At the IGTP TODAY

News

- Campus Can Ruti, Research

New lung cancer treatment boosts survival and could benefit more than 6,000 patients a year

A new lung cancer treatment has allowed 36.8% of patients to achieve complete tumour disappearance, compared to the 6.9% rate of the standard post-surgery treatment. In addition, 85% of patients survive two years after receiving chemo-immunotherapy before surgery compared to 63% who receive chemotherapy alone before surgery. The study involved oncologist from ICO Badalona and IGTP researcher, Teresa Morán.

- Campus Can Ruti, Research

TÉSTATE PrEP study underway

Recruitment for the clinical trial TÉSTATE PrEP has started. This clinical trial has been designed by the Centre for Epidemiological Studies on HIV/AIDS in Catalonia (CEEISCAT) to implement a pilot plan for online HIV/STI screening in PrEP users.

IGTP, IQS (URL) and BST are working together to develop bypass surgery using donor veins

One of the most commonly practised cardiovascular health interventions, the coronary bypass, could undergo a revolutionary innovation with the joint research carried out by the Blood and Tissue Bank (BST), the Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP) and the Vascular Engineering and Applied Biomedicine Group (GEAB) of the IQS (URL). The three centres are working to develop a vascular graft from donor veins that can be used for bypass surgery to restore blood flow.

Two IGTP groups lead a European analysis to understand key factors for digitalisation in practice environments

The research groups in Nursing Care (NURECARE) and Innovation, Health Economics and Digital Transformation (INEDIT) from the IGTP are leading the publication of the first report on the key factors for introducing digital technologies in professional nursing practice environments. Through this effort, professionals from the Germans Trias Hospital are participating for the first time in the design of a comprehensive analysis of the required changes, while also offering recommendations to ensure the success of any initiative aimed at incorporating these technologies into hospitals.

- Campus Can Ruti, Research

Tuberculosis BCG vaccine found ineffective against COVID-19 in healthcare workers

An international trial has investigated the potential immune-boosting effects of the tuberculosis BCG vaccine against COVID-19. The results show that the risk of developing the disease during the first six months after vaccination was not reduced in participants as originally hoped for. Nearly 4,000 healthcare workers took part in the BRACE trial across 36 sites from five countries, including the Germans Trias Hospital. Researchers from an IGTP tuberculosis research group were involved in the development of the study, which has been published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

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.

- 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.

- 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.