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.
Our group aims to unravel the molecular mechanisms of cancer progression and metastasis to identify new diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic targets in cancer. By combining the knowledge and availability of human tumors in the Pathology department with the expertise of the basic molecular cell biology research group, we focus on:
We have postulated that hHAVcr-1 might constitute an important biomarker for early detection of ccRCC and could also be used as a target for therapy of kidney carcinomas, since immunotoxins directed against the monkey homologue of hHAVcr-1 could kill kidney cells.
Specific aims are focused to: i) determine the diagnostic and prognostic potential of hHAVcr-1 expression in renal cell carcinomas, by correlating hHAVcr-1 levels in archive, fresh surgical and TMA tissues with tumor anatomo-pathological characteristics and patients outcome and, ii) determine the function of hHAVcr-1, which remains elusive, in development and progression of kidney carcinomas, using ccRCC derived cell lines with silenced or overexpressed hHAVcr-1. Tumors overexpressing or defective in hHAVcr-1 will be compared with controls, in relation to their behavior and anatomo-pathological characteristics. Differences are being correlated with proteomic and gene expression profiles obtained on each case. Differential expression pathways and target molecules correlating with absence/presence of hHAVcr-1 shall be identified. New strategies for diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of ccRCC must be further developed.
(Programa de Recerca en Cancer Renal CIBBIM-IRHUVH. )
IP: Inés de Torres Ramirez
Study of the effect of mast-cell stabilization on mucosal inflammation and the clinical response. Inmunohistochemistry analysis of microinflammation (mast cells, intraepithelial lymphocytes and eosinophils) in Irritable Bowel Syndome (IBS) Biological inflammation was evaluated in pooled biopsies by quantitative real time PCR to analyze the expression of preselected genes implicated in innate inmunity (Toll-like receptors (TLR) and defensins (DEF)), mast cell activation and growth and neuronal regulation.. Mucosal eosinophils show restrained activation in the yeyunum od diarrhea –prone irritable bowel sindrome patiens
Pharmacological stabilization of mucosal mast cells effectively reduces pro-inflammatory gene expression profiles in the jejunal mucosa of D-IBS patients and concomitantly improves clinical manifestations.
( Digestive Disease Research Unit)
Aging may be considered as an accumulation of changes in cells and tissues that increases the risk of disease and death. The senescence-accelerated prone mice SAMP8 is an aging model with brain histopathological signs and other aging-related disorders, such as ß-amyloid and tau protein aggregates and increased oxidative stress. If hyperphosphorylated, tau protein contributes to the development of a tauopathy, process linked to neurodegenerative diseases of the aging brain such as Alzheimer disease. Several kinases (PKC, ERK, CDK5 or GSK3ß) perform this tau protein post-transcriptional modification. We plan to determine the effect that inhibitors of these kinases such as lithium, in vivo and in vitro, could have in slowing down the brain neurodegenerative processes. Besides, we will study the role of a newly described protein family, sirtuins.
Sirtuins are ontogenically preserved proteins related to longevity. We will evaluate the gene and protein expression of Sirt 1, 2 and 3 in cultured neurons and in the brain of this mouse strain. We seek to elucidate the participation of sirtuins in cerebral ageing using as a tools resveratrol, a flavonoid described as activator of these proteins, and caloric restriction, two paradigms that lead to an elongation of lifespan and neuroprotection in several animal models. In the in vitro studies, the role of GDNF in maintaining neuronal functionality and its correlation with sirtuins will be investigated because this trophic factor decreases with aging and shows a lesser expression in SAMP8 mice. These studies will contribute to the development of new therapeutic strategies to prevent age-related neurodegeneratives diseases.
IP: -
The cell signaling pathways downstream of epidermal growth factor receptor family members is tightly regulated in normal epithelial cells, and its alteration induce different cell processes (cell proliferation, cell growth, etc...) which triggers in cellular transformation. Within this family receptors, HER1/EGFR and HER2/neu are the best known, being subject to interest other family members like HER3. The aim of the study is establish de role of HER3 protein expression by Immunohistochemistry in endometrial and breast tumors, and establish any association with clinic-pathological parameters. Furthermore, we would like to know the implication of HER3 in the resistance mechanisms to anti-HER treatment agents.
IP: Javier Hernandez Losa
IP: Maria Mar Hernandez Guillamon Collaborators: Anna Penalba Morenilla, Jessica Camacho Soriano, Anas Chaachou Charradi, Elena Antima Martinez Saez, Laia Fernandez Resano Funding agency: Instituto de Salud Carlos III Funding: 174845 Reference: AC22/00051 Duration: 01/01/2023 - 31/12/2025
IP: Santiago Ramon y Cajal Agüeras Collaborators: Inés de Torres Ramirez, Jordi Temprana Salvador, Vicente Peg Camara, Stefan Hummer Funding agency: Fundació Institut Bioenginyeria de Catalunya Funding: 0.01 Reference: M6871 Duration: 02/01/2023 - 31/12/2024
IP: Santiago Ramon y Cajal Agüeras Collaborators: Cleofé Romagosa Pérez-Portabell, Maria Rosa Somoza Lopez de Haro, Jordi Temprana Salvador, Teresa Moline Marimon, Jessica Camacho Soriano, Carmela Iglesias i Felip, Josep Castellví Vives, Elena Muro Blanc, Marta Cano Galietero, Elena Antima Martinez Saez, Javier Hernandez Losa, Marta Sese Faustino, Vicente Peg Camara, Irene Sansano Valero, Trond Aasen, Stefan Hummer Funding agency: Agència Gestió Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca Funding: 40000 Reference: 2021 SGR 01138 Duration: 01/01/2022 - 30/06/2025
IP: Alfredo Guillen Del Castillo Collaborators: Carmen Pilar Simeón i Aznar, Vicenç Fonollosa Pla, Maria Roca Herrera, Janire Perurena Prieto, Irene Sansano Valero Funding agency: Instituto de Salud Carlos III Funding: 75020 Reference: PI22/01804 Duration: 01/01/2023 - 31/12/2025
The grants promote new therapeutic strategies and diagnostic tools in highly complex tumors such as glioblastoma, triple-negative breast cancer, and endometrial cancer.
The Department of Health of the Generalitat de Catalunya grants subsidies for carrying out validation tests on innovative projects in the field of health that are in the early stages of development.
The meeting was an opportunity to get to know projects from both institutions and to promote interaction between professionals.
Check the current rates for the services offered by the Translational Molecular Pathology research group.
Current Rates
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Rates Anatomia Patologica VHIR 2021
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