25/05/2023 - Campus Can Ruti, Research, Success Stories

IGTP introduces super-resolution microscope at CMCiB

A state-of-the-art super-resolution fluorescence confocal microscope, called Abberior Infinity, was installed in the high-level biosafety (NCB3) facility of the Centre for Comparative Medicine and Bioimage (CMCiB). The equipment of this class, unique in the region, is a powerful tool for anyone aiming to perform advanced microscopy studies on fully infectious Level 3 pathogens (HIV, SARS-CoV-2, Monkey Pox, TB etc.) The microscope is available for use by all internal and external users via IGTP Microscopy Platform.

18/05/2023 - Research

Promising new treatment for childhood liver cancer

A preclinical study with support from the Spanish Association Against Cancer has identified a potential treatment approach for patients with hepatoblastoma, which involves combining standard chemotherapy with a drug currently undergoing clinical trials. The research was conducted using patient samples and animal and laboratory models, and has been led by Dr Josep M. Llovet, professor at the UB and group leader at IDIBAPS, and Dr Carolina Armengol, group leader at IGTP and member of CIBEREHD.

05/05/2023 - Research

New immunotherapy targeting tumour macrophages to tackle lung cancer

Researchers from the Innate Immunity group at the Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP) have developed a new immunotherapy based on a monoclonal antibody directed against tumour macrophages. The results obtained lay the foundations for a new treatment for patients with lung cancer, with the potential to be applied to other solid tumours. The study has been published in the journal eBioMedicine.

18/04/2023 - Institutional, Projects, Research

The Generalitat de Catalunya recognises 21 IGTP groups as Consolidated or Emerging Research Groups

The Agència de Gestió d'Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca (AGAUR) has published the final resolution of the call for grants to support the activities of research groups in universities, centres and foundations. In this year's call, 21 IGTP groups have been recognised as Consolidated or Emerging Research Groups, 7 of which will receive funding totalling €340,000.

14/04/2023 - Research

Comprehensive genomic characterisation of malignant peripheral nerve tumour-derived lines challenges current diagnostic criteria

The Hereditary Cancer research group from the Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP) has led an international collaboration that has allowed the genomic characterisation of the most commonly used cell lines derived from malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumours (MPNSTs). This research has generated a detailed catalogue of genomic alterations for each cell line, which can be used to develop strategies for precision therapies. At the same time, a genomic repository has been created that is open to all researchers interested in these tumours. The work has been published in the journal iScience.

11/04/2023 - Research

International consensus highlights the importance of molecular testing for antibiotic resistance in tuberculosis management

A multidisciplinary group of tuberculosis experts from the TBnet and RESIST-TB networks have reached a consensus on key issues related to the molecular prediction of Mycobacterium tuberculosis antibiotic sensitivity or resistance and its clinical implications. The consensus document provides guidance for the design of therapeutic regimens and the optimization of treatments, and is intended to help clinicians manage tuberculosis patients. The paper, published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases and led by Dr José Domínguez from IGTP, is an update of a similar statement made in 2016.

05/04/2023 - Research

Air Pollution is Linked to Lower COVID-19 Vaccine Responses

People exposed to higher levels of air pollution before the pandemic had lower antibody responses to COVID-19 vaccines, according to a study led by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), an institution supported by "la Caixa" Foundation, in collaboration with the  Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP). In particular, exposure to fine particulate matter (PM_2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) and black carbon (BC) was associated with about a 10% decrease in IgM and IgG antibody responses in people without prior infection. The findings, published in Environmental Health Perspectives, provide further evidence on the adverse effects of air pollution on the immune system.

30/03/2023 - Innovation, Research

Aniling, IGTP and ICO awarded €1.8 million from the Spanish government to develop a theragnostic tool for personalised management of colorectal cancer

The consortium made up of Aniling, the Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP) and the Institut Català d’Oncologia (ICO) has been awarded €1.8 million from the Spanish State Research Agency (AEI) for the development of a new theragnostic tool to personalise the management of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients.

22/03/2023 - Research, Success Stories

The Clinical and Environmental Infectious Diseases Research Group signs a collaboration for the development of a new biocide for the treatment of drinking water

The Clinical and Environmental Infectious Diseases Research Group (CEID) has discovered a molecule of natural origin with a high bactericidal, amoebicidal and biofilm reduction capacity. The collaboration signed by the group's researchers with a private company will finance the improvement of the molecule's characteristics to be applied in large water installations, preventing water for human consumption from acting as a vehicle for the transmission of bacterial diseases.

14/03/2023 - Research

Breaking barriers in hepatitis C diagnosis and treatment for populations at risk

A study with people who inject drugs evaluated a minimally invasive test based on dried blood spots (DBS) for the monitoring of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. The use of DBS samples for HCV RNA detection and genotyping was shown to effectively assess cure after treatment and to differentiate between reinfection and treatment failure. The results support the viability of decentralizing treatment and post-treatment monitoring for people who inject drugs, who frequently face challenges accessing the healthcare system. The study has been published in the Journal of Medical Virology.