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 Mission: To drive translational and clinical research in rehabilitation, from pathophysiology and cellular mechanisms to functional recovery. Our goal is to generate applicable knowledge to optimize clinical practice and health outcomes.
Our Vision: To be an international benchmark in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, leading innovative solutions to prevent and treat disability, while consistently promoting autonomy and quality of life.
Our Values: We are a multidisciplinary team (rehabilitation, neurophysiology, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and biology) working alongside prestigious universities (UAB, URL, Andorra, and Deusto). We are defined by:
Unit focused on innovative clinical and translational research in rehabilitation medicine, with extensive expertise in musculoskeletal disorders, sports injuries, chronic pain and rare diseases affecting connective tissue and joint hypermobility, including Ehlers-Danlos syndromes.
One of the main research and clinical focus areas is Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS), with extensive experience in functional assessment, conservative management and long-term follow-up. The group also specialises in infantile, juvenile and adult scoliosis, hyperkyphosis, sagittal balance disorders and thoracic deformities associated with spinal conditions.
Our research integrates clinical and functional assessment, specialised physiotherapy programmes, specific exercises for spinal deformities and advanced pain management strategies in close collaboration with orthopaedic and spine surgery teams.
The group promotes multidisciplinary and technology-driven research combining biomechanics, digital health and artificial intelligence to advance personalised rehabilitation and spinal health research, with a strong focus on functionality and quality of life outcomes
IP: Judith Sánchez Raya
Our research focuses on the study of pathophysiological mechanisms and the optimization of therapeutic strategies aimed at improving neurological and functional recovery, as well as the quality of life of individuals with traumatic and non-traumatic spinal cord injury. We conduct translational research integrating clinical, technological, and biomedical research, with a particular emphasis on transferring results into clinical practice.
The main lines of research include the development and validation of advanced neurorehabilitation programs based on emerging technologies, such as robotic gait-assistance systems, exoskeletons, functional stimulation, and intensive rehabilitation platforms designed to promote neuronal plasticity and motor recovery. In parallel, we investigate clinical and neurophysiological biomarkers with prognostic value for functional stratification and longitudinal patient monitoring.
Additionally, we study the prevention, pathophysiology, and therapeutic management of secondary complications associated with spinal cord injury, including central neuropathic pain, neurourological dysfunction, sensory disturbances, and pressure ulcers, through multidisciplinary strategies aimed at reducing morbidity and mortality and optimizing long-term functional outcomes.
IP: Lluisa Montesinos Magraner
We focus on developing innovative strategies to improve functional recovery and quality of life in patients with high clinical complexity, through a multidisciplinary approach integrating cardiorespiratory rehabilitation, critical, oncological and lymphatic rehabilitation, prehabilitation, geriatric rehabilitation, and obesity rehabilitation.
A key area of focus is cardiorespiratory rehabilitation, with special emphasis on respiratory and cardiac rehabilitation and, in particular, on lung transplant patients. In this field, research lines address frailty, sarcopenia, and the identification of novel functional prognostic markers to optimize risk stratification and clinical outcomes.
Furthermore, the group promotes the management of lymphedema and peripheral edema through instrumental assessment techniques that enable objective evaluation and the design of personalized treatments. The group also studies central sensitization syndromes, with special emphasis on functional assessment using cardiopulmonary exercise testing, as well as lines focused on frailty and sarcopenia aimed at preventing disability.
In recent years, telerehabilitation has been incorporated as a key research tool, alongside a growing emphasis on obesity and oncological rehabilitation. All these efforts are built around therapeutic exercise as the cornerstone for improving clinical outcomes and advancing toward more personalized and efficient care models.
IP: Alba Gómez Garrido
Our research focuses on the rehabilitation of adults following acquired brain injuries, as well as neurodegenerative and neuromuscular disorders, management of spasticity, and the collaborative design and assessment of cutting-edge technologies in neurorehabilitation, including virtual and augmented reality, telerehabilitation, the implementation of exoskeletons, and noninvasive neuromodulation techniques.
Our work has facilitated the transition of advanced technologies, such as the rehabilitation gaming system (RGS) or the neurorehabilitation ecosystem for sustained therapy (NEST), from the research environment to practical clinical use. The findings have proven the viability of utilizing VR-based systems in both home and hospital settings, enhancing the intensity of treatments and ensuring fair access to rehabilitation services.
Our initiatives have garnered competitive funding from both European and national organizations, highlighting our prominent role in the neurorehabilitation sector. The groundbreaking clinical trials we’ve led have made significant contributions to the development of therapeutic approaches that integrate intensive rehabilitation, biomarkers, and innovative technologies.
IP: Susana Rodriguez Gonzalez
IP: Lluisa Montesinos Magraner Collaborators: Xurxo Segura Navarro Funding agency: Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación-MICINN Funding: 244995 Reference: CPP2023-010742 Duration: 02/09/2024 - 01/09/2027
IP: Ricard Ferrer Roca Collaborators: Andres Francisco Pacheco Reyes, Alba Gómez Garrido, Francisco Javier Ramos Gómez, Gonzalo Ballesteros Reviriego Funding agency: Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación-MICINN Funding: 221996 Reference: CPP2023-010467 Duration: 01/05/2024 - 30/04/2027
IP: - Collaborators: Laura Gutierrez García-Moreno, Jordi Lozano Torres, Alba Gómez Garrido, Lydia Dux-Santoy Hurtado, PATRICIA LAUNOIS OBREGÓN, Filipa Xavier De Carvalho Negrao Valente, Raul Aguilar Lopez Funding agency: Instituto de Salud Carlos III Funding: 45375 Reference: PI21/00448 Duration: 01/01/2022 - 30/06/2026
PhD student: Vanesa Dávalos Yerovi Director/s: University: Universitat Pompeu Fabra Year: 2024
PhD student: Bernat Planas Pascual Director/s: Miguel Angel González Viejo, Alba Gómez Garrido University: Year: 2024
PhD student: Mª Engracia Perez Mesquida Director/s: Joan Nardi Vilardaga, Juan Minguell Moñart University: Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona Year: 2024
PhD student: Mercedes Velasco Zarzuelo, Mercedes Velasco Zarzuelo Director/s: Manuel Armengol Carrasco University: Year: 2019
PhD student: Judith Sánchez Raya Director/s: Joan Nardi Vilardaga University: Universidad Autònoma de Barcelona Year: 2011
PhD student: Ramon Arroyo Aljaro, Ramon Arroyo Aljaro, Ramon Arroyo Aljaro Director/s: Joan Nardi Vilardaga University: Universidad Autònoma de Barcelona Year: 2011
MouthX, developed by the company Aurax, allows people with reduced mobility in the upper extremities to have access to essential digital tools for communication, work and leisure, with the aim of improving their independence and emotional well-being.
The creation of hybrid digital-human interaction spaces between avatars and people offers new opportunities for personalized medicine
En la mateixa trobada la SEP va decidir atorgar per primera vegada una beca per fer formació a l'estranger de dos mesos. La beca es va atorgar a la Dra. Teresa Crespo, adjunta a la Unitat de Lesionats Medul·lars de Vall d’Hebron.
