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Rheumatology

The Rheumatology Research Group (GRR) is focused on translational research in immunity-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDA), mainly in the area of rheumatology. The GRR is a multidisciplinary group made up of clinical specialists, biologists, bioinformaticians and laboratory technicians. The different research lines of the GRR emphasize the use of high-performance technologies for the study at the cellular and molecular level of the immununopathology of IMIDA, mainly chronic inflammatory arthritis and autoimmune systemic diseases.

At the clinical level, we have developed lines of research in very diverse areas of rheumatology, including chronic inflammatory arthritis (rheumatoid arthritis, spondyloarthropathies), systemic autoimmune diseases (lupus, myositis, Sjögren's syndrome), the study of musculoskeletal imaging, pediatric rheumatology (juvenile idiopathic arthritis, autoimmune systemic diseases, autoinflammatory syndromes), central sensitization syndromes and the study of bone metabolism. One of the main objectives of the GRR is the coordination of basic and clinical research to accelerate the transfer of knowledge to clinical practice and thus improve the quality of life of patients.

Team

Raul Tortosa Mendez

Raul Tortosa Mendez

Research technician
Rheumatology
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Cristina Solé Marce

Cristina Solé Marce

Main researcher
Rheumatology
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Jesus Castro Marrero

Jesus Castro Marrero

Postdoctoral researcher
Rheumatology
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Josefina Cortes  Hernandez

Josefina Cortes Hernandez

Main researcher
Rheumatology
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Juan Jose De Agustin De Oro

Juan Jose De Agustin De Oro

Senior researcher
Rheumatology
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Maria America Lopez Lasanta

Maria America Lopez Lasanta

Main researcher
Rheumatology
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Raul Tortosa Mendez

Raul Tortosa Mendez

Research technician
Rheumatology
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Cristina Solé Marce

Cristina Solé Marce

Main researcher
Rheumatology
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Jesus Castro Marrero

Jesus Castro Marrero

Postdoctoral researcher
Rheumatology
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Josefina Cortes  Hernandez

Josefina Cortes Hernandez

Main researcher
Rheumatology
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Juan Jose De Agustin De Oro

Juan Jose De Agustin De Oro

Senior researcher
Rheumatology
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Maria America Lopez Lasanta

Maria America Lopez Lasanta

Main researcher
Rheumatology
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Projects

Caracterización de las células patogénicas del músculo y piel de pacientes con Dermatomiositis y Síndrome Antisintetasa y estudio de aplicabilidad traslacional

IP: Ernesto Trallero Araguas
Collaborators: Miriam Izquierdo Sans
Funding agency: Fundación Española de Reumatología
Funding: 30000
Reference: FER/TRALLERO/2023
Duration: 21/10/2023 - 20/10/2024

Artritis reumatoide: de la fase preclínica a la enfermedad activa. Caracterización de los cambios sistémicos y en el tejido sinovial en el establecimiento de la enfermedad ACPA-positiva

IP: Maria America Lopez Lasanta
Collaborators: Sara Marsal Barril, Juan Minguell Moñart, Raul Tortosa Mendez, Andrea Pluma Sanjurjo, Luis Coronel Tarancon, Coro Bescós Atin, Adria Aterido Ballonga
Funding agency: Instituto de Salud Carlos III
Funding: 276250
Reference: PI23/01372
Duration: 01/01/2024 - 31/12/2026

ID-DarkMatter-NCD: Unraveling the dark matter of infectious diseases, environmental and genetic factors tipping the balance towards NCDs

IP: Antonio Julia Cano
Collaborators: -
Funding agency: EUROPEAN COMMISSION
Funding: 218825
Reference: ID-DARKMATTER-NCD_HE-HLTH2023
Duration: 01/01/2024 - 31/01/2028

Teràpia gènica amb miRNAs d'interferència com a nova alternativa de tractament al lupus eritematós discoide (LED)

IP: Cristina Solé Marce
Collaborators: -
Funding agency: Institut d'Estudis Catalans (IEC)
Funding: 6000
Reference: IEC/PREMI/2022/SOLE
Duration: 01/04/2023 - 31/12/2024

Publications

Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Coenzyme Q10 Supplementation in Post-Viral Fatigue Syndrome: An Overview.

