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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

Anna Roig Izquierdo

Anna Roig Izquierdo

Research assistant
Rheumatology
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Helena Borrell Paños

Helena Borrell Paños

Predoctoral researcher
Rheumatology
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Maria Pascual Pastor

Maria Pascual Pastor

Predoctoral researcher
Rheumatology
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Xabier Michelena Vegas

Xabier Michelena Vegas

Predoctoral researcher
Rheumatology
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Aitor Ruiz Ortiz

Aitor Ruiz Ortiz

Research technician
Rheumatology
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Estefania Moreno Ruzafa

Estefania Moreno Ruzafa

Research technician
Rheumatology
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Anna Roig Izquierdo

Anna Roig Izquierdo

Research assistant
Rheumatology
Read more
Helena Borrell Paños

Helena Borrell Paños

Predoctoral researcher
Rheumatology
Read more
Maria Pascual Pastor

Maria Pascual Pastor

Predoctoral researcher
Rheumatology
Read more
Xabier Michelena Vegas

Xabier Michelena Vegas

Predoctoral researcher
Rheumatology
Read more
Aitor Ruiz Ortiz

Aitor Ruiz Ortiz

Research technician
Rheumatology
Read more
Estefania Moreno Ruzafa

Estefania Moreno Ruzafa

Research technician
Rheumatology
Read more

Projects

DECISION ON OPTIMAL COMBINATORIAL THERAPIES IN IMIDS USING SYSTEMS APPROACHES

IP: Sara Marsal Barril
Collaborators: Antonio Julia Cano, Javier Hoyo Pérez, Elena Granell Pallares, Adria Aterido Ballonga
Funding agency: EUROPEAN COMMISSION
Funding: 1079085
Reference: DOCTIS_H2020_SC1-BHC2019
Duration: 01/01/2020 - 31/12/2025

Development, dIagnostic and prevention of gender-related Somatic and mental COmorbitiEs in IRritable bowel syndrome In Europe (DISCOvERIE)

IP: Fco Javier Santos Vicente
Collaborators: Beatriz Lobo Alvarez, Silvia Muñoz Caller, Carmen Alonso Cotoner, Ana Maria Gonzalez Castro, Elba Exposito Fernandez, Marc Pigrau Pastor, Xavier Serra Ruiz, Adoración Nieto Ruiz, Alejandro Henao Paez, Consuelo Cammarota, José Alegre Martin, Jesus Castro Marrero, Marta Ribases Haro, Natalia Llonga Tejedor
Funding agency: EUROPEAN COMMISSION
Funding: 1148684.84
Reference: DISCOVERIE_H2020-SC1-BHC2019
Duration: 01/01/2020 - 31/12/2024

Caracterización de RNA-seq de células individuales de células T CD4 + patológicas en artritis idiopática juvenil oligoarticular y estudio de aplicabilidad traslacional

IP: Sara Marsal Barril
Collaborators: Nuria Palau Balaña, Luis Riera Soler, Estefania Moreno Ruzafa, Mireia Lopez Corbeto, Adria Aterido Ballonga
Funding agency: Instituto de Salud Carlos III
Funding: 208120
Reference: PI19/00225
Duration: 01/01/2020 - 30/06/2024

Disfunción autonómica y ritmo circadiano en el Síndrome de Fatiga Crónica/Encefalomielitis Miálgica: nuevas herramientas diagnósticas y terapéuticas en la enfermedad

IP: José Alegre Martin
Collaborators: Jesus Castro Marrero
Funding agency: Instituto de Salud Carlos III
Funding: 87120
Reference: PI19/00629
Duration: 01/01/2020 - 30/06/2024

Publications

Implementation of the recommendations for the psychological management of patients with spondyloarthritis and inflammatory bowel disease.

PMID: 37805255
Journal: Reumatologia clinica
Year: 2023
Reference: Reumatol Clin (Engl Ed). 2023 Oct;19(8):423-429. doi: 10.1016/j.reumae.2023.03.007.
Impact factor:
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Almirall, Miriam; Borruel, Natalia; Borruel, Natalia; Ginard, Daniel; Gonzalez-Lama, Yago; Gratacos, Jordi; Juanola, Xavier; Loza, Estibaliz; Sanz, Jesus; Urruticoechea-Arana, Ana et al.
DOI: 10.1016/j.reumae.2023.03.007

Diagnostic delay is associated with uveitis and inflammatory bowel disease in AS: a study of extra-musculoskeletal manifestations in SpA.

