About
The Innovation in Respiratory Infections and Tuberculosis Group, also known with its acronym One and a Half Group, is located at Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP), Germans Trias i Pujol University Hospital (HUGTiP) and the Genetics and Microbiology Department in the Biosciences Faculty of Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB). The group is affiliated with the CIBERES network (CB06/06/0031) and recognised by the Catalan Government as a consolidated research group (2017SGR-0492 and 2021SGR-1267). Thanks to this recognition, the group has cemented its activity and future perspectives. Currently, the team has matured scientifically, developing solid and productive independent research lines. The consolidation of these research lines is a result of their commitment to integrating clinical and translational research into their activities.
The group closely collaborates with the following clinical researchers from HUGTiP: Dr Lourdes Mateo and Dr Susana Holgado from the Rheumatology Department, Dr Fernando Armestar from the Intensive Care Unit, Dr Irma Casas and Dr Júlia Valera from the Preventive Medicine Department, Dr Maria Méndez and Dr Clara Carreras from the Paediatrics Department, and Dr Zoran Stojanovic, Dr Salome Bellido and Dr Filipe Carvalho from the Pulmonology Department.
Several members of the SGR Group are based outside the Can Ruti Campus: at the Tuberculosis Unit Vall d'Hebron-Drassanes of Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron (Dr Maria Luiza de Souza and Dr M. Angeles Jiménez), at Serveis Clínics (Dr Joan Pau Millet and Dr Xavier Casas), at the Pulmonology Department of Hospital Moises Broggi (Dr Fina Sabria), and in the Consorci Sanitari del Maresme (Dr Lydia Luque).
The group is leading European network ADVANCE-TB, a COST Action granted by the European Commission and involving partners from over 50 countries. It also coordinates the recently European awarded TB-SPECTRUM project.
Keywords: Diagnostic, host immune response, microbial interaction, environmental factors, antimicrobial therapies.
Group leader
- José Domínguez Benítez
José Domínguez Benítez
Dr José Domínguez studied Biological Sciences at the University of Barcelona, Spain. He completed the Master's Degree in Applied Microbiology and also received a PhD in Microbiology also from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain. He is currently Group Leader at the Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP) in Barcelona, where he leads the research group Innovation in Respiratory Infections and Tuberculosis.
Dr Domínguez is an associated researcher at the CIBER in Respiratory Diseases (CIBERES). He has been an assistant professor in the Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Biosciences at UAB since 2002. He was the coordinator of a European project (INNOVA4TB) working on various aspects of tuberculosis management, involving 16 institutions, including hospitals, research institutes, and Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), with partners from 6 countries. Currently, he is the Scientific Representative for the COST Action (ADVANCE-TB), and member of the Training Subcommittee of the TB-SPECTRUM project. He has worked in the field of tuberculosis for nearly 30 years, with numerous publications on the body's response to infection, diagnostic methods, and the detection of resistance to major anti-tuberculosis drugs. The group pioneered the study and implementation of immunological and metabolomic techniques for diagnosing TB at both the national and international levels.
Contact: jadominguez(ELIMINAR)@igtp.cat
Emerging group leaders
The research group has two principal investigators who are leading research teams.
Dr Irene Latorre studied Biotechnology and has a master in Applied Microbiology. She holds a PhD from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, and is also an assistant professor at the same University. Currently, Irene Latorre is a Principal Researcher leading a research line focused on immune response characterization on respiratory infections.
Dr Alicia Lacoma studied Biotechnology and has a master in Applied Microbiology. She holds a PhD from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, and is also an assistant professor at the same University. She is currently leading a research line focused on exploring the impact of air pollutants on respiratory infections using different experimental approaches.
