The Molecular Medical Imaging group at Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR) participates in the network "Diagnostic Molecular Imaging: Basic Research and Translational Development" (DIAMOND), an initiative composed of 15 national research groups to promote collaboration in the field of molecular imaging.

Molecular imaging includes the combination of chemistry, biology and physics techniques for the diagnosis and monitoring of different pathologies. The DIAMOND network, coordinated by the Institute of Medicinal Chemistry (IQM-CSIC), is born with the aim of promoting joint work between expert teams in these technologies, especially applied to diseases with a great impact on society and the health system, such as dementias like Alzheimer's, metabolic pathologies like diabetes, cardiovascular or pulmonary diseases and cancer.

"DIAMOND is a multidisciplinary network, where the teams that participate have different skills and capabilities. The combination of all of them allows us to advance in a consortium way in the field of molecular medical imaging in a much faster way", says Dr. J Raul Herance, head of the Molecular Medical Imaging group at VHIR. Thus, it is expected to improve the life expectancy and quality of life of patients thanks to better diagnostics, and to reduce health system costs associated with these pathologies.

DIAMOND will facilitate the exchange of ideas among the 15 groups that form the network to promote technology transfer, carry out educational programs for professionals in this field and generate consortium projects. To this end, seminars will be organized to share research results, train professionals and share experiences. Exchange sessions will also be held with companies in the sector to ensure that the new technologies developed reach society more quickly. The members of the network also stress the need to share the results with the general public through different dissemination activities.

The project is funded by the Ministry of Science and Innovation through the "Redes de investigación" call within the framework of the State Program to Promote Scientific-Technical Research and its Transfer, of the State Plan for Scientific, Technical and Innovation Research 2021-2023.