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.
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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: Pathophysiology and treatment of pancreatic disorders.
IP: Cristina Martínez Martínez Collaborators: Alejandro Cruz Gual, Alvaro Domingo Madrid Aris, Ana Maria Gonzalez Castro Funding agency: Instituto de Salud Carlos III Funding: 38585.07 Reference: PI21/00757 Duration: 01/01/2022 - 30/06/2026
IP: - Collaborators: Stephanie Solange Tasayco Huaman, PANCREATIA: un algoritmo de predicción de la gravedad de la pancreatitis aguda utilizando machine learning., Laia Blanco Cuso, PANCREATIA: un algoritmo de predicción de la gravedad de la pancreatitis aguda utilizando machine learning., Nair Sonia Fernandes Montes Funding agency: Instituto de Salud Carlos III Funding: 65000 Reference: PI23/01890 Duration: 01/01/2024 - 06/04/2026
IP: Fco Javier Santos Vicente Collaborators: Natalia Borruel Sainz, Ana Maria Gonzalez Castro Funding agency: Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación-MICINN Funding: 218513 Reference: CPP2022-009979 Duration: 01/12/2023 - 30/11/2026
IP: - Collaborators: Santiago Pérez Hoyos, Joaquin Balsells Valls, Joan Dot Bach Funding agency: Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación-MICINN Funding: 293321 Reference: CPP2022-009592 Duration: 01/10/2023 - 30/09/2026
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.