Team
Emerging group leaders
Alicia Lacoma de la Torre(ELIMINAR)
Irene Latorre Rueda(ELIMINAR)
Postdoctoral researchers
Nadiia Tytarenko(ELIMINAR)
PhD students
Salomé Bellido(ELIMINAR)
Iris Romero i Andrada(ELIMINAR)
Daria Smalchuk(ELIMINAR)
Zoran Stojanovic(ELIMINAR)
Júlia Valera Paloma(ELIMINAR)
Carla Merchán Ruiz(ELIMINAR)
Project manager
Melanie Giorgi(ELIMINAR)
Laboratory technician
Dídac Vulcano Sabadell(ELIMINAR)
Biomedical engineering
Pol Torné Charlez(ELIMINAR)
Clinical microbiology
Lamiss Mejdoubi, MD(ELIMINAR)
Research lines
The group is working in the field of the respiratory infections and tuberculosis, improving the understanding of the host-pathogen-external factors interaction, and exploring new approaches both for diagnosis and treatment.
Scientific challenges and strategic objectives for the next 3 years are described below for each research line.
Microbial interactions
The group’s research explores the microbial mechanisms of adaptation to the respiratory tract and aspects related to clinical presentation together with specific phenotypic and genotypic traits of microorganisms by using novel bioinformatic and genomic approaches. Research is mostly focused on Staphylococcus aureus and Mycobacterium tuberculosis, but Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae have been also studied for aspects such as carrier status versus colonisation versus infection in the respiratory tract. The objective is to identify differential factors that will allow the design of diagnostic tools to distinguish colonisation from infection, in order to optimise treatment, to design novel targets as well as improve drug delivery systems that will contribute to treatment success and to reduce the emergence of antimicrobial resistance in lower respiratory tract infections.
Immune response characterisation
The group studies the diagnostic and prognostic importance of inflammation markers in different infectious diseases and clinical syndromes, in collaboration with several hospital departments. The team is studying the host immune response to different antigens specific of M. tuberculosis, in both animal models and in humans, and also at peripheral and local level, to characterise the different stages of the TB spectrum. The group has experience in the study of the immune response by conventional and spectral flow cytometry, performing deep immune profiling, as well as studies on the characterisation of different cellular subsets. SARS-CoV-2 immune response has also been characterized in different groups of patients. Finally, the interaction between neutrophils and S.aureus has also been explored, including the formation of NETs after specific stimulation.
Post-Tuberculosis Lung Diseases (PTLD)
PTLD is an increasingly recognised condition that substantially impairs the quality of life of survivor people of TB and increases long‑term disability and mortality risk. PTLD encompasses a wide range of persistent structural and functional lung abnormalities, that remain after microbiological cure. The Group is leading AFTER‑TB consortium that aims to advance understanding of PTLD pathophysiology, identify determinants of disease development, and evaluate preventive, therapeutic and PR strategies. By generating robust clinical, biological and implementation evidence, the project seeks to support clinical decision‑making and inform policy integration for improved long‑term PTLD management.
Impact of external factors
The group has consolidated the 2D in vitro model of intracellular persistence in murine/human alveolar macrophages, which allows them to carry out trials to explore the impact of environmental pollutants: tobacco smoke, e-vapor of e-cigarette, diesel exhaust particles, and micro and nanoplastics, in the persistence of M.tuberculosis and also S.aureus. They have also studied the impact of pollutants in the immune response against bacteria, and how the bacteria modify its phenotype for adapting to the toxic environment produced by the tobacco.
Diagnostic technology innovation
The team is using molecular, metabolomics and immunological techniques to develop innovative diagnostic technologies. They are also developing and evaluating new molecular methods for studying mutations associated with resistance to anti-TB drugs. In the last years, the group has patented three technologies related with the diagnosis of the mycobacterial infections, and licensed one of them.
New therapeutic approaches
The group is conducting studies involving the search and refinement of anti-infective drugs, but also the use of novel drug delivery systems loaded with conventional S. aureus and M. tuberculosis drugs. Conventional in vitro susceptibility studies are performed; and nanoparticles efficacy are also tested in infection cell models. These nanoparticles are produced by the group led by Dr Manuel Arruebo (Universidad de Zaragoza, Spain). The group is also working on the study of mycobacteriophages as a therapy for mycobacterial infections.
