Research areas

The research area of Mental Health and Neuroscience is formed by a multidisciplinary group and they actively collaborate in national and international research networks, highlighting the leadership of a CIBERSAM group and the consolidation of the Mixed Unit with the UAB Neuroscience Institute since 2018.

Strategic lines

• Application of new digital technologies in the diagnosis and treatment of mental health pathologies.
• Prevention and promotion of mental health in the young and adult population.
• Translational research for the development of markers and specific biomarkers for the diagnosis and treatment of mental health pathologies.

Objectives of the area

1. Increase the number of research staff dedicated to research through new additions and loyalty of the research team through competitive contracts and structural funding.
2. Start new projects in AI applied to the lines of research in the area.
3. Promote digital innovation projects to implement them in the SNS.
4. Maintain and expand the number of groups consolidated by the AGAUR within the area.
5. Attract new collaborations through the TECSAM network.
6. Improving the gender balance in the scientific leadership of the groups.

Scientific production

Outstanding scientific publications

1. Goldberg X, Espelt C, Porta-Casteràs D, Palau D, Nadal R, Armario A. Non-communicable diseases among women survivors of intimate partner violence: Critical review from a chronic stress framework. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2021 Sep;128:720-734. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.06.045. Epub 2021 Jul 9. PMID: 34252471. A3G4
2. Serra-Blasco M, Radua J, Soriano-Mas C, Gómez-Benlloch A, Porta-Casteràs D, Carulla-Roig M, Albajes-Eizagirre A, Arnone D, Klauser P, Canales-Rodríguez EJ, Hilbert K, Wise T, Cheng Y, Kandilarova S, Mataix-Cols D, Vieta E, Via E, Cardoner N. Structural brain correlates in major depression, anxiety disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder: A voxel-based morphometry meta-analysis. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2021 Oct;129:269-281. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.07.002. Epub 2021 Jul 10. PMID: 34256069. A3G4
3. Navarra-Ventura G, Vicent-Gil M, Serra-Blasco M, Cobo J, Fernández-Gonzalo S, Goldberg X, Jodar M, Crosas JM, Palao D, Lahera G, Vieta E, Cardoner N. Higher order theory of mind in patients with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorder. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2022 Apr;272(3):497-507. doi: 10.1007/s00406-021-01265-9. Epub 2021 May 4. PMID: 33948693. A3G4
4. Fradera M, Ouchi D, Prat O, Morros R, Martin-Fumadó C, Palao D, Cardoner N, Campillo MT, Pérez-Solà V, Pontes C. Can Routine Primary Care Records Help in Detecting Suicide Risk? A Population-Based Case-Control Study in Barcelona. Arch Suicide Res. 2021 Apr 24:1-15. doi: 10.1080/13811118.2021.1911894. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 33896400. A3G4-A3G5
5. Ferrer A, Soria V, Salvat-Pujol N, Martorell L, Armario A, Urretavizcaya M, Gutiérrez-Zotes A, Monreal JA, Crespo JM, Massaneda C, Vilella E, Palau D, Menchón JM, Labad J. The role of childhood trauma, HPA axis reactivity and FKBP5 genotype on cognition in healthy individuals. 2021 Jun;128:105221. doi: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2021.105221. Epub 2021 Apr 9. PMID: 33866068. A3G6

Research staff

Outstanding projects

The research area of Metabolism and Digestive includes leading professionals in metabolic and digestive pathologies, highlighting their participation in national and international projects and the leadership of a CIBERDEM group.

Strategic lines

• Obesity, Prader-Willi Syndrome and hyperphagia.
• Diabetes: cardiovascular risk and new technologies.
• Inflammatory bowel disease.
• Application of new digital and biotechnological technologies in the diagnosis and treatment of digestive metabolic diseases.

Objectives of the area

1. Consolidation of collaborations with basic research groups to promote studies in omics and gene therapy.
2. Increase the impact factor of the area.
3. Reduce the number of publications in journals not indexed in the JCR.
4. Participate in the Horizon Europe program.

