Research

About

The Centre for Epidemiological Studies on HIV/AIDS and STI of Catalonia (CEEISCAT), created in 1995 and located since then at the Can Ruti Campus in Badalona, is currently a service of the Catalan Institute of Oncology (ICO) and functionally depends of the General Directorate of Addictions, HIV, Sexually Transmitted Infections and Viral Hepatitis of the Public Health Agency of Catalonia (ASPCAT).

CEEISCAT is the technical and advisory body for the monitoring and evaluation of HIV, STIs and viral hepatitis epidemics and, in coordination with the General Directorate for Public Health Surveillance and Emergency Response, executor of HIV/STI epidemiological surveillance.

CEEISCAT is a Consolidated Research Group recognised by the Agency for Management of University and Research Grants (AGAUR) of the Generalitat de Catalunya, within the Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP) and the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB). Together with the Microbiology Service of the Germans Trias i Pujol University Hospital, it constitutes a node (Group 27) in the network of excellence in Epidemiology and Public Health of the Centre for Biomedical Research in Network on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP).

Keywords: HIV, STI, public health, viral hepatitis.

CEEISCAT

Group leader

  • Cinta Folch
    Cinta Folch

    Cinta Folch

    Cinta Folch holds a degree in Pharmacy and a PhD in Public Health. Since 2000, she has worked at the Centre for Epidemiological Studies on HIV/AIDS and STI of Catalonia (CEEISCAT), where she coordinates the research line on multilevel determinants related to HIV and sexually transmitted infections in key populations. Since January 2026, she has been the scientific director of CEEISCAT.

    Contact: cfolch(ELIMINAR)@iconcologia.net
    ORCID: 0000-0001-8400-2668

Research lines

  • Epidemiological surveillance methodologies for HIV, STIs, and other emerging sexually transmitted infections
  • Monitoring and evaluation of antiretroviral therapy and its impact on people living with HIV
  • Study and monitoring of multilevel determinants of HIV and other STI transmission
  • Monitoring and evaluation of HIV and STI diagnosis
  • New technologies and screening strategies for HIV and other STIs

Active projects

El uso de PROM relacionados con la sexualidad: un estudio con enfoque de género en personas con VIH (Estudio SEXPROM)

Collaborators: HUGTiP and other Catalan hospitals
Funding agency: GILEAD. BECA PRO 2024
Duration: 2025-2026

LAMIS (Latin American MSM Internet Survey)

Duration: June 2025 - January 2026

Dones que viuen amb el VIH: llacunes i necessitats no satisfetes en l'atenció clínica del VIH a Espanya (Dona+)

Collaborators: Departament de Salut
Funding agency: Departament d'Igualtat i Feminisme 
Duration: 2025 - 2027

Interrelación entre Consumo de Sustancias y uso de Tecnologías de la Relación, la Información y la Comunicación en la Adolescencia. Estudio Longitudinal de Métodos Mixtos sobre Contextos, Motivaciones, Percepciones y Consecuencias en una Cohorte

CEEISCAT collaborator: Helena González
Duration: 2026 - 2027
Funding agency: Delegación del Gobierno para el Plan Nacional sobre Drogas (Ministerio de Sanidad).

El impacto de las redes sexuales en la adquisición de ITS en personas usuarias de PrEP: más allá de la conducta individual

Funding agency: Instituto de Salud Carlos III (AES 2025. FIS)
Duration: 2026 - 2028

Joint Action SHIELD: Strategies for Health Interventions to Eliminate Infection related Cancers

Funding agency: EU4Health
Duration: 2025 - 2028

Reinforcement of COBATEST network by means of including testing services from Eastern Europe and Central Asia

Collaborators: IGTP - CEEISCAT
Funding agency: Gilead
Agency code: 14242
More information

Prevalença de VIH, VHC, VHB i altres infeccions de transmissió sexual en persones sense llar i els determinants associats a la infecció (SENSE SOSTRE)

Funding agency: Departament de Salut
Duration: September 2023 - December 2026

Breaking Barriers: A Novel Approach to Youth STI Awareness, Testing, Treatment and Partner Notification in Catalonia - The TESTA'T-iCoNNECTA-Joves Project

Collaborators: Agència Salut Pública de Barcelona, Centre Jove d'Atenció a les Sexualitats (CJAS), Fundació Lluita contra les Infeccions, Departamento de Microbiología, Laboratorio Clínico Área Metropolitana Norte, Hospital Universitario Germans Trias i Pujol
Funding agency: Fundació La Marató de TV3
Agency code: 202401-30-31-32
Duration: 2025 - 2028