PMID: 37184889
Journal: RHEUMATOLOGY
Year: 2023
Reference: Rheumatology (Oxford). 2023 May 15:kead225. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/kead225.
Impact factor:
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Almirall, Miriam; Collantes, Eduardo; Font-Ugalde, Pilar; Juanola, Xavier; Lopez-Medina, Clementina; Marco-Pascual, Carla; Marzo-Ortega, Helena; Michelena, Xabier; Morgan, Ann W; Rodriguez, Jesus et al.
DOI: 10.1093/rheumatology/kead225

Novel prognostic biomarkers in decompensated cirrhosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

PMID: 37884354
Journal: GUT
Year: 2023
Reference: Gut. 2023 Oct 26:gutjnl-2023-329923. doi: 10.1136/gutjnl-2023-329923.
Impact factor:
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Abraldes, Juan G; Agueras, Cajal; Alessandria, Carlo; Allegretti, Andrew S; Alonso, Sonia; Asrani, Sumeet K; Beuers, Ulrich; Campion, Daniela; Caraceni, Paolo; de Wit, Koos et al.
DOI: 10.1136/gutjnl-2023-329923

Hierarchical Cluster Analysis Based on Clinical and Neuropsychological Symptoms Reveals Distinct Subgroups in Fibromyalgia: A Population-Based Cohort Study.

PMID: 37893239
Journal: Biomedicines
Year: 2023
Reference: Biomedicines. 2023 Oct 23;11(10):2867. doi: 10.3390/biomedicines11102867.
Impact factor:
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Aban, M; Abraldes, Juan G; Alegre-Martin, Jose; Alessandria, Carlo; Allegretti, Andrew S; Alonso, Sonia; Andrade, R; Angeli, P; Asrani, Sumeet K; Avitabile, E et al.
DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11102867

Reliability assessment of the definition of ultrasound enthesitis in SpA: results of a large, multicentre, international web-based study.

PMID: 35293988
Journal: RHEUMATOLOGY
Year: 2022
Reference: Rheumatology (Oxford). 2022 Mar 16. pii: 6549521. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/keac162.
Impact factor: 7.58
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Di Matteo, Andrea, Cipolletta, Edoardo, Destro Castaniti, Giulia Maria, Smerilli, Gianluca, Airoldi, Carla, Aydin, Sibel Zehra, Becciolini, Andrea, Bonfiglioli, Karina, Bruns, Alessandra, Carrara, Greta et al.
DOI: 10.1093/rheumatology/keac162

Dactylitis is an indicator of a more severe phenotype independently associated with greater SJC, CRP, ultrasound synovitis and erosive damage in DMARD-naive early psoriatic arthritis.

PMID: 34893470
Journal: ANNALS OF THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES
Year: 2022
Reference: Ann Rheum Dis. 2022 Apr;81(4):490-495. doi: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2021-220964. Epub 2021 Dec 10.
Impact factor: 19.103
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Dubash, Sayam, Alabas, Oras A, Michelena, Xabier, Wakefield, Richard J, Helliwell, Philip S, Emery, Paul, McGonagle, Dennis G, Tan, Ai Lyn, Marzo-Ortega, Helena, Garcia-Montoya, Leticia et al.
DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2021-220964

Does Dietary Coenzyme Q10 plus Selenium Supplementation Ameliorate Clinical Outcomes by Modulating Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in Individuals with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?

PMID: 35229657
Journal: ANTIOXIDANTS & REDOX SIGNALING
Year: 2022
Reference: Antioxid Redox Signal. 2022 Apr;36(10-12):729-739. doi: 10.1089/ars.2022.0018.
Impact factor: 8.401
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Castro-Marrero, Jesus, Domingo, Joan Carles, Cordobilla, Begona, Ferrer, Roser, Giralt, Marina, Sanmartin-Sentanes, Ramon, Alegre-Martin, Jose et al.
DOI: 10.1089/ars.2022.0018

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

20240011_Clinical Researcher Rheumatology Research Group
Start date:
16/01/2024
End date:
31/01/2024
Document: Download
Senior Researcher in Bioinformatics Rheumatology Research Group
Start date:
21/12/2023
End date:
04/02/2024
Document: Download
Laboratory Technician Rheumatology Research Group
Start date:
29/11/2023
End date:
13/12/2023
Document: Download