Scientific production

Outstanding scientific publications

1. Bueno M, Boixadera-Planas E, Blanco-Hinojo L, Esteba-Castillo S, Giménez-Palop O, Torrents-Rodas D, Pujol J, Corripio R, God J, Box A. Hunger and Satiety Peptides: Is There a Pattern to Classify Patients with Prader-Willi Syndrome? J Clin Med. 2021 Nov 4;10(21):5170. doi: 10.3390/jcm10215170. PMID: 34768690; PMCID: PMC8585040. A4G
2. Giménez-Palop O, Casamitjana L, Corripio R, Esteba-Castillo S, Couple R, Albiñana N, Rigla M, Caixàs A. Growth Hormone (GH) Treatment Decreases Plasma Kisspeptin Levels in GH-Deficient Adults with Prader-Willi Syndrome. J Clin Med. 2021 Jul 9;10(14):3054. doi: 10.3390/jcm10143054. PMID: 34300220; PMCID: PMC8306252. A4G1
3. González-Clemente JM, Cano A, Albert L, Giménez-Palop O, Romero A, Berlanga E, Vendrell J, Llauradó G. Arterial Stiffness in Type 1 Diabetes: The Case for the Arterial Wall Itself as a Target Organ. J Clin Med. 2021 Aug 16;10(16):3616. doi: 10.3390/jcm10163616. PMID: 34441912; PMCID: PMC8397115. A4G2
4. Llibre-Nieto G, Lira A, Vergara M, Solé C, Casas M, Puig-Diví V, Solé G, Humanes A, Grade L, Barradas JM, Miquel M, Sánchez-Delgado J. Micronutrient Deficiencies in Patients with Decompensated Liver Cirrhosis. nutrients 2021 Apr 10;13(4):1249. doi: 10.3390/nu13041249. PMID: 33920134; PMCID: PMC8069759. A4G4
5. Orchard D, Moreno-Torres, M., Ramírez-Lázaro, MJ, Lario, S, Kuligowski, J., Sanjuan-Herráez, JD, … & Calvet, X. (2021) Analysis of the association between fatigue and the plasma lipidomic profile of inflammatory bowel disease patients. Journal of Proteome Research, 20 A4G4

Research staff

Outstanding projects

The research area of Rare Diseases it focuses on the research of diseases in which the Parc Taulí University Hospital is a center of reference for the diagnosis and treatment of the same.

Strategic lines

• Study of minority diseases prevalent in our population: childhood obesity, genetic intellectual disability, Prader-Willi syndrome, Cystic Fibrosis.
• Application of bioinformatics to improve diagnosis and treatment.
• Study of disorders during puberty.
• Childhood and juvenile diabetes.

Objectives of the area

1. Promote the visibility of the scientific activity carried out by the research groups in the area.
2. Increase leadership in competitive projects.
3. Develop projects in collaboration with other groups and research centers that make it possible to generate impact.
4. Promote training and the completion of doctoral theses in groups.
5. Promote publication in journals with an impact factor and Open Access.

Scientific production

Outstanding scientific publications

1. Corripio-Collado R, Fernández-Ramos C, González-Casado I, Moreno-Macián F, López-Siguero JP, Labarta-Aizpún JI. Delphi consensus on the diagnosis and treatment of patients with short stature in Spain: GROW-SENS study. J Endocrinol Invest. 2022 Apr;45(4):887-897. doi: 10.1007/s40618-021-01696-0. Epub 2021 Nov 17. PMID: 34791604; PMCID: PMC8918130. A5G2
2. Aguilera C, Hümmer S, Masanas M, Gabau E, Guitart M, Jeyaprakash AA, Segura MF, Santamaria A, Ruiz A. The Novel KIF1A Missense Variant (R169T) Strongly Reduces Microtubule Stimulated ATPase Activity and Is Associated With NESCAV Syndrome. Front Neurosci. 2021 May 26;15:618098. doi: 10.3389/fnins.2021.618098. PMID: 34121983; PMCID: PMC8187576. A5G3
3. Joga-Elvira L, Jacas C, Joga ML, Roche-Martínez A, Brun-Gasca C. Fragile X syndrome in young females: Influence of executive function on the neurocognitive profile and adaptive behavior. Nothing Dev Disabled. 2021 May;112:103912. doi: 10.1016/j.ridd.2021.103912. Epub 2021 Feb 24. PMID: 33639603. A5G4
4. Esteve-Sole A, […], Sanchez-Manubens J, et al. Similarities and differences between the immunopathogenesis of COVID-19-related pediatric multisystem inflammatory syndrome and Kawasaki disease. J Clin Invest. 2021 Mar 15;131(6):e144554. doi: 10.1172/JCI144554. PMID: 33497356; PMCID: PMC7954607. A5G2
5. Aguilera, C., [...], Ruiz, A. New genes involved in Angelman syndrome-like: expanding the genetic spectrum. 2021 Plos them, 16(10), and 0258766. A5G3

Research staff

Outstanding projects

The research area ofEpidemiology, care improvement and chronicity it is formed by a multidisciplinary group of professionals from the hospital, primary care and socio-health center.