Monitoratge de la prevalença del VIH i d'altres ITS i dels comportaments associats amb la seva transmissió en el col·lectiu de dones treballadores del sexe a Catalunya (HIVITSTS)

Collaborators: Microbiology Service HUGTiP, Fundació Àmbit Prevenció

Xarxa DEVO: de centres comunitaris, que, junt amb el consell assistit, ofereixen la prova de forma voluntària, gratuïta, anònima i confidencial

Collaborators: Barcelona (ACASC, CJAS, SAPS-Creu Roja, Stop Sida, Àmbit Prevenció i Gais Positius), Sabadell & Terrassa (Actua Vallès), Lleida (Associació Antisida de Lleida), Girona (ACAS Girona) and Tarragona (Assexora'TGN i Creu Roja TGN)

Cohort PISCIS - Estudi de cohorts, prospectiu i multicèntric format per pacients seropositius majors de 16 anys, que han estat visitats per primera vegada en algun dels principals centres hospitalaris (15 a Catalunya i 2 a les Illes Balears)

Collaborators: HUGTiP, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Hospital del Mar - Parc de Salut Mar, Hospital Universitari Son Espases, Consorci Corporació Sanitària Parc Taulí de Sabadell, Hospital Son Llàtzer, Hospital Universitari de Santa Maria de Lleida, Hospital Universitari Joan XXIII de Tarragona, Hospital de Mataró, Hospital General de l'Hospitalet, Hospital de Palamós, Hospital Universitari de Vic, Hospital Verge de la Cinta de Tortosa, Hospital Universitari Mútua Terrassa and Hospital General de Granollers
More information

Estudio sobre conocimientos, actitudes, conductas y prácticas relacionadas con el virus de la viruela del mono en hombres gais, bisexuales y otros hombres que tienen sexo con hombres en Iberoamérica. Grupo de estudio LIBERO-POX/RIGHT-PLUS

Collaborators: IGTP - CEEISCAT, Coalition PLUS, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Santa Casa de São Paulo, Núcleo de Pesquisa em Direitos Humanos e Saúde LGBT+, Facultad de Salud Pública, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Instituto de Salud Pública, Universidad Andrés Bello, Chile, Instituto Instituto de Saúde Pública da Universidade do Porto (ISPUP)

Optimizing Pan-Viral Screening and Linkage to Treatment and Vaccination among Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men who Have Sex with Men and Trans Women in Spain Including Those who Are in PrEP or Waiting Access to PrEP: An Online Self-Sampling Pilot. (Pan-TESTATE)

Collaborators: Fundació Lluita contra les Infeccions, Departamento de Microbiología, Laboratorio Clínico Área Metropolitana Norte, Hospital Universitario Germans Trias i Pujol, Diagnòstic i Epidemiologia Genòmica de Patògens (DxEpiPath)
Funding agency: Gilead (Gilead Gader 2024-9767)
Duration: 2025 - 2026
More information

A secure analytics platform to study the prognosis of people with HIV in the USA, Canada and Europe and comparative effectiveness of treatment regimens: the Antiretroviral Therapy Cohort Collaboration (Art-CC)

Duration: 2007 - 2029
Funding agency: University of Bristol

Past projects

Viabilidad e impacto del cribado online de VIH / ITS dirigido a hombres que tienen sexo con hombres y mujeres transgénero en España usuarios de profilaxis pre-exposición (TÉSTATE PrEP)

Collaborators: IGTP - CEEISCAT, Microbiology Service HUGTiP, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron - Drassanes, Agència de Salut Pública de Catalunya
Funding agency: Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII)
Agency code: PI21/01589

Escuelas Centinela por la monitorización y evaluación de la infección SARS-CoV-2

Collaborators: Jordi Sunyer, Mireia Gascon, Jordi Casabona, Toni Soriano, Pere Soler.
Agency code: IGTP-Ad-AD_2020_18

TÉSTATE ITS

Collaborators: Microbiology Service HUGTiP, Fundació Lluita Contra la Sida

Monitoratge del VIH, VHC i altres ITS i de les conductes de risc associades en UDVP reclutats a Centres de Reducció de Danys a Catalunya (REDAN)

Collaborators: Microbiology Service HUGTiP, Agència de Salut Pública de Barcelona, Subdirecció General de Drogodependències - Àmbit Prevenció