Climate change and tuberculosis
The group seeks to develop a better understanding of the environmental factors that mediate the impact of droughts, severe storms and major floods associated with climate change on tuberculosis. The global tuberculosis community has identified certain socio-environmental mediators which may exacerbate negative impacts, but also notes that the evidence base in every case is weak. We focus on four of these socio-environmental mediators, namely: water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services; food security; the health system; and population mobility.
Active projects
TB-SPECTRUM: A step forward for unraveling the immune mechanisms and tools for tuberculosis spectrum management
PI: Irene Latorre
Funding agency: European Comission. HORIZON-MSCA-2024-SE-01
Agency code: 101236673
Duration: 01/01/2026 - 31/12/2029
Towards an improvement in diagnostics and treatment strategies for TB control. (ADVANCE-TB)
PI: Alicia Lacoma
Grant Holder Scientific Coordinator: José Domínguez
Grant Awarding Coordinator: Cristina Prat-Aymerich
Funding entity: COST Action. Horizon 2020.
Agency code: CA21164
Duration: 2022 - 2026
OneAirHealth. Contaminantes y patógenos: impacto en la salud respiratoria
PI: Alicia Lacoma
Funding Agency: Spanish Society of Pulmonology and Thoracic Surgery (SEPAR)
Agency code: 23/1640
Duration: 2024 – 2027
TB-OMICS: Innovative tuberculosis screening and diagnostic tool system based on specific biomarkers in urine
PI: Núria Amigó
Scientific Coordinator: José Domínguez
Funding Agency: Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades. Proyectos de Colaboración Público-Privada
Agency Code: CPP2024-011551
Duration: 2026 – 2030
New insights into immunity and host-pathogen interactions across the tuberculosis spectrum - TB-SPECTRUM
PI: Irene Latorre
Funding Agency: Fundació La Marató de 3CAT
Agency code: 8/U/2025
Duration: 2026 – 2029
Hacia una mejora en las estrategias de diagnóstico y tratamiento y una mejor comprensión del impacto de los factores extrínsecos para el control de la tuberculosis. ADVANCE-TB
PI: José Domínguez
Funding agency: Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias. Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII)
Agency code: PI22/01834
Duration: 2023 - 2026
TB-OMICS: Innovative tuberculosis diagnostic method based on artificial intelligence
PI: Jose Domínguez
Funding Agency: AGAUR. Convocatòria INNOVADORS
Agency code: INNOV-0024
Duration: 01/01/2025 - 30/06/2026
INSPIRE: Impact of air pollutants on respiratory infections and respiratory health
PI: Alícia Lacoma
Funding Agency: Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias. Instituto de Salud Carlos III
Agency code: PI24/00032
Duration: 01/01/2025 - 31/12/2027
Advances in the understanding of host-pathogen interaction in the spectrum of tuberculosis
PI: Irene Latorre
Funding Agency: Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias. Instituto de Salud Carlos III
Agency code: PI25/01146
Duration: 2026 - 2029
INSTINT PROJECT. Integrated and innovative research to generate significant changes in the understanding and better control of tuberculosis
PI: José Domínguez
Funding Agency: Spanish Society of Pulmonology and Thoracic Surgery (SEPAR)
Agency code: IMPULSO 2025
Duration: 2026-2027
Past projects
Preparedness of the health care system in Ukraine to control TB during and after the war
PI: Andrii Dudnyk
Funding agency: Marie Skłodowska Curie Action for Ukraine (EU-Horizon Europe). Alexander von Humboldt Foundation
Agency code: 1233336
Duration: 2023 - 2025
Training actions in the field of microbiology, immunology and public health to improve research capabilities in the diagnosis of tuberculosis infection in the child population
