08/03/2011

Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR) participates in a study that aims to solve the current limitations that impede customizing anti-HBV and anti- HCV (hepatitis B and C) therapies. The project involves the application of ultra pyrosequencing and bioinformatic analysis, along with other technologies and molecular genetic analysis, and aims to reduce healthcare costs and effects experienced by patients, developing simple diagnostic tools and useful to identify what is the best treatment for each patient. VHIR collaborates with Roche Diagnostics, ABL and the Center for Biomedical Research Network in Liver and Digestive Diseases (CIBEREHD) in a deal funded by the Center for Industrial Technological Development (CDTI) under the Ministry of Science and Innovation.The agreement, entitled 'Study of quasispecies of hepatitis B and C (HBV and HCV) and genomic polymorphisms associated with response to antiviral therapy by pyrosequencing', joins VHIR and CIBEREHD, research centers of reference, with recognized companies like ROCHE or the software company Advanced Biological Laboratories TherapyEdge Spain (ABL), and will disseminate the results among the scientific and business community after analyzing in numbers the outcome of investigations. ROCHE and ABL will guide the technological capability, experience and knowledge of VHIR and CIBEREHD in the research of mutations and experimental therapeutics in hepatitis B and C, characterization of the predictors of response to antiviral therapy against HBV and HCV, computational genomics, gene regulation and ultrasecuenciación.