About
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is highly prevalent in Catalonia, as in other Western Countries. The prevalence of CKD is estimated to be 8-16% of the worldwide population. Data from 2018 showed a prevalence of 1,469 patients per million inhabitants in Catalonia, almost 3% more than 2017. CKDs often lead to end stage renal diseases, which require replacement therapy, such as kidney transplantation. The "OCATT" (Catalan Transplantation Organization) 2019 report revealed up to 882 kidney transplants were performed in Catalonia, a transplant rate of 115.0 per million population (pmp). All these data show CKD is a prevalent chronic health problem with a large impact on our society.
The REMAR group (from Catalan, REcerca en Malalties d'Afectació Renal, or Kidney Related Diseases Research Group) is a multidisciplinary group including more than 25 professionals from the Germans Trias University Hospital (HUGTP) & Research Institute - including doctors, biologists, veterinarians, biochemists and biotechnologists. The group was recognized as an emerging group (2014SGR804) and as a Pre-consolidated group (2017SGR301) by the Government of Catalonia. The researchers aim to foster basic, clinical and translational research in the field of kidney diseases and disorders associated with kidney failure. The research lines are focused in identifying non-invasive biomarkers and developing innovative therapies mainly (but not only) for kidney-related diseases.
In the last 3 years, the group has participated in more than 50 publications, of which 23 are from basic research (70% on Q1 journals). During this time period, we have developed several research projects with competitive and non-competitive financing, 6 PhD thesis have been defended, and 6 more PhD students are currently training within the group.
Keywords: Nephrology, transplant immunology, translational medicine, biomarkers, advanced therapies.
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Group Leader
Team
Francesc E. Borràs(ELIMINAR)
Anna Vila(ELIMINAR)
Maria Isabel Troya(ELIMINAR)
Fredzia Graterol(ELIMINAR)
Laura Cañas(ELIMINAR)
Iara DaSilva(ELIMINAR)
Javier Juega(ELIMINAR)
Jordi Soler(ELIMINAR)
Maria Molina(ELIMINAR)
Rosana Gelpi(ELIMINAR)
Maria Pilar Armengol(ELIMINAR)
Marta Clos Sansalvador(ELIMINAR)
Research lines
Non-invasive biomarkers for kidney diseases
PIs: Francesc E. Borràs & Javier Juega
Renal biopsy is the gold standard procedure to diagnose most of renal pathologies, but this invasive method is of limited repeatability and often describes irreversible damage. We are investigating specific biomarkers in the urine and image techniques to provide methods to replace biopsies.
Morbid obesity and renal disease
PI: Maruja Navarro-Diaz
Morbid Obesity plays an important role in promoting chronic kidney disease. Our group has participated in the development of several studies related to MO. We are currently interested in the study and definition of specific genes involved in this pathology.
Mesenchymal stem cells in kidney transplant
PI: Marcel·la Franquesa & Laura Cañas
The aim of this research is to develop strategies to optimize the induction of tolerance in clinical transplantation. Based on previous work on the interactions of MSC and MSC-derived extracellular vesicles (MSC-EVs) with other cells, we aim to investigate regulatory cells and anti-inflammatory environment for future therapeutic applications.
Peritoneal dialysis
PI: Maribel Troya Saborido
Research on new markers to improve the classification and surveillance of patients remain a top priority on the field, thus, looking at peritoneal dialysis efflux may represent a non-invasive alternative to identify biomarkers of peritoneal membrane failure.
Active projects
Size-exclusion chomatography (SEC) isolated MSC-derived Extracellular Vesicles to pReVEnT the progression of chronic kidney disease- SERVET
PI: Marcel·la Franquesa
Funding agency: Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII)
Reference: PI20/00097
Start date: 01/01/2021
End date: 31/12/2023
Urine extracellular vesicles and graft elastography: Combining molecular and imaging techniques for the non-invasive diagnosis of chronic kidney graft dysfunction (EV-mage)
PI: Francesc E. Borràs, Javier Juega
Funding Agency: Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII)
Agency code: PI19/00837
Start date: 2020
End date: 2024
Fibrokit - Urine Extracellular Vesicles based diagnosis for Non-invasive monitoring of renal dysfunction and fibrosis grade
Funding agency: Obra Social Fundación "la Caixa"
Agency code: CI19/000448
Start date: 01/01/2020
End date: 31/12/2021
Glaucoma y Vesículas Extracelulares (GLAUVEX): Biomarcadores e intervención terapéutica
PI of the group
Funding Agency: Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII)
Agency code: PI22/00688
Start date: 2023
End date: 2025
Cerca Gínjol Patent Funds
PI of the group
Funding Agency: CERCA
Start date: 2022
End date: 2023
FIPSE - Ayudas para la Financiación de estudios de viabilidad de la Innovación en Salud
PI of the group
Funding Agency: MSC
Start date: 2022
End date: 2023
Células dendríticas tolerogénicas autólogas donante-específicas (dsATDC) para receptores de trasplante de riñon altamente sensibilizados
Collaboration
Funding Agency: Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII)
Agency code: ICI21/00049
Start date: 01/01/2022
End date: 31/12/2025
SPAIN CKD CAUSE (SPACKDC)
Collaboration
Funding Agency: Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII)
Agency code: PMP21/00109
Start date: 2022
End date: 2025
Kit de diagnóstico no invasivo para monitorizar la fibrosis en pacientes con trasplante de riñón
PI: Francesc E. Borràs
Funding Agency: Fundación "la Caixