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.
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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.
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The group of Physiology and Pathophysiology of the Digestive Tract focuses its research activity on the functioning of the digestive tract as a whole, including the functions of secretion, motility, absorption and barrier both in healthy individuals and in the presence of disease. The application of knowledge to clinical practice is a priority for the group.
Research in digestive motility encompasses disorders of visceral sensitivity, the brain-gut axis and intestinal allergy. Research on inflammation also includes the pancreas.
We have also launched a cross-sectional research program that focuses on the role of the gut microbiota in inflammation and gut function.
The irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), the group of microscopical enteritides, food allergy, gastrointestinal eosinophilopaties, and other functional disorders of the gastrointestinal tract represent more than 50% of digestive consultations. Clinical course is chronic and recurrent. However, sensitive and specific diagnostic biological markers are lacking and clinical management is suboptimal as well. Interestingly, a common finding in the intestine of these patients is the presence of barrier dysfunction, mucosal inflammation and immune activation. Moreover, this finding may be related to the onset and severity of some major clinical symptoms, particularly in IBS.
Therefore, our group pursues the detailed comprehension (genetic/gender, immunological, metabolic, cellular and molecular basis) of the mechanisms connecting environmental determinants (stress and infections) to the development of intestinal mucosal microscopical inflammation, with special focus in IBS.
Our approach includes experimental studies in animal models and humans as well, yet remains inherently translational in search for better targets helpful for the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of IBS and related disorders. In addition, preclinical and clinical assays are also being carried out.
IP: Fco Javier Santos Vicente
The focus of our research is to study the series of pathophysiologic events leading to acute and chronic pancreatitis and, eventually, pancreatic cancer. We aim to take advantage of knowledge gained at our basic research program to design therapeutic strategies intended to prevent or ameliorate human pancreatic disorders. In rodent models of acute and chronic pancreatitis we examine pancreatic regeneration, fibrogenesis, acino-ductal trandiferentiation, stellate cell activation, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and cancer development. In human pancreatitis we investigate environmental and genetic determinants (with special focus at CFTR dysfunction) and new treatment modalities for acute and chronic pancreatitis.
IP: Francesc Xavier Molero Richard
IP: Fco Javier Santos Vicente Collaborators: Beatriz Lobo Alvarez, Fisiologia i fisiopatologia digestiva, Merce Albert Bayo, Natalia Borruel Sainz, Francesc Casellas Jordá, Carmen Alonso Cotoner, Carolina Malagelada Prats, Jorge Serra Pueyo, Ana Maria Gonzalez Castro, Ariadna Aguilar Cayuelas, Fisiologia i fisiopatologia digestiva, Fisiologia i fisiopatologia digestiva, Blanca Grases Pintó, Virginia Robles Alonso, Adoración Nieto Ruiz, Claudia Barber Caselles, Elena Céspedes Martínez, Danila Guagnozzi, Luis Gerardo Alcala Gonzalez, Ronald Benjamin Llerena Castro, Consuelo Cammarota Funding agency: Agència Gestió Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca Funding: 40000 Reference: 2021 SGR 00766 Duration: 01/01/2022 - 30/06/2025
IP: NEUROGASTRO - Neurofisiología y neurofisiopatología digestiva Collaborators: - Funding agency: Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación-MICINN Funding: 108900 Reference: PID2021-122295OB-I00 Duration: 01/09/2022 - 31/08/2026
IP: Jorge Serra Pueyo Collaborators: Ariadna Aguilar Cayuelas, Anna Beneria González, Claudia Barber Caselles, Luis Gerardo Alcala Gonzalez Funding agency: Instituto de Salud Carlos III Funding: 135520 Reference: PI22/00618 Duration: 01/01/2023 - 31/12/2025
IP: José García Arumí Collaborators: María Antolín Mate, Anna Duarri Piqué, Claudia Garcia-Arumí Fusté, Miguel Angel Zapata Victori, Laura Natalia Distefano, Maddalen Zufiaurre Seijo Funding agency: Instituto de Salud Carlos III Funding: 123420 Reference: PI22/01747 Duration: 01/01/2023 - 31/12/2025
PhD student: Cristina Pardo Camacho Director/s: Fco Javier Santos Vicente, Maria Vicario Perez University: Universidad Autònoma de Barcelona Year: 2020
Funding has been obtained for 43 projects under the calls for Health R&D&I Projects, Health Technology Development, and Independent Clinical Research
The European project DISCOvERIE, led by Vall d’Hebron, paves the way for more personalized diagnoses and new treatment strategies to improve patients’ quality of life.
15 researchers from the Rheumatology, Systemic Diseases and the Physiology and Pathophysiology of the Digestive Tract groups gave around 25 presentations.
