Alterations in the blood immune system found to increase cancer risk

An international team of researchers identifies the genetic basis and biological processes that influence cancer risk related to alterations in the number of immune cells present in blood. This is a significant advance in the understanding of how the immune system can prevent the appearance of tumours.

Artificial intelligence as key to predicting the risk of type 2 diabetes

Research teams from BSC-CNS, UPV/EHU and IGTP are working on a project that uses artificial intelligence to predict and prevent type 2 diabetes. This initiative is part of the Complementary Plan for Biotechnology Applied to Health, coordinated by IBEC.

A year in review: 2023 highlights at IGTP

In 2023, the IGTP has continued to make significant strides in its mission. Here, we review the year's top news stories, reflecting the persistent drive and collaborative spirit that underpin this institution.

GCAT takes part in one of the projects funded by Fundació La Marató de 3Cat

The funds raised in the 2022 edition of La Marató de 3Cat will enable 71 research teams to conduct 37 projects in cardiovascular health to advance in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases that represent the leading cause of death in developed countries. One of the awarded projects involves the participation of researchers from the GCAT of the IGTP, and is coordinated by Dr Camille Lassale from ISGlobal.

GCAT participates in the third END-VOC General Assembly in Barcelona

The third General Assembly of the END-VOC Consortium took place on 7 and 8 June hosted by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal). Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP), who is leading the GCAT project and collaborating in several of the project's work packages, was one of the partners who participated in this meeting attended by more than 50 consortium members.

GCAT-IGTP and ISGlobal launch third year of COVICAT-CONTENT study

The COVICAT-CONTENT 2023 study begins today, with the aim of monitoring COVID-19 in different cohorts in Catalonia and the rest of Spain. Researchers from the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) and the GCAT'Genomes for Life project of the Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP) evaluate the genetic and epidemiological determinants associated with the disease, as well as the long-term effects of the pandemic on people's physical and mental health and the evolution of the immune response. In this way, the objective is to help define predictive models and control policies for similar situations in the future.

A new study with the GCAT cohort analyses pigmentary traits and their relationship with diseases

Researchers from the GCAT|Genomes for Life project of the IGTP have analysed the genetic basis of 13 pigment traits and their association with diseases. The work has been published this month in Genes. 

Largest genetic study on stroke to date improves risk prediction

• A group of investigators from the Research Institute of the Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau - IIB Sant Pau has led the analysis of Spanish data from the largest international study carried out to date on the genetics of stroke risk.
• The results, published by the prestigious journal Nature, allow us to predict, with much more precision, the risk that a person may suffer a stroke. In addition, they provide valuable information on the biological processes involved in this disease, which is helping to find new, more effective treatments.
• The study analyzed data from the International Stroke Genetics Consortium, of which the Spanish Genestroke consortium is a member, and the GCAT|Genomes for Life cohort, from the Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP).

COVID-19: One in three infected but unvaccinated persons no longer have detectable antibodies one year after the infection

A seroprevalence analysis, conducted on 1,076 people aged 43-72 years, finds that vaccine type, age, and mental health are factors strongly associated with levels of vaccine-induced antibodies.

GCAT contributes to identify a new genetic region linked with the severity of COVID-19 and to extensively characterize a chromosomal inversion

The Severe Covid-19 GWAS Group, the group that reported the first genetic analysis in early pandemic (NEJM, 2020), presents now the new results of an extended GWAS meta-analysis of a well-characterized cohort of 3,260 COVID-19 patients with respiratory failure and 12,483 population controls from Italy, Spain, Norway and Germany/Austria, that have been published in Human Molecular Genetics.