PI: Esther Julian (UAB)
Co-PI: José Domínguez
Funding Agency: FUNDACIÓ AUTÒNOMA SOLIDÀRIA. Convocatòria FSXLI
Agency code: FAS41_02
Duration: 01/09/2024 - 31/08/2025
Evaluar la utilidad de una nueva técnica en el diagnóstico de las infecciones por micobacterias no tuberculoses Ref. 18/691
PI: J. Domínguez
Funding agency: Sociedad Española de Neumología y Cirugía Torácica
Duration: 2019 – 2023
BCG vaccination to Reduce the impact of COVID-19 in healthcare workers following Coronavirus Exposure (BRACE) Trial
Chief PI: Nigel Curtis, Murdoch's Children Research Institute Melbourne Australia
PI in Europe: Marc Bonten; Role C.Prat-Aymerich: coordinating investigator (Netherlands and Spain)
PI at HUGTiP: Antoni Rosell Gratacós
Funding agency: Bill and Melinda Gates
Agency code: HREC/protocol no: 62586 NCT04327206. EUDRACT 2020-002503-19
Sponsor in Europe: UMC Utrecht
Facing tuberculosis through urinary biomarkers
PI: J. Domínguez
Funding agency: AGAUR
Agency code: PRODUCTE-0050
Duration: 2023 - 2024
Innovation for TB. INNOVA4TB
PI: J. Domínguez
Funding agency: H2020-MSCA-RISE-2018
Agency code: 823854
Duration: 2019 - 2024
Tuberculosis: Development of new diagnostic methods, new host-direct therapies and understanding the impact of extrinsic factors in modulating inflammation (INNOVA2)
PI: J.Domínguez
Funding agency: Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII)
Agency code: PI19/01408
Duration: 2020 - 2024
ChildTB-Omics: Omics for diagnosis of tuberculosis in children and adolescents
PI: Begoña Santiago
Financing agency: Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias - Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII)
Grant reference: PI20/01607
Duration: 2021 - 2024
Pneumococcal pNeumonia Epidemiology, Urine serotyping, and Mental Outcomes. The PnEUmo Study in Europe (PNEUMO)
Central PI: M. Bonten; Scientific Coordinator C. Prat Aymerich
PIs at HUGTiP: A. Lacoma and F. Armestar
Funding agency: University Medical Center Utrecht
Agency code: 820755
Duration: 2020 - 2026 (until 2024 in Spain)
Deep immune profiling of Mycobacterium tuberculosis local and systemic cell response - TB-IMMUN
PI: Irene Latorre
Financing entity: Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII)
Agency code: PI21/00724
Duration: 2021 - 2025
Point-of-care tests for the rapid detection of SARS-CoV-2 (POC4CoV)
PI: Maria Pilar Marcos
Financing agency: Fondo COVID-19 - Instituto de Salud Carlos III 8ISCIII)
Agency code: 202050E090
Duration: 2020 - 2021
A multinational, phase 2, randomized, adaptative protocol to evaluate immunogenicity and reactogenicity of different COVID-19 vaccines administration in older adults (>75) already vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2 (EU-COVAT-1_AGED)
Part of the European Clinical Research Network for the coordination and condult of COVID-19 vaccine trials (VACCELERATE)
Coordinator: Prof Oliver A. Cornely
PI at HUGTiP: José Moltó; Laboratory lead: José Domínguez
Funding agency: Horizon 2020
Agency code: Agreement number 101037867. EudraCT nº. 2021-004526-29
Sponsor: University of Cologne (Germany)
Caracterización de la respuesta inmune en el manejo de la infección por SARS-CoV-2
PI: Irene Latorre
Funding agency: Spanish Society of Pulmonology and Thoracic Surgery (SEPAR)
Duration: 2021 - 2024
Unraveling host systemic and tissue-specific Mycobacterium tuberculosis immunity for a better control of the disease
PI: Irene Latorre
Funding agency: Subdirección General de Evaluación y Fomento de la Investigación
Agency code: CP20/00070
Duration: 2021 - 2024
Multi-centre EuRopean study of MAjor Infectious Disease Syndromes (MERMAIDS) - Acute Respiratory Infections (MERMAIDS ARI) 2.0
Part of the Consortium Rapid European COVID19 Research Response (RECOVER).