Cribratge extens d'ITS en la dona embarassada (EMBITS)

Collaborators: Atenció a la salut sexual i reproductiva (ASSIR), Microbiology Service HUGTiP, IGTP - CEEISCAT
Agency code: PI-20-285

Population-based genomic epidemiology study for tailored strategies for surveillance and control of tuberculosis (TB-SEQ)

PI: Elisa Martró, Iñaki Comas
Funding agency: CIBER en Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCII)
Agency code: ESP22PI06
Duration: 2022 - 2023

Reingrés i mort de COVID-19 després de l'alta hospitalària inicial i impacte de la vacunació de SARS-CoV-2 entre les persones que viuen amb el VIH: un estudi de cohorts dinàmiques de múltiples bases de dades, COVEDVAC.HIV

PI: Juliana Reyes (IGTP - CEEISCAT), Josep Maria Llibre (Fundació Lluita contra la Sida)
Funding agency: La Marató de TV3
Agency code: 61/C/2021

Epidemiologia genòmica de SARS-CoV-2 a Catalunya: vigilància virològica i control de brots

Collaborators: IrsiCaixa, IGTP
Funding agency: La Marató de TV3
Agency code: 342/C/2021

Risk factors for MPX Infection: A Case-Control Study (Movie CC)

Collaborators: IGTP - CEEISCAT, Fundació Lluita, hugtIp, Programa IDIBELL, Institut de Recerca Biomèdica de Bellvitge, Checkpoint (Barcelona), Hospital 12 de Octubre de Madrid, Hospital Universitario Clínico San Carlos de Madrid, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, Fundació Sida i Societat

Community Led and Based HIV Services - Key to Ending the HIV Epidemic in Europe and Central Asia "Zeroing In - Ending the HIV Epidemic"

Collaborators: AIDS Action Europe, IGTP - CEEISCAT, Fondazione LILA Milano
Funding agency: Gilead
Agency code: 15538

Cohort de treballadors/es sexuals masculins i dones transsexuals seronegatius, que es realitzen la prova del VIH a Stop Sida, per a l'estudi del diagnòstic precoç del VIH i ITS i els seus determinants (SEXCohorts)

Collaborators: Microbiology Service HUGTiP, Fundació Lluita Contra la Sida, Fundació Àmbit Prevenció

Encuestas Flash VIH-VHC para evaluar el impacto de la crisis sanitaria Covid-19 en personas que trabajan con poblaciones vulnerables al VIH y/o al VHC en entornos comunitarios en España (EPIC-E)

Collaborators: IGTP - CEEISCAT; Programa de Prevenció, Control i Atenció al VIH, les ITS i les Hepatitis Víriques, Agència de Salut Pública de Catalunya, Departament de Salut; Coalition Plus, France

Prevalença de VIH, VHC, VHB i altres infeccions de transmissió sexual en persones sense llar i els determinants associats a la infecció aSELF-GEN (Anal Self-Sampling for Effective HPV Genotyping)

Agency: MCD
Duration: January 2024 - December 2025

CORE - Community Response to End Inequalities

Funding agency: European Health and Digital Executive Duration: January 2023 - December 2025

BOOST Project - BOOST access and quality of communitybased communicable disease services for PWUD in the EU and neighbouring countries

Funding agency: European Health and Digital Executive Duration: January 2023 - December 2025

European Men Who Have Sex With Men and Trans People Internet Survey (EMIS-2024). National Funding Partner: Ministerio de Sanidad. Duration: 2024-2025

Collaborators: Grupo EMIS-Spain: División de Control de VIH, ITS, Hepatitis Virales y Tuberculosis (Ministerio de Sanidad), Unidad de Vigilancia de VIH, ITS y Hepatitis B y C (Centro Nacional de Epidemiología, ISCIII), CEEISCAT, Stop, SEISIDA

Aceptabilidad y efectividad de una intervención online de auto toma para VIH en hombres que tienen sexo con hombres en España. TESTATE VIH

Collaborators: Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Departamento de Microbiología, Laboratorio Clínico Área Metropolitana Norte, Hospital Universitario Germans Trias i Pujol
Funding agency: Financiado por el Instituto de Salud Carlos III (subvención n.º PI17-00355), ViiV Healthcare y el Departamento de Salud de la Generalitat de Catalunya. Financiación del articulo en acceso abierto proporcionada por la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona.