PMID: 38203745
Journal:
Year: 2024
Reference: Int J Mol Sci. 2024 Jan 1;25(1):574. doi: 10.3390/ijms25010574.
Impact factor:
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Castro-Marrero, Jesus; Domingo, Joan Carles; Hargreaves, Iain Parry; Mantle, David et al.
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25010574

Skin Temperature Circadian Rhythms and Dysautonomia in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: The Role of Endothelin-1 in the Vascular Tone Dysregulation.

PMID: 36902264
Journal: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
Year: 2023
Reference: Int J Mol Sci. 2023 Mar 2;24(5):4835. doi: 10.3390/ijms24054835.
Impact factor:
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Alegre-Martin, Jose; Cambras, Trinitat; Castro-Marrero, Jesus; Diez-Noguera, Antoni; Domingo, Joan Carles; Sanmartin-Sentanes, Ramon; Zaragoza, Maria Cleofe; Zeron-Rugerio, Maria Fernanda et al.
DOI: 10.3390/ijms24054835

The Conners Continuous Performance Test CPT3(): Is it a reliable marker to predict neurocognitive dysfunction in Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome?

PMID: 36923151
Journal: Frontiers in Psychology
Year: 2023
Reference: Front Psychol. 2023 Feb 27;14:1127193. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1127193. eCollection 2023.
Impact factor:
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Alegre-Martin, Jose; Almirall, Miriam; Castro-Marrero, Jesus; Fernandez-Quiros, Judith; Fernandez-Quiros, Judith; Lacasa-Cazcarra, Marcos; Launois-Obregon, Patricia; Navarro-Sanchis, Jose A; Ramos-Quiroga, J Antoni; Rodriguez-Urrutia, Amanda et al.
DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1127193

Ultrasonography in rheumatology: time to learn from patient views.

PMID: 37688766
Journal: CLINICAL RHEUMATOLOGY
Year: 2023
Reference: Clin Rheumatol. 2023 Sep 9. doi: 10.1007/s10067-023-06757-8.
Impact factor:
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Alcalde Villar, Maria; Alegre Sancho, Juan Jose; Anez Sturchio, Gustavo Adolfo; Castillo-Gallego, Concepcion; Castro Corredor, David; Collado-Ramos, Paz; Coronel, Luis; Corrales, Alfonso; De Agustin, Juan Jose; De Agustin, Juan Jose et al.
DOI: 10.1007/s10067-023-06757-8

Early-Stage Breast Cancer Detection in Breast Milk.

PMID: 37704212
Journal: Cancer Discovery
Year: 2023
Reference: Cancer Discov. 2023 Sep 14:OF1-OF12. doi: 10.1158/2159-8290.CD-22-1340.
Impact factor:
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Arenas, Enrique J; Arenas, Enrique J; Arevalo, Silvia; Arevalo, Silvia; Arribas, Joaquin; Balmana, Judith; Balmana, Judith; Bayo-Puxan, Neus; Carrasco, Estela; Carrasco, Estela et al.
DOI: 10.1158/2159-8290.CD-22-1340

Radiography-based triage for COVID-19 in the Emergency Department in a Spanish cohort of patients.

PMID: 35702721
Journal: Medicina clinica (English ed.)
Year: 2022
Reference: Med Clin (Engl Ed). 2022 May 27;158(10):466-471. doi: 10.1016/j.medcle.2021.05.021. Epub 2022 Jun 9.
Impact factor:
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Arranz-Betegon, Maria; Canas-Ruano, Esperanza; Domingo-Baldrich, Eva; Fernandez-Codina, Andreu; Garcia-Vives, Eloi; Gil-Vila, Albert; Llaneras-Artigues, Jordi; Meza, Beatriz; Michelena, Xabier; Orozco-Galvez, Olimpia et al.
DOI: 10.1016/j.medcle.2021.05.021

Takayasu arteritis early diagnosis by noninvasive imaging.

PMID: 35943458
Journal: European journal of rheumatology
Year: 2022
Reference: Eur J Rheumatol. 2022 Oct;9(4):225-226. doi: 10.5152/eurjrheum.2022.21119.
Impact factor:
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Lopez-Corbeto, Mireia; Moreno-Ruzafa, Estefania; Quesada-Masachs, Estefania et al.
DOI: 10.5152/eurjrheum.2022.21119

Dissecting the Shared Genetic Architecture of Suicide Attempt, Psychiatric Disorders, and Known Risk Factors.

