hernandez-Vara, J et al. DOI: 10.1016/j.remnie.2021.05.002
PMID: 34778332 Journal: Frontiers in Nutrition Year: 2021 Reference: Front Nutr. 2021 Oct 28;8:718093. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2021.718093. eCollection 2021. Impact factor: 6.576 Publication type: Review in international publication Authors: Fortea, Marina, Albert-Bayo, Merce, Abril-Gil, Mar, Ganda Mall, John-Peter, Serra-Ruiz, Xavier, Henao-Paez, Alejandro, Exposito, Elba, Gonzalez-Castro, Ana Maria, Guagnozzi, Danila, Lobo, Beatriz et al. DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2021.718093
PMID: 33986284 Journal: npj Parkinsons Disease Year: 2021 Reference: NPJ Parkinsons Dis. 2021 May 13;7(1):40. doi: 10.1038/s41531-021-00184-9. Impact factor: 8.651 Publication type: Paper in international publication Authors: Yanes, Oscar, Laguna, Ariadna, Xicoy, Helena, Tolosa, Eduardo, Serradell, Monica, Vilas, Dolores, Gaig, Carles, Fernandez, Manel, Iranzo, Alex, Vila, Miquel et al. DOI: 10.1038/s41531-021-00184-9
PMID: 33875401 Journal: Revista Espanola de Medicina Nuclear e Imagen Molecular Year: 2021 Reference: Rev Esp Med Nucl Imagen Mol (Engl Ed). 2021 Apr 16. pii: S2253-654X(21)00057-3. doi: 10.1016/j.remn.2021.02.015. Impact factor: 1.359 Publication type: Letter or abstract Authors: Hernandez-Vara, J, Martinez-Saez, E, Lucas Del Pozo, S, Cardozo-Saavedra, A, Carrillo-Villamizar, E, Lorenzo-Bosquet, C et al. DOI: 10.1016/j.remn.2021.02.015
PMID: 33738725 Journal: ADVANCES IN THERAPY Year: 2021 Reference: Adv Ther. 2021 May;38(5):2054-2076. doi: 10.1007/s12325-021-01676-z. Epub 2021 Mar 18. Impact factor: 3.847 Publication type: Review in international publication Authors: Alonso-Cotoner, Carmen, Abril-Gil, Mar, Albert-Bayo, Merce, Mall, John-P Ganda, Exposito, Elba, Gonzalez-Castro, Ana M, Lobo, Beatriz, Santos, Javier et al. DOI: 10.1007/s12325-021-01676-z
PMID: 33147750 Journal: Cells Year: 2020 Reference: Cells. 2020 Nov 2;9(11). pii: cells9112399. doi: 10.3390/cells9112399. Impact factor: 4.366 Publication type: Review in international publication Authors: Navarro-Romero, Alba, Montpeyo, Marta, Martinez-Vicente, Marta et al. DOI: 10.3390/cells9112399
PMID: 33118032 Journal: BRAIN Year: 2020 Reference: Brain. 2020 Dec 1;143(12):3717-3733. doi: 10.1093/brain/awaa269. Impact factor: 11.337 Publication type: Paper in international publication Authors: Galiano-Landeira, Jordi, Torra, Albert, Vila, Miquel, Bove, Jordi et al. DOI: 10.1093/brain/awaa269
PMID: 32786306 Journal: ACS Chemical Neuroscience Year: 2020 Reference: ACS Chem Neurosci. 2020 Sep 2;11(17):2679-2687. doi: 10.1021/acschemneuro.0c00336. Epub 2020 Aug 24. Impact factor: 4.486 Publication type: Paper in international publication Authors: Nicolau, Alba, Guillard-Sirieix, Camille, Xicoy, Helena, Kobayashi, Jumpei, Vila, Miquel, Compte, Joan, Penuelas, Nuria, Cuadros, Thais, Gonzalez-Sepulveda, Marta, Laguna, Ariadna et al. DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.0c00336
PMID: 32682292 Journal: PARKINSONISM & RELATED DISORDERS Year: 2020 Reference: Parkinsonism Relat Disord. 2020 Sep;78:31-35. doi: 10.1016/j.parkreldis.2020.06.037. Epub 2020 Jul 4. Impact factor: 3.926 Publication type: Paper in international publication Authors: Lucas-Del Pozo, S, Carter, S, Armengol-Bellapart, M, Castell-Conesa, J, Cuberas-Borros, G, Corominas-Roso, M, Lorenzo-Bosquet, C, Saez-Francas, N, Hernandez-Vara, J et al. DOI: 10.1016/j.parkreldis.2020.06.037