Enhancing Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) and/or Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) national infrastructures and capacities to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic in the EU and EEA

Collaborators: ISCIII, IGTP and 32 other Spanish institutions
Funding agency: European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control
Agency code: ECDC/HERA/2021/024 ECD.12241

Cost-effectiveness of a community intervention versus a healthcare-based strategy for promoting the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of hepatitis B and C in immigrants in Catalonia (HepBClink)

PI: Elisa Martró
Funding agency: Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII)
Agency code: PI19/0568
Duration: 01/01/2020 - 31/12/2024

Stop Mpox - Monkey Pox infection in asymptomatic gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men and trans women recruited in a community centre in Barcelona (Spain): A Pilot intervention based on self-sampling screening strategy (Stop Monkey Pox)

Collaborators: CIBERESP, IGTP, UAB, IRSI Caixa, STOP, Mircobiology Service HUGTiP, UB, uVic-UCC, CIBERINFEC

TÉSTATE Implementa

Collaborators: Departament de Salut, Fundació Sida i Societat

Estat de salut i impacte de la COVID-19 en dones que exerceixen el treball sexual a Catalunya (Estudi HIVITS-TS-COVID)

Collaborators: IGTP - CEEISCAT, Subdirecció General d'Addiccions, VIH, Infeccions de Transmissió Sexual i Hepatitis Víriques, Agència de Salut Pública de Catalunya, Departament de Salut, Coalition PLUS, Fundació Àmbit Prevenció

Estudi de la prevalença de la infecció per Chlamydia tracomatis i Neisseria gonorrhoeae en usuaris dels centres d'atenció a la salut sexual i reproductiva (CT/NG ASSIR) i presons (CT/NG PRESONS)

Collaborators: Microbiology Service HUGTiP, Atenció a la salut sexual i reproductiva (ASSIR), Centre de Salut per a Joves de l'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Centre Jove d'Anticoncepció i Sexualitat de Barcelona, Centre Jove de Salut de Girona, Direcció General de Serveis Penitenciaris de Catalunya, Centre Penitenciari de Dones de Barcelona, Centre Penitenciari de Joves, Centre Penitenciari Brians 1

Scientific publications

Highlighted 2025 publications

Agustí C, Cunillera O, Mascort J, Carrillo R, Casabona J. Implicit bias in HIV testing based on indicator conditions in primary care: a population-based study in Catalonia, Spain, 2017 to 2021. Euro Surveill. 2025 Jun;30(24):2400585. DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2025.30.24.2400585.

Moreno-García S, González-Recio P, Donat M, Iniesta C, Folch C, Alonso-Colón M, Guerras JM, Belza MJ. Inequities in HIV prevention among trans and/or non-binary people: a cross-sectional survey analysis of PrEP and PEP awareness and use in Spain. Int J Equity Health. 2025 Jul 7;24(1):197. DOI: 10.1186/s12939-025-02574-4.

Salazar M, Lorente N, Schmidt AJ, Jonas K, Svallfors S, Ekström AM, Berglund T, Cáceres CF, Strömdahl S, Stuardo V, Casabona J. Prevalence and associated factors of selling sex among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Latin America: results from the Latin American MSM Internet Survey in 18 countries (LAMIS-2018). BMJ Glob Health. 2025 Dec 19;10(12):e021058. DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2025-021058.

ALL PUBLICATIONS

Additional information

Collaborative networks

  • Member of the Executive Committee of EUROTEST
  • Founding member and permanent member of the Executive Committee of COBATEST
  • Founding member and permanent member of the Executive Committee of the Right PLUS Network
  • Coordinators of the Community Research Hub and participation in international networks such as Coalition PLUS and AIDS Action Europe
  • Coordinating centre and co-principal investigator of the population-based PISCIS cohort
  • Promoters and members of the Executive Committee of the CORE 
  • Principal co-researchers and members of the Executive Committee of the Sentinel Schools Network
  • Participants in international collaborations of cohorts of people living with HIV (PVVIH), RESPOND, ART-CC, Hep-Causal, among others
  • Member of CIBERESP (EPICET Program)
  • Participation in the European project Joint Action SHIELD
  • Participation in international networks and studies such as EMIS and LAMIS
  • Participation in advisory bodies and expert groups in public health at Catalan and national level (epidemiological surveillance, HIV/STIs, chemsex, and sexual and reproductive health)

Doctoral thesis

Title: Desigualtats socials en la salut de les persones adolescents: una aproximació a la salut mental amb perspectiva de gènere
Author: Helena Gonzàlez Casals
Supervisor: Albert Espelt i Marina Bosque-Prous
University: Universitat Oberta de Catalunya
Date of defence: 16/01/2026

