On 4 December, the Auditorium of the Central Building of the Vall d’Hebron Research Institute (VHIR) hosted the 19th Scientific Conference and the 29th Annual Vall d’Hebron Conference. Throughout the day, key research projects promoted by Vall d’Hebron to improve patient health were presented.

The sessions began with an institutional welcome by Dr. Begoña Benito, Director of the VHIR; Esther Rodríguez, Assistant Director of the Vall d’Hebron University Hospital; and Mª Isabel Rodríguez, Deputy Director of Nursing at the Hospital. “The Scientific Conference is the day when we share the knowledge we have on Campus and the research projects we are working on, and it is a great opportunity to learn from each other,” said Dr. Benito.

Dr. Laura Soucek, Co-Director of the Preclinical and Translational Research Program and of the Antitumor Therapies Modeling Group at the Vall d’Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), and founder of the spin-off Peptomyc, opened the scientific talks. Her keynote focused on the strategy of targeting the Myc protein for cancer treatment. Dr. Soucek explained the challenges of attacking this protein and the development of the drug Omomyc, the first Myc-targeted drug capable of inhibiting tumour growth. So far, Omomyc has shown good safety and antitumor activity results in phase I clinical trials in humans.

Next, seventeen VHIR researchers presented some of the institution’s main research lines. First, representatives from the different research areas spoke (Chronic and Prevalent Diseases; Brain, Mind and Behaviour; Cancer; Infectious, Systemic and Acute Diseases; Diagnostics, Treatment and Technology; and Child and Women’s Health).

After a short break, the strategic spaces for collaborative research (COREs) were introduced, featuring challenge-oriented research (Innovative and Advanced Therapies; Transplantation and Immunomodulation; AI, Data, Imaging and Digital Health; Environmental and Public Health; Rare Diseases; and Ageing), as well as the programs addressing cross-cutting topics at the VHIR (Gender and Diversity Perspective in Health Research; and Simulation Research and Educational Tools). Finally, projects that have an impact on people’s health from the perspective of nursing, maternal and fetal medicine, and patient engagement were presented.

Once the talks were completed, the round table “Advances in Research Assessment: Lessons from the CoARA Framework” took place. In 2022, the VHIR joined this European initiative which aims to establish a research assessment system centred around peer review as its cornerstone—a primarily qualitative system supported by high-quality quantitative indicators. The session highlighted the importance of recognising all researcher activities, not only scientific output.

The afternoon sessions also included a participatory and playful element with a Kahoot quiz revealing all kinds of curiosities about the VHIR.

Dr. Albert Salazar, Manager of the Vall d’Hebron University Hospital, concluded the day by emphasising that “we must work together, collaboratively, all campus professionals, to improve patient diagnosis, treatment and follow-up. And for this, the work carried out in the laboratories and in research is essential.”

Poster competition

The day ended with one of the most anticipated moments of the year. After the jury’s evaluation, the winners of the poster competition were announced. This year, more than 100 posters were submitted in renewed categories based on the focus of the work presented, regardless of the researchers’ career stages. The awards in each category were as follows:

• Scientific excellence: Khloud Abdo Elsharawy, postdoctoral researcher in the VHIR’s Childhood Cancer and Hematological Diseases Group, with the poster 'Chromatin Remodelers as a Therapeutic Achilles’ Heel in Pediatric Ependymoma'.
• Scientific, translational and social impact: Valeria Tubita, postdoctoral researcher in the VHIR’s Biomedical Research in Gynecology Group, with the poster 'A mouse PDX clinical trial reveals broad efficacy of niraparib and vc-seco-DUBA anti-HER2 ADC SYD985 in HER2/neu expressing endometrial cancer'.
• Disruptive research: Thommas Glynn, from the VHIR’s Clinical Biochemistry, Drug Delivery and Therapy Group, with the poster 'RadioSomes: Leveraging Cancer Communication for High Precision Radiotherapeutic Intervention in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma'.
• Inclusion and gender perspective in research: Sabrina Ayelén Gatti, from the VHIR’s Neurodegenerative Diseases Group, with the poster 'Sex-specific metabolic and behavioral effects of ketogenic diet in a neuromelanin-based mouse model of prodromal Parkinson’s disease'.
• Care and quality of life: Anna Saló, from the VHIR’s Childhood Cancer and Hematological Diseases Group, with the poster '"OBRINT PORTES": Art and wellbeing in adolescent cancer'.

Additionally, two special category recognitions were awarded:

• Best visual design and communication: Marta Jover González, VHIO nurse, with the poster 'Self-management of anticoagulant therapy: Beyond clinical optimization'.
• Audience award: Samira Serhir Sgheiri, Clinical Trial Coordinator at VHIO, with the poster 'Empowering Patients: The Role of Clinical Trial Coordinators in Enhancing Care and Quality of Life'.

The winning proposal in the internal contest to name the VHIR rooms was also presented. The selected proposal, 'Women Who Made History in Science', submitted by Maria Boix, nurse in the VHIR’s Psychiatry, Mental Health and Addictions Group, aims to recognise and bring visibility to women scientists who marked a turning point in research and medicine.