Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer - IDIBAPS - News

Innate immune mechanisms can control disease progression in HIV-positive patients

25 february 2010

HIV/AIDS remains one of the world's most significant public health challenges, particularly in developing countries. The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV-1), the variant responsible for the pandemic, has the ability to infect different cell types such as T cells, macrophages and dendritic cells (DC). These latter cells are crucial in the defense against infectious agents and play a major role in viral pathogenesis. The present study, published in PLoS ONE and led by researchers from Hospital Clinic de Barcelona-IDIBAPS, within the framework of HIVACAT, shows for the first time that dendritic cells in HIV-infected patients who spontaneously control the infection produce high levels of α-defensins 1 -3. This is associated with slower disease progression, suggesting potential diagnostic, therapeutic and preventive implications. The first author of this study is Dr. Marta Rodriguez-Garcia, Emili Letang Fellowship award from Hospital Clinic of Barcelona for her work in this line of research, and currently a postdoc at The Ragon Institute of Massachusetts General Hospital, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard. The senior researchers of the study are Dr. Teresa Gallart, from the Immunology Service of Hospital Clinic and collaborator of the IDIBAPS team on Infectious Diseases and AIDS, and Dr. Josep M ª Gatell, Head of the Infectious Diseases Department at the Hospital Clinic, professor at the Department of Medicine of the University of Barcelona and leader of the same IDIBAPS team.

Barcelona becomes part of a worldwide research on Tuberculosis

9 february 2010

The Tuberculosis Trials Consortium (TBTC) strives to conduct research about the diagnosis, medical treatment, and prevention of tuberculosis (TB) infection and disease. The network is composed of a partnership of clinical investigators from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), public health departments from different countries, as well as medical and pharmaceutical institutions. From now and until 2010, this Consortium will receive more than $90 million to develop more effective tuberculosis treatments. This funding will be distributed among 20 selected research sites, being Barcelona the only European representative: this site will be coordinated by Dr. Joan A. Caylà, from the Barcelona Public Health Agency (ASPB), and Dr. Josep Maria Miró, from Hospital Clínic de Barcelona - IDIBAPS and the Department of Medicine at the UB. Other participating institutions will be Hospital del Mar, Hospital de Sant Pau, Hospital Universitari MútuaTerrassa, Hospital de Bellvitge, Hospital Vall d'Hebron and the Tuberculosis Control Unit at Drassanes Primary Care Centre within the framework of the Tuberculosis Investigation Unit of Barcelona (UITB).

Three spin-offs of Hospital Clinic selected at the First Healthcare Investment Forum Barcelona

12 january 2010

The Official Medical College of Barcelona, Keiretsu Forum Barcelona and Barcelona Activa organized last November 4, 2009 the 1st Healthcare Investment Forum Barcelona'09, in collaboration with Biocat and other institutions. The objective of this forum was to contact young entrepreneurs in the health sector with projects in biotechnology, medical devices, health services and information technology with venture capital investors interested in this sector. This first edition of the Forum was a success. Over 35 companies presented their projects, of which 12 were finally selected. Three of the finalists were submitted by Hospital Clinic:

The Ministry relies on innovation to create new structures of cooperative research

17 december 2009

The Carlos III Health Institute, a public body under the Ministry of Science and Innovation, has created two new stable cooperative research structures to boost Biobanks and Innovation in Spanish centers. The Hospital participates in these two initiatives, as well as in most of the already operating CIBERs i RETICS. The RETICS (Cooperative Thematic Networks in Biomedical Research) have an expected duration of 4 years and consist of professionals from different institutions. They aim to promote complementarity of activities, resource sharing and lines of research, development and innovation. The two new structures established this year are the RETICS of Biobanks and the RETICS of Innovation in Medical and Health Technologies.

HIV ‘prevention’ gel PRO 2000 proven ineffective

15 december 2009

The largest international clinical trial to date into a preventative HIV gel has found no evidence that the vaginal microbicide, PRO 2000, reduces the risk of HIV infection in women, scientists announced today. This placebo-controlled trial involved 9,385 women at six research centres in four African countries and found that the risk of HIV infection in women who were supplied with PRO 2000 gel was not significantly different than in women supplied with placebo gel. Although ineffective in providing protection, PRO 2000 gel itself was safe to use.

Malaria Vaccine Candidate Shows Long-term Efficacy in Mozambican children

26 october 2009

A study published in the August 1 issue of the Journal of Infectious Diseases has shown for the first time that RTS,S, the world’s most clinically advanced malaria vaccine candidate, maintains protection during a 45 month follow-up period. The study conducted in 2022 Mozambican children age 1-4 years demonstrates that the RTS,S/AS02 vaccine is capable of reducing clinical episodes of malaria by 30 percent and severe malaria cases by 38 percent for at least 45 months following its administration.

Malaria Control Method Could Prevent 6 million New Infant Cases

17 september 2009

A third (30%) of malaria cases can be avoided in African infants using a safe, affordable and simple tool called Intermittent Preventive Treatment of malaria in Infants (IPTi) with the medicine sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP), which can be delivered alongside existing childhood vaccination programmes. Results of a meta-analysis examining six clinical trials in Africa for the malaria intervention which the World Health Organization already recommends, are published in the medical journal, The Lancet. Authors of this study and CRESIB (Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona) researchers Drs. Clara Menéndez, John Aponte and Andrea Egan (from left to right in the picture), explained the results obtained in this global analysis during a press conference in Barcelona. Research experts say if IPTi-SP were expanded in other African countries, 6 million cases of malaria could be prevented each year in those most vulnerable to the disease.

Non-invasive ventilation increases survival rate of chronic respiratory disease in ICU patients

13 august 2009

This technique is easy to use in any ICU. The concerning paper proves it’s beneficial effects if applied immediately after extubation in patients suffering from chronic respiratory disease and high indicators of disease severity. Complications after extubation drop in over 30% of the cases and 90 days survival was increased in 20%. The conclusions of the study will cause the adaptation of the international clinical practice. The Lancet is expected to publish the paper today, but it only will be available online. The conclusions of this review state that correct application of non-invasive ventilation after extubation increases survival of critical chronic respiratory patients in 20%. The study included 106 patients who were admitted in Hospital Clinic of Barcelona and it was performed by a group of investigators belonging to the Applied Research in Respiratory Infectious Diseases, Critical patients and Lung Cancer team, who were altogether lead by Dr. Miquel Ferrer and Dr. Antoni Torres, as Chief of Pneumology at the Hospital Clinic of Barcelona and project leader at the IDIBAPS. The outstanding results have definitely ended the controversy about the beneficial effects of non-invasive ventilation in these types of patients and it is most likely that future clinical practice around the world will be adjusted to the protocol described in this paper.

The GenoMEL Project Identifies a New Region of the Genome Associated With the Risk of Melanoma

5 july 2009

The genetic study includes 1650 patients and 4336 control subjects from Europe and Australia. Of the three regions of the genome with small variations identified as risk factors for melanoma, one is new and two are associated with pigmentation. These risk factors are shared despite genetic variability and differences in exposure to sunlight in the countries represented in the study. IDIBAPS - Hospital Clínic is the only Spanish center in this project, which is led by Leeds University.

Five Cord Blood Transplant Centers in Catalonia and Valencia Join a Study to Test a New Technique to Treat Leukemia and Lymphoma

3 june 2009

The Gamida Cell-Teva Joint Venture announced today that five prestigious cord blood transplantations centers in Spain, three in Barcelona and two in Valencia, have joined the ExCell study.