Title: Determinantes y outputs en la población inmigrada con VIH y otras infecciones de transmisión sexual 
Author: Jocelyn Mesias 
Supervisor: Jordi Casabona i Cinta Folch 
University: UAB 
Date of defence: 2024

Title: Impacte de l'envelliment a la població infectada pel VIH de Catalunya i les Illes Balears: estudi de cohort de base poblacional 
Author: Andreu Bruguera 
Supervisor: Jordi Casabona, Juliana Reyes i Josep Mº Miró 
University: UAB 
Date of defence: 2024

Title: Pertinència de l'ús de proves diagnòstiques i medicaments per al diagnòstic i tractament de la bronquilitis viral 
Author: Fabiana Ganem 
Supervisor: Jordi Casabona
University: UAB 
Date of defence: 2024

Title: Viabilidad y aceptabilidad de estrategias innovadoras para el cribado del VIH e ITS en hombres gais, bisexuales y otros hombres que tienen relaciones sexuales con hombres y personas trans
Author: Héctor Martínez 
Supervisor: Jordi Casabona i Cristina Agustí 
University: UAB 
Currently in progress

Title: Exploring Health Disparities and Access to Prevention and Care in Vulnerable Populations
Author: Beatriz Julieta Blanco Rojas
Supervisor: Cinta Folch i Raquel Martin
University: UAB 
Currently in progress

Title: Uso de nuevas tecnologías para la promoción de la salud sexual y prevención de VIH y otras infecciones de transmisión sexual en hombres que tienen sexo con hombre 
Author: Miguel Alarcón Gutiérrez 
Supervisor: Cristina Rius i Laura Fernàndez-López 
University: UAB 
Currently in progress

Outreach

8th Annual CEEISCAT Conference - 14 April 2026

The CEEISCAT held its 8th Annual Conference at the Palau Macaya in Barcelona, bringing together around 100 professionals from research, public health, and the community sector. Under the theme "Translation and research in public health", the event focused on transforming scientific knowledge into action and real-world impact. The conference highlighted collaborative projects, innovative screening strategies, and the integration of a gender perspective, and marked a new strategic phase with the presentation of the 2025-2030 roadmap, aimed at more applied, integrated research with a tangible impact on public health policies.

Annual Scientific Meeting of the PISCIS Cohort - 12 December 2025

The population-based Cohort PISCIS held its annual scientific meeting at the Palau Macaya in Barcelona, bringing together professionals from the clinical, public health, and community sectors. The meeting provided an opportunity to share advances in HIV research, strengthen collaboration among participating centres, and highlight the role of cohorts in generating evidence for clinical practice and public health decision-making. The event included international contributions and discussion sessions on emerging challenges, such as the use of health data and community participation in research.

30th anniversary of CEEISCAT - 9 April 2025

On the occasion of the 30th anniversary, CEEISCAT organised a commemorative day at the Palau Macaya in Barcelona, focused on the future challenges of HIV, sexually transmitted infections (STI) and viral hepatitis. The event had more than 150 attendees from the field of research, public health and the community world. It was an opportunity to share progress achieved and collectively reflect on current and future challenges in these areas.

V Congress "Escoles Sentinella" - 23 May 2025

The "Escoles Sentinella" Congress was held at CosmoCaixa Barcelona, and brought together students and teachers from 12 educational centers, representatives of the administration and the scientific community. More than 600 people attended, with the aim of promoting mutual learning, sharing interventions in health promotion and prevention, and promoting the scientific communication skills of students. This initiative strengthens the link between research and the educational community, highlighting collaborative research and social impact.

Documents of interest (in Catalan)

News

CEEISCAT advances Pan-Téstate to strengthen online screening for HIV and viral hepatitis among GBMSM and trans women in Spain

CEEISCAT, a research group at IGTP, is developing Pan-Téstate, an online self-sampling program aimed at improving early screening for HIV and viral hepatitis among GBMSM and trans women in Spain. Using dried blood spot samples collected at home, the initiative seeks to reduce barriers to testing and improve access to early diagnosis and prevention.

CEEISCAT promotes the translation of public health research at its 8th Annual Meeting

CEEISCAT, a research group of IGTP, held its 8th Annual Meeting on 14 April at Palau Macaya. The event brought together around 100 health and research professionals to discuss how scientific knowledge is transformed into action, impact and real improvements in population health.

+ News