Consortium coordinator: Herman Goossens
Sponsor Europe: UMC Utrecht; PI: Patricia Bruijning
Coordinating investigator: C. Prat-Aymerich
PI at HUGTiP: Zoran Stojanovic
Funding agency: European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme
Agency code: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT04364711, grant agreement No 101003589
Innovative tools to study the impact and mode of action of micro and nanoplastics on human health: towards a knowledge base for risk assessment (PLASTICHEAL)
PI: Ricard Marcos
Financing agency: H2020-SC1-2020-Single-Stage-RTD. Agency code: 965196
Duration: 2021 - 2024
Scientific publications
Highlighted publications
Díaz-Fernández S, Aleuia M, Saraiva M, Soldevilla P, Torrelles J, Sharan R, Verreck F, Izzo A, Vidal M, Moreira AC, Pérez de Val B, Roca Soler FJ, Preda M, Torrents E, Julián E, Domínguez J, Latorre I. The study of immunological markers in tuberculosis across animal models and its translation to human research. Lab Animal. 2026. DOI: 10.1038/s41684-026-01730-9.
Comella-Del-Barrio P, Rodríguez I, Bimba JS, Osazuwa O, Alaran R, Alonso-Moreno P, Blasco-Iturri Z, Miguel-Coello AB, Cuevas LE, Ruiz-Cabello J, Izquierdo-Garcia JL, Domínguez J. Benchtop NMR urine metabolomics for diagnosing pulmonary tuberculosis. Sci Rep. 2025 Nov 19;15(1):40881. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-24714-0.
Villar-Hernández R, Latorre I, Noguera-Julian A, Martínez-Planas A, Minguell L, Vallmanya T, Méndez M, Soriano-Arandes A, Baquero-Artigao F, Rodríguez-Molino P, Guillén-Martín S, Toro-Rueda C, De Souza-Galvão ML, Jiménez-Fuentes MÁ, Stojanovic Z, Sabriá J, Santos JR, Puig J, Domínguez-Álvarez M, Millet JP, Altet N, Galea Y, Muriel-Moreno B, García-García E, Bach-Griera M, Prat-Aymerich C, Julián E, Torrelles JB, Rodrigo C, Domínguez J. Development and Evaluation of an NTM-IGRA to Guide Pediatric Lymphadenitis Diagnosis. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2024 Mar 1;43(3):278-285. DOI: 10.1097/INF.0000000000004211.
Domínguez J, Boeree MJ, Cambau E, Chesov D, Conradie F, Cox V, Dheda K, Dudnyk A, Farhat MR, Gagneux S, Grobusch MP, Gröschel MI, Guglielmetti L, Kontsevaya I, Lange B, van Leth F, Lienhardt C, Mandalakas AM, Maurer FP, Merker M, Miotto P, Molina-Moya B, Morel F, Niemann S, Veziris N, Whitelaw A, Horsburgh CR Jr, Lange C; TBnet and RESIST-TB networks. Clinical implications of molecular drug resistance testing for Mycobacterium tuberculosis: a 2023 TBnet/RESIST-TB consensus statement. Lancet Infect Dis. 2023 Apr;23(4):e122-e137. DOI: 10.1016/S1473-3099(22)00875-1.
Hamada Y, Gupta RK, Quartagno M, Izzard A, Acuna-Villaorduna C, Altet N, Diel R, Dominguez J, Floyd S, Gupta A, Huerga H, Jones-López EC, Kinikar A, Lange C, van Leth F, Liu Q, Lu W, Lu P, Rueda IL, Martinez L, Mbandi SK, Muñoz L, Padilla ES, Paradkar M, Scriba T, Sester M, Shanaube K, Sharma SK, Sloot R, Sotgiu G, Thiruvengadam K, Vashishtha R, Abubakar I, Rangaka MX. Predictive performance of interferon-gamma release assays and the tuberculin skin test for incident tuberculosis: an individual participant data meta-analysis. EClinicalMedicine. 2023 Jan 5;56:101815. DOI: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2022.101815.