PMID: 34861974
Journal: BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY
Year: 2022
Reference: Biol Psychiatry. 2022 Feb 1;91(3):313-327. doi: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2021.05.029. Epub 2021 Sep 9.
Impact factor: 13.382
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Anjorin, Adebayo; Watson, Hunna J; Adams, Mark; Awasthi, Swapnil; Gandal, Michael; Hafferty, Jonathan D; Hishimoto, Akitoyo; Kim, Minsoo; Okazaki, Satoshi; Otsuka, Ikuo et al.
DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2021.05.029

Multidisciplinary models for pregnancy care in patients with rheumatic diseases: Clinical experiences and experts opinion.

PMID: 35156620
Journal: European journal of rheumatology
Year: 2022
Reference: Eur J Rheumatol. 2022 Feb 14. doi: 10.5152/eujrheum.2022.20012.
Impact factor: 0
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Vela, Paloma; Trujillo, Elisa; Pego Reigosa, Jose Maria; Polo, Ana; Pluma, Andrea; Alsina, Laia; Baniandres, Ofelia; Caliz, Rafael; Casellas, Manel; Grados, Dolors et al.
DOI: 10.5152/eujrheum.2022.20012

When the usual doses are not enough.

PMID: 34274256
Journal: Reumatologia clinica
Year: 2021
Reference: Reumatol Clin (Engl Ed). 2021 Jul 14:S1699-258X(21)00132-7. doi: 10.1016/j.reuma.2021.05.001.
Impact factor:
Publication type: Other (letters to the editor, abstracts, corrigendum, etc.)
Authors: Grados Canovas, Maria Dolors; Macias Reyes, Maria Jose; Marsal Barril, Sara; Pluma Sanjurjo, Andrea et al.
DOI: 10.1016/j.reuma.2021.05.001

Effect of Dietary Coenzyme Q10 Plus NADH Supplementation on Fatigue Perception and Health-Related Quality of Life in Individuals with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Prospective, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

PMID: 34444817
Journal: Nutrients
Year: 2021
Reference: Nutrients. 2021 Jul 30;13(8). pii: nu13082658. doi: 10.3390/nu13082658.
Impact factor: 5.719
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Castro-Marrero, Jesus, Segundo, Maria Jose, Lacasa, Marcos, Martinez-Martinez, Alba, Sentanes, Ramon Sanmartin, Alegre-Martin, Jose et al.
DOI: 10.3390/nu13082658

Targeting of the CD80/86 proinflammatory axis as a therapeutic strategy to prevent severe COVID-19.

PMID: 34075090
Journal: Scientific Reports
Year: 2021
Reference: Sci Rep. 2021 Jun 1;11(1):11462. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-90797-0.
Impact factor: 4.38
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Julia, Antonio, Bonafonte-Pardas, Irene, Gomez, Antonio, Lopez-Lasanta, Maria, Lopez-Corbeto, Mireia, Martinez-Mateu, Sergio H, Llados, Jordi, Rodriguez-Nunez, Ivan, Myers, Richard M, Marsal, Sara et al.
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-90797-0

Effectiveness of a Multicomponent Treatment for Fibromyalgia Based on Pain Neuroscience Education, Exercise Therapy, Psychological Support, and Nature Exposure (NAT-FM): A Pragmatic Randomized Controlled Trial.

PMID: 33081069
Journal: Journal of Clinical Medicine
Year: 2020
Reference: J Clin Med. 2020 Oct 18;9(10). pii: jcm9103348. doi: 10.3390/jcm9103348.
Impact factor: 3.303
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Serrat, Mayte, Almirall, Miriam, Muste, Marta, Sanabria-Mazo, Juan P, Feliu-Soler, Albert, Mendez-Ulrich, Jorge L, Luciano, Juan V, Sanz, Antoni et al.
DOI: 10.3390/jcm9103348

Incidence of COVID-19 in a cohort of adult and paediatric patients with rheumatic diseases treated with targeted biologic and synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs.

