13/09/2018 - Research

The GTS Group advances towards a definitive biomarker for Dementia with Lewy Bodies

The Genomics and Transcriptomics of Synucleinopathies Group led by Dr Katrin Beyer has moved closer towards finding a definitive biomarker for dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB).  Their most recent work has been patented and the latest results have been published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease.  This is the next step following on from work on new experimental models, biomarkers in blood samples and sleep disorders in dementia patients described earlier this year on this website.

07/08/2018 - Research

New insights from a study of family members of patients with McArdle’s Disease

A study led by the Neuromuscular and Neuropediatric Research Group at the Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute shows for the first time that carriers of McArdle's disease can also show symptoms.

31/07/2018 - Campus Can Ruti, Research

Rice against HIV: a three-protein cocktail produced in seeds shows potent HIV neutralization in vitro

Researchers from University of Lleida-Agrotecnio, IrsiCaixa AIDS Research Institute and ICREA obtained for the first time three different anti-HIV proteins from a single transgenic rice plant and crude extracts from it averted HIV from entering in human cells in vitro. Rice components showed an enhancing effect, further helping to block HIV infectivity. Dr Julià Blanco, researcher from the Institut Germans Trias i Pujol at IrsiCaixa, where he leads the Cell Virology and Immunology group, participated in the study.

31/07/2018 - Campus Can Ruti, Innovation, Institutional, Research

The Comparative Medicine and Bioimage Centre of Catalonia (CMCiB) opens for business

In June this year the new Comparative Medicine and Bioimage Centre of Catalonia (CMCiB) started its normal working activities.  Located at the highest point of the campus, the CMCiB is a centre promoted by the Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP) and dedicated to biomedical research and training.  The centre is an important addition to scientific infrastructures in southern Europe and is the only one in Spain, it has been set up to become a reference in comparative medicine, bioimaging and computational models with a clear remit to promote alternative research models and methods

07/08/2018 - Research

An IGTP paper in the top 100 most read papers of Scientific Reports

A paper published by the IGTP Kidney-affecting Research Group (REMAR) is in the top 100 most read cellular biology papers in Scientific Reports in 2017.  The journal published around one thousand articles on cellular biology last year, making the ranking especially remarkable for this paper on which Dr Francesc Borràs is co-corresponding author.  The paper is ranked at 54.

17/07/2018 - Research

The IGTP and the the Salut Alta Foundation introduce 50 youngsters to the scientific method

The IGTP has organized a morning with the charity Fundació Salut Alta from Badalona that got everybody sticking together!  The result of the experiment was 55 balls of coloured slime and a lot of happy faces!

09/07/2018 - Projects, Research

The IGTP closes its successful coordination of a COST Project to develop cellular therapies

Since 2007 the Immunopathology Group led by Dr Eva Martínez-Cáceres and Dr Cristian Ramo Tello at the IGTP has been working to develop a new treatment for autoimmune diseases, in this case for multiple sclerosis.  To help their work in this task, Dr Martinez Cáceres has coordinated a COST project, a European network of scientists working on similar problems; the project concluded in 2017 and has now published its scientific report.

03/07/2018 - Research

New alliance with Mind the Byte to create a computational model of immune responses

The Innovation in Respiratory Infections and Tuberculosis Diagnosis Group at the IGTP is partnering with Mind the Byte to work on the characterization and binding analysis of an immunostimulant known to trigger T-cell activation, which is crucial for the initiation and regulation of the immune response.

26/06/2018 - Research

In search of biomarkers to detect patients with latent Plasmodium vivax infections

A study reveals the presence of proteins from hypnozoites, the latent phase of the parasite, in circulating extracellular vesicles. Proteins derived from the latent liver stage of Plasmodium vivax can be detected in small extracellular vesicles that circulate in blood, according to a study led by Hernando del Portillo, ICREA Research Professor at the IGTP and ISGlobal.  The results pave the way for identifying patients with asymptomatic infections, an essential requirement to stop parasite transmission. 

26/06/2018 - Research

Researchers describe the cause and neurodegenerative mechanisms of a new sub-type of ataxia

The Neurogenetics Research Group at the Germans Trias i Pujol Research Group, led by Dr Antoni Matilla has found the mutation and described the molecular mechanism that causes the sub-type of ataxia SCA37, which they first described in 2013.  This find means that all the families with this alteration can be diagnosed before symptoms appear and that carriers can receive genetic counselling.  It is also the first step on developing personalized therapies.