PMID: 31731485 Journal: Cells Year: 2019 Reference: Cells. 2019 Oct 25;8(11). pii: cells8111317. doi: 10.3390/cells8111317. Impact factor: 5.656 Publication type: Review in international publication Authors: Xicoy, Helena, Penuelas, Nuria, Vila, Miquel, Laguna, Ariadna et al. DOI: 10.3390/cells8111317
PMID: 30846695 Journal: Nature Communications Year: 2019 Reference: Nat Commun. 2019 Mar 7;10(1):973. doi: 10.1038/s41467-019-08858-y. Impact factor: 11.878 Publication type: Paper in international publication Authors: Gonzalez-Sepulveda, Marta, Penuelas, Nuria, Torra, Albert, Rodriguez-Galvan, Beatriz, Ballabio, Andrea, Hasegawa, Takafumi, Bortolozzi, Analia, Gelpi, Ellen, Vila, Miquel, Parent, Annabelle et al. DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-08858-y
PMID: 30744042 Journal: Cells Year: 2019 Reference: Cells. 2019 Feb 8;8(2). pii: cells8020135. doi: 10.3390/cells8020135. Impact factor: 5.656 Publication type: Review in national publication Authors: Albert-Bayo, Merce, Paracuellos, Irene, Gonzalez-Castro, Ana M, Rodriguez-Urrutia, Amanda, Rodriguez-Lagunas, Maria J, Alonso-Cotoner, Carmen, Santos, Javier, Vicario, Maria et al. DOI: 10.3390/cells8020135
PMID: 30415891 Journal: EBioMedicine Year: 2019 Reference: EBioMedicine. 2019 Jan;39:497-509. doi: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2018.10.071. Epub 2018 Nov 8. Impact factor: 6.68 Publication type: Paper in international publication Authors: Gosalbes, Maria Jose, Compte, Joan, Moriano-Gutierrez, Silvia, Valles, Yvonne, Jimenez-Hernandez, Nuria, Pons, Xavier, Artacho, Alejandro, Francino, M Pilar et al. DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2018.10.071
PhD student: Núria Peñuelas Peñarroya Director/s: Miquel Vila Bover, Ariadna Laguna Tuset University: Year: 2023
PhD student: Jordi Galiano Landeira Director/s: Jordi Bove Badell University: Universidad Autònoma de Barcelona Year: 2021
PhD student: Albert Torra i Talavera Director/s: Jordi Bove Badell, Miquel Vila Bover University: Universidad Autònoma de Barcelona Year: 2019
PhD student: Sandra Franco Iborra Director/s: Miquel Vila Bover University: Universidad Autònoma de Barcelona Year: 2018
PhD student: Oriol de Fabregues-Boixar Nebot Director/s: Francesc Miquel Rodriguez, Miquel Vila Bover University: Universidad Autònoma de Barcelona Year: 2016
On World Clinical Trials Day, we highlight some of the studies we have participated in that confirm the efficacy of new drugs, allowing their approval by regulatory agencies.
Vall d'Hebron has participated in a phase III clinical trial which confirmed the efficacy and safety of subcutaneous infusion of levodopa therapy.
This initiative is part of a pioneering study that seeks to assess how the relationship between different age groups can influence the quality of life and mental health of patients.
Vall d'Hebron Iniciativa per al Parkinson (VHIP) is a research project aimed at the development of biochemical markers for the early detection of Parkinson's disease. This study is carried out in people at high risk of having this disease, because they carry genetic mutations that predispose to the development of Parkinson's or because they present non-motor symptoms that manifest themselves years before motor symptoms.
