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 Systemic Diseases group performs translational research based on at least 300 patients with systemic lupus erytomatosus (SLE), antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), systemic sclerosis, vasculitis, dermatomyitis, Sjörgen syndrome or autoinflammatory syndromes in order to better understand their pathogenesis (both at the immunological and genetic regulation level), study their clinical and biological expression (through the detection of new markers that help characterize each of the autoimmune diseases), study morbimortality (through epidemiological studies) and analyse patients' response to medications. With these goals in mind, we seek to improve the diagnosis, clinical monitoring, and prognosis of our patients.
The presence of the recently discovered retrovirus XMRV ("xenotropic murine leukaemia virus-related virus") is being currently studied in our lab in patients with SLE. This virus has been detected in blood samples of patients suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Interestingly, many patients with lupus also suffer from CFS. Based on these facts, with this project we establish as a hypothesis the possibility of finding XMRV DNA and RNA sequences in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from SLE patients, especially in those with CFS. We are nowadays setting up the already described XMRV-specific PCR and RT-PCR assays. We will also study the immunologic response of these patients against particular XMRV proteins.
IP: -
We are currently enrolled in this multicentre study supported by the “EULAR Sjögren’s Task Force” to elaborate and agree on a systemic disease activity index for patients with primary Sjögren’s syndrome, that will be useful in the management of the disease. This study is coordinated by Dr. Raphaele Seror from the “Service de Rheumatologie Hôpital Bicêtre”, France.
IP: Roser Solans Laque
The so-called obstetric antiphospholipid syndrome seems to have pathogenic, biologic, therapeutic, and evolution features somehow different from the ones observed in those patients who suffer from "classic" antiphospholipid syndrome. Although experience and scientific evidence seem to support this idea, there is a lack of information that allows us to suggest changes in the classification and/or therapeutic criteria. The European Forum on Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome has decided to carry on this project and it has chosen the Vall d'Hebron Hospital as the European Coordinating Centre. Many important Spanish and European hospitals will participate in this multicentric study.
IP: Jaume Alijotas Reig
DNA is hypomethylated in T cells from SLE patients. It may lead to an increase in the expression of some genes that are usually silenced and, consequently, autoimmune phenomena may develop. On the other hand, this "unprotected" DNA could be the responsible for triggering anti-DNA antibodies. To find out the reason why this DNA hypomethylation is taking place, we have evaluated the expression level of different DNA methylases and demethylases. We have observed that two demethylases (MBD2 and MBD4) are overexpressed in T CD4+ lymphocytes of patients with SLE. We are now studying the effect the overexpression of these proteins may have in the expression regulation of different molecules involved in the immunologic response.
The study describes the first documented case worldwide of hereditary angioedema transmission through assisted reproduction.
15 researchers from the Rheumatology, Systemic Diseases and the Physiology and Pathophysiology of the Digestive Tract groups gave around 25 presentations.
The new technology allows more sensitive detection of scleroderma patients' autoantibodies, which are related to the severity and progression of the disease.