Additional information
Collaborative networks
- CIBER Respiratory Diseases (CIBERES). Group 17 (CB06/0031), from 2007
CIBERES, a multidisciplinary and multi-institutional network, aims to combat respiratory diseases by promoting cutting-edge research and its rapid and safe translation into clinical practice. It comprises 33 research groups with nearly 400 researchers from diverse backgrounds who collaborate across three programs. These programs encompass the following research areas: lung cancer, sleep apnea, pulmonary fibrosis, asthma, acute lung injury, tuberculosis, pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pulmonary hypertension, and new therapeutic targets. Its network structure allows it to bring together some of the leading basic, clinical, and epidemiological research groups located in healthcare and research centers across nine autonomous communities in Spain.
Members of our group are affiliated with the CIBERES network (CB06/06/0031).
TBNET is a network to promote clinically oriented research in the field of tuberculosis in Europe by sharing and developing ideas and research protocols. TBnet sees collaboration as the driving force behind good science. For this reason, they unite European research groups in the network. In addition, education in the field of tuberculosis is another important aspect of our work in TBnet. We offered courses throughout the year.
Members of our group are affiliated with TBnet. Dr José Domínguez is a former member of the Steering Committee (2012-2023), and since, representative of Spain in the network.
- Unidad Asistencial de Excelencia en Tuberculosis, accredited by Sociedad Española de Neumología y Cirugía Torácica (SEPAR), from 2015
The management of tuberculosis involves many professionals, especially microbiologists, specialists in pulmonology, internal medicine and infectious diseases, primary care physicians, and nursing staff. Therefore, it is beneficial to have multidisciplinary. It is believed, therefore, that the creation of functional Tuberculosis Units-in the sense of bringing together specialties, professionals, and entities involved in the management of this disease-is fully justified.
Members of the group are affiliated to TB Unit of High Complexity from Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol. recognised as the level of Excellence.
- Thematic Network in "Systems biology of mycobacteria" (MycoNET). RED2024-153634-T, accredited by Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades, period 2025-2026
MycoNET is constituted by research groups working on mycobacterial research with seminal contributions in their disciplines. The network includes experts on key mycobacteria research areas like "omics" and computational approaches, targeted functional approaches, animal models, clinical and epidemiological research. We foresee the role of MycoNET as a key instrument to create a Spanish systems biology framework for mycobacteria. A successful systems biology framework will likely lead to major advancements in a series of topics, including basic bacterial biology, bioremediation, clinical, epidemiological, drug and vaccine research.
The group is affiliated to MycoNet.
- Study Group for Staphylococci and Staphylococcal Diseases (ESGS). European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, from 2018
ESGS focuses on the challenges posed by S. aureus, one of the most frequent bacterial pathogens in both community and healthcare settings. With staphylococcal infections on the rise, ESGS is committed more than ever to understanding S. aureus complex pathogenesis and interactions with human hosts.
Dr Alicia Lacoma is former member of the Steering Committee (2022-2024). We currently participate in their external quality control assessment.
ECRAID is the first network of its kind in Europe to offer a single point of access to a pan-European clinical research network for infectious diseases.
IGTP is a clinical and laboratory site of the network eligible for performing clinical studies in the field. The group has participated in several projects.
Doctoral theses
Title: Immunity in the SARS-CoV-2 infection: Helping in patients' clinical management
Author: Guillem Safont Gonzalez
Supervisors: J. Domínguez, I. Latorre
University: Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
Date of defence: 17th of December of 2025
Thesis with International Mention
Title: Pooling samples to increase testing capacity for Tuberculosis and COVID-19 diagnosis
Author: Vibol Iem (Laos)
Supervisors: International PhD Supervision
Primary supervisors: Tom Wingfield, Luis E. Cuevas
Secondary supervisors: Jose Dominguez, Jahangir Khan
Institution: Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (UK)
Academic year of defence: 2022-2023
Title: Study of pulmonary and systemic markers for the characterization of the immune response against Mycobacterium tuberculosis in mice and human
Author: Sergio Díaz Fernández
Supervisors: J. Domíngez, I. Latorre
University: Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
Date of defene: 26/11/2024
Title: Assessing the incidence of COVID-19 infection among the frontline healthcare workers in the federal capital territory, Abuja, Nigeria
Author: Saddiq T. Abdurrhaman (Nigeria)
Supervisor: J. Domínguez
University: Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB)
Academic year of defence: 2022-2023
Innovation
The team exhibits a pro-active tech transfer behaviour. Currently, the group holds two active patents in national phases. One of them (WO 2019/234296 A1) is licensed to a German IVD company, and the second one is in co-development with a company thanks to a Public-Private Collaborative Project granted y the Ministy of Science, Innovation and Universities.
