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 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 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.
Mucosal surfaces of the gastrointestinal, bronchopulmonary, and genitourinary tracts constitute the most prominent site of interaction between the host and the external habitat and a real hub where microbes and the host bi-directionally communicate through mechanisms that engage the activation of the immune and nervous systems. Barrier mechanisms have evolved early in evolution, and consist of a number of anatomical and functional elements distributed across the tissue layers, which tightly interact to maintain homeostasis. The mucosal immune system develops fundamental defensive and homeostatic duties at mucosal sites through activation of innate and adaptive immunity and the development of tolerogenic responses against harmless antigens. Immune responses also include the resolution of inflammation to avoid tissue damage after antigen penetration. However, uncontrolled immune activity is associated with mucosal barrier failure and organ dysfunction, which characterize most organic and functional disorders. The major goal of the Translational Mucosal Immunology lab is to further identify the role of specific immune cells (mast cells, eosinophils and B cells) as major players in the control of mucosal barrier mechanisms in health and disease. Our approach to translational research in digestive diseases involves the development of preclinical and clinical studies aimed at identifying biomarkers of gastrointestinal dysfunction and gut health.
IP: Translational mucosal immunology
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
IP: Fernando Azpiroz Vidaur Collaborators: - Funding agency: Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación-MICINN Funding: 108900 Reference: PID2021-122295OB-I00 Duration: 01/09/2022 - 31/08/2026
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.