Strategic lines

• Study of the impact of infections by COVID-19 and other pandemics.
• Improving chronic patient care.
• Nursing assessment and care.
• Quality, safety and traceability of patients treated by health services.

Objectives of the area

1.  Consolidate the collaborations currently active in the area.
2. Increase the visibility of the activity of the groups in the area.
3. Increase collaboration between the groups in the area.
4. Strengthen R+D+i relations with primary care.
5. Promote the incorporation of groups into research networks.

Scientific production

Outstanding scientific publications

1. Selva A, Selva C, Álvarez-Pérez Y, Torà N, Lopez P., Terraza-Núñez R, Rodríguez V, Solà I; CyDESA group. Satisfaction and experience with colorectal cancer screening: a systematic review of validated patient reported outcome measures. BMC Med Res Methodol. 2021 Oct 27;21(1):230. doi: 10.1186/s12874-021-01430-7. PMID: 34706652; PMCID: PMC8549248. A7G6
2. Callejas-Moraga EL, et al. Anti-RNPC-3 antibody predicts poor prognosis in patients with interstitial lung disease associated to systemic sclerosis. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2021 Dec 24;61(1):154-162. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/keab279. PMID: 33742673. A7G3
3. García-Altés A, Subirana-Casacuberta M, Llorens D, Bullich I, et al. The experience of Catalonia measuring nurse-sensitive indicators: Trends study 2012-2018. J Nurs Manag. 2021 Oct;29(7):2288-2296. doi: 10.1111/jonm.13348. Epub 2021 May 16. PMID: 33894075. A7G4
4. Bare M, Herranz S, Roso-Llorach A, Jordana R, Violán C, Lleal M, Roura-Poch P, Arellano M, Estrada R, Nazco GJ; MoPIM study group. Multimorbidity patterns of chronic conditions and geriatric syndromes in older patients from the MoPIM multicentre cohort study. BMJ Open. 2021 Nov 15;11(11):e049334. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-049334. PMID: 34782339; PMCID: PMC8593730. A7G6
5. Mateos González M, [...], Epelde F et al. For The Semi-Covid-Network. The Prognostic Value of Eosinophil Recovery in COVID-19: A Multicentre, Retrospective Cohort Study on Patients Hospitalized in Spanish Hospitals. J Clin Med. 2021 Jan 15;10(2):305. doi: 10.3390/jcm10020305. PMID: 33467585; PMCID: PMC7830154. A7G2

Research staff

Outstanding projects

The research area d'Infections and Immunology promotes translational research in inflammatory and infectious diseases, clinical microbiology and immunology in order to optimize the diagnosis, treatment, prognosis and prevention of infectious diseases.

Strategic lines

• Application of genomics, microbiology and proteomics in clinical research.
• Application of new technologies such as artificial intelligence or Big Data analysis to develop techniques for early diagnosis and clinical decision support.
• New research work methodologies in the network at different care levels.
• Search for new biomarkers for the diagnosis and treatment of infectious, immune and inflammatory diseases.

Objectives of the area

1. Encourage the realization of projects that include the study of omics.
2. Increase collaboration between area groups.
3. Implement in the SNS the results of the innovation projects currently active in the groups.
4. Participate in new research networks and strengthen collaborative relationships that allow the groups' research to be consolidated.
5. Incorporation of main researchers in the groups of the area.