In vitro method for the diagnosis or detection of non-tuberculous mycobacteria
Inventors: J. Domínguez, J. Torrelles, I. Latorre i R. Villar-Hernández
Entity: Institut d'Investigació Germans Trias i Pujol; CIBERES; The Ohio State University
Reference: PCT/EP2019/066055. WO 2019/234296 A1
Date: 12/12/2019
Status: Licenced in 16 September 2020
Identification of metabolomic signatures in urine samples for tuberculosis diagnosis
Inventors: J. Domínguez, JL Izquierdo, P Comella i C. Prat
Entity: Institut d'Investigació Germans Trias i Pujol; CIBER
Reference: PCT/EP2019/064885. WO 2019/243347 A1
Date: 26/12/2019
Status: In co-development
Outreach
The group is establishing participatory multi-actor dialogues between researchers, policy makers, industry, and civil society organisations, NGOs, and citizens to define the scientific research priorities.
In 2021, the group organised, with the collaboration of TB-REP 2.0, a symposium for discussing the role of civil society in TB diagnostics and management. TB-REP 2.0 is a multi-country program covering 11 countries in the Eastern Europe region. Representatives of more than 25 small and medium NGOs from Eastern Europe and Euro-Asia countries participated in the event. During the symposium, the need for non-invasive methods that provide rapid results was emphasised as key to reducing the burden of the disease, reducing the stigma that patients suffer, and increasing the well-being of the citizens and the society.
The group also participated, in 2021, in an international online course about "Community Engagement in TB Research & Development: Looking for Innovations", oriented to civil society that was also organized in collaboration with TB-REP 2.0. The group discussed with representatives of the civil society about the preventive therapy of tuberculosis, and the needs of diagnostics and vaccines. These actions contribute to building a more scientifically literate society able to actively participate in and support democratic processes, and science and technology developments.
They organised a symposium in December 2024, entitled "Engaging community in TB research and development: conducting TB community based and led research to inform TB policy". In this case organised by ADVANCE-TB (COST-Action), and the project "EECA post UNHLM community watch to leave no one behind" granted by STOP-TB-Partnership. More than 25 NGOs participated bringing together key TB community and CSOs to learn about research and trials, methods of data collection; learning what steps on data is required to conduct meaningful community lead and/or basic research; and how scale up the results of the research to communities through policy translation, including diagnostic algorithms.
The group plans to continue in contact with the NGOs for involving them in the research strategies of the group.
Members of the group regularly participate in educational and motivational talks in high school visits (100tífiques programme) and general population (Amics de Can Ruti activities); and participate in specific activities designed for World TB Day, European Researcher's Night, Science Open Day, and Women's Science Day.
Continuous information will be released from the group through social networks (X, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook; @Oneandahalf_Lab; @innova4tb; @advance_tb), and conventional media (Newspaper, radio, and television).
News
IGTP takes part in the innovation ecosystem of the Mobile World Congress 2026
IGTP took part in the 2026 edition of MWC and 4YFN with professionals and spin-offs from the institute, showcasing projects in health innovation and strengthening its role in connecting biomedical research with companies, investors and institutions to advance technologies with potential clinical and societal impact.
IGTP coordinates European project TB-SPECTRUM to advance understanding of the tuberculosis disease spectrum
IGTP has launched the European project TB-SPECTRUM, funded under the Horizon Europe programme through the MSCA Staff Exchanges scheme and coordinated by IGTP. A kick-off meeting held online brought together researchers, clinicians, and representatives from academic and non-academic institutions across Europe, Africa, and the United States, alongside members of the project's External Scientific and Ethics Advisory Boards.