PMID: 32425260
Journal: SEMINARS IN ARTHRITIS AND RHEUMATISM
Year: 2020
Reference: Semin Arthritis Rheum. 2020 May 16. doi: 10.1016/j.semarthrit.2020.05.001.
Impact factor: 4.751
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Moreno, Estefanía, Michelena, Xabier, Borrell, Helena, López-Corbeto, Mireia, López-Lasanta, María, Serrat, Mayte, Espartal, Esther, Antón, Susana, Añez, Gustavo Adolfo, Caparrós-Ruiz, Raquel et al.
DOI: 10.1016/j.semarthrit.2020.05.001

Central nervous system gene expression changes in a transgenic mouse model for bovine spongiform encephalopathy.

PMID: 22035425
Journal: VETERINARY RESEARCH
Year: 2011
Reference: Vet Res. 2011 Oct 28;42(1):109. doi: 10.1186/1297-9716-42-109.
Impact factor:
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Arino, Joaquin; Barcelo, Anna; Castells, Xavier; Costa, Carme; Pumarola, Marti; Ruiz de Villa, Maria del Carmen; Sanchez, Alex; Torres, Juan Maria; Tortosa, Raul; Vidal, Enric et al.
DOI: 10.1186/1297-9716-42-109

Thesis

Characterization of pathogenic immune mechanisms in oligoarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis applying single-cell transcriptomics and proteomics

PhD student: Mireia Lopez Corbeto
Director/s: Sara Marsal Barril, Antonio Julia Cano
University:
Year: 2023

Utilidad del Q Sofa y la procalcitonina para el diagnóstico precoz del paciente séptico en urgencias

PhD student: Milagros Tessy Calizaya Vargas
Director/s: Tomás Fernández de Sevilla Ribosa
University: Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
Year: 2022

Prevalencia de la sensibilidad al gluten no celíaca y valoración de la respuesta a una dieta sin gluten en una cohorte de pacientes con fibromialgia.

PhD student: Miriam Almirall Bernabé
Director/s: Sara Marsal Barril, Francesc Casellas Jordá
University:
Year: 2022

Identification of differential biological mechanisms between pregnancy and postpartum in Rheumatoid Arthritis

PhD student: Andrea Pluma Sanjurjo
Director/s: Sara Marsal Barril
University:
Year: 2022

Exosomas urinarios: Identificación de biomarcadores de respuesta clínica en la nefritis lúpica

PhD student: Eloy Garcia Vives
Director/s: Josefina Cortes Hernandez
University: Universidad Autònoma de Barcelona
Year: 2019

Factores predictores de la respuesta clínica al tratamiento con fármacos biológicos en la artritis reumatoide

PhD student: M Alba ERRA DURAN, M Alba ERRA DURAN
Director/s: Vicenç Fonollosa Pla
University: Universidad Autònoma de Barcelona
Year: 2017

Nuevas estrategias en el diagnóstico del cáncer asociado a las dermatomiositis y polimiositis.

PhD student: Ernesto Trallero Araguas
Director/s: Albert Selva O'Callaghan, Moisés Labrador Horrillo
University: Universidad Autònoma de Barcelona
Year: 2011

Genomic approaches for the indentification of risk loci for Rheumatoid Arthritis.

PhD student: Antonio Julia Cano
Director/s: Sara Marsal Barril
University: Universidad Autònoma de Barcelona
Year: 2010

Blog

News

The head of the Rheumatology Service at Vall d'Hebron University Hospital and of the Rheumatology research group at VHIR is a highly accomplished rheumatologist with a distinguished career in the field.

It is the first international multi-centre clinical trial to analyse the safety and effect of this treatment for an autoimmune disease.

Els estudis avançaran en els camps de les malalties digestives, el VIH, la fatiga crònica, les patologies cardíaques, l’hepatitis, la diabetis i l’oftalmologia.

Job offers

Clinical Research Monitor Rheumatology Research Group_20240098
Start date:
11/03/2024
End date:
25/04/2024
Document: Download
Study Coordinator Clinical Trial Unit / Rheumatology Research Group_20240072
Start date:
22/02/2024
End date:
15/03/2024
Document: Download
Administrative Assistant Rheumatology Research Group - IMID-Biobank_20240059
Start date:
14/02/2024
End date:
28/02/2024
Document: Download