Research

Area 3

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)

Team leader

Strategic objectives

The strategic objectives of the research group in inflammatory bowel disease comprise aspects relating to the physiopathology, diagnosis and treatment of these disorders, as specified by the following points:

  • The development of new treatment strategies for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, focused on cell therapy and the identification of new therapeutic targets susceptible to pharmacological modulation.
  • Further in-depth knowledge of the genetic and environmental factors responsible for susceptibility and the course of the disease, with a view to designing personalized therapies.
  • Optimization of the radiological and biochemical diagnostic techniques with the aim of adapting treatment to the needs of each individual patient, avoiding invasive explorations.
Main lines of research


1. Hematopoietic stem cell autotransplantation in refractory Crohn’s disease in conventional treatment and biological therapies.

2. Evaluation of the efficacy and safety of treatment with autologous dendritic cells derived from peripheral blood monocytes in refractory Crohn’s disease.

3. Optimization of magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound techniques with contrast injection, for evaluation of the extent and severity of the inflammatory lesions in Crohn’s disease and
ulcerative colitis.

4. Evaluation of the prognostic value of the magnetic resonance imaging findings in predicting the course of the disease and treatment response.

5. Characterization of the genetic factors determining susceptibility and phenotype in Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Construction of diagnostic genetic chips.

6. Study of the environmental factors influencing susceptibility and the course of inflammatory bowel disease.