Scientific production

Outstanding scientific publications

1. Van den Eynde E, Gasch O, Oliva JC, Prieto E, Calzado S, Gomila A, Machado ML, Falgueras L, Ortonobes S, Morón A, Capilla S, Navarro G, Oristrell J, Cervantes M, Navarro M. Corticosteroids and tocilizumab reduce in-hospital mortality in severe COVID-19 pneumonia: a retrospective study in a Spanish hospital. Infect Dis (London). 2021 Apr;53(4):291-302. doi: 10.1080/23744235.2021.1884286. Epub 2021 Feb 23. PMID: 33620019; PMCID: PMC7919103. A8G1
2. Oristrell J, Oliva JC, Subirana I, Married E, Domínguez D, Toloba A, Aguilera P, Esplugues J, Fafián P, Grau M. Association of Calcitriol Supplementation with Reduced COVID-19 Mortality in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease: A Population-Based Study. Biomedicines. 2021 May 5;9(5):509. doi: 10.3390/biomedicines9050509. PMID: 34063015; PMCID: PMC8147982. A8G2
3. García-Manrique M, Calvet J, Orellana C, Berenguer-Llergo A, Garcia-Cirera S, Llop M, Albiñana-Giménez N, Galisteo-Lencastre C, Gratacós J. Synovial fluid but not plasma interleukin-8 is associated with clinical severity and inflammatory markers in knee osteoarthritis women with joint effusion. Sci Rep. 2021 Mar 4;11(1):5258. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-84582-2. PMID: 33664374; PMCID: PMC7933151. A8G2
4. Albaiceta GM, […], White, L. (2021) The central nervous system during lung injury and mechanical ventilation: a narrative review. British journal of anesthesia, 127(4), 648–659. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bja.2021.05.038
5. Lalmolda C, Flórez P, Grimau C, Larrosa R, Corral M, Sayas J, Luján M. A bench-to-bedside study about trigger asynchronies induced by the introduction of external gas into the non-invasive mechanical ventilation circuit. Sci Rep. 2021 Dec 10;11(1):23814. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-03291-y. PMID: 34893679; PMCID: PMC8664954. A8G4

Research staff

Outstanding projects

The research area of Surgery and interventional procedures brings together professionals from different fields and disciplines with the aim of generating clinical application knowledge and generating technological innovations that improve healthcare practice.

Strategic lines

• Application of new technologies for the reduction of invasive procedures.
• Application of Artificial Intelligence in Big Data and image analysis to generate prediction and diagnostic algorithms.
• Application of 3D printing technology to improve efficiency and quality in surgical procedures and interventions.

Objectives of the area

1. Increase the implementation of the results in the health system, generating an impact on patients.
2. Increase the scientific impact of the results: improve the level of publications and communications at national and international level.
3. Explore new lines of research for the application of 3D technologies and artificial intelligence.
4. Promote the generation of results that allow the consolidation of research groups in the area.

Scientific production

Outstanding scientific publications

1. Coderch-Navarro S, Berjano E, Camara O, González-Suárez A. High-power short-duration vs. standard radiofrequency cardiac ablation: comparative study based on an in-silico model. Int J Hyperthermia. 2021;38(1):582-592. doi: 10.1080/02656736.2021.1909148. PMID: 33847211. A9G1
2. Marcano-Fernández FA, Berenguer A, Fillat-Gomà F, Corderch-Navarro S, Cámara-Cabrera J, & Sánchez-Flò R (2021) A customized percutaneous three-dimensional-printed guide for scaphoid fixation versus a freehand technique: a comparative study. The Journal of hand surgery, European volume, 46(10), 1081–1087. https://doi.org/10.1177/17531934211049132 A9G1
3. Serra-Aracil X, Mora-Lopez L, Gomez-Torres I, Pallisera-Lloveras A, Serra-Pla S, Serracant A, Garcia-Nalda A, Pino-Perez O, Navarro-Soto S. Minimal invasive surgery for left colectomy adapted to the COVID-19 pandemic: laparoscopic intracorporeal resection and anastomosis, a 'don't touch the bowel' technique. Colorectal Dis. 2021 Jun;23(6):1562-1568. doi: 10.1111/code.15562. Epub 2021 Feb 22. PMID: 33539644; PMCID: PMC8014247. A9G2-A9G3
4. Mora-López L, Ruiz-Edo N, Estrada-Ferrer O, Piñana-Campón ML, Labró-Ciurans M, Escuder-Perez J, Sales-Mallafré R, Rebasa-Cladera P, Navarro-Soto S, Serra-Aracil X; DINAMO-study Group. Efficacy and Safety of Nonantibiotic Outpatient Treatment in Mild Acute Diverticulitis (DINAMO-study): A Multicentre, Randomised, Open-label, Noninferiority Trial. Ann Surg. 2021 Nov 1;274(5):e435-e442. doi: 10.1097/SLA.0000000000005031. PMID: 34183510. A9G2-A9G3
5. Serra-Aracil X, Montes N, Mora-Lopez L, Serracant A, Pericay C, Rebasa P, Navarro-Soto S. Preoperative Diagnostic Uncertainty in T2-T3 Rectal Adenomas and T1-T2 Adenocarcinomas and a Therapeutic Dilemma: Transanal Endoscopic Surgery, or Total Mesorectal Excision? Cancers (Basel). 2021 Jul 22;13(15):3685. doi: 10.3390/cancers13153685. PMID: 34359589; PMCID: PMC8345169. A9G2-A9G3

Research staff

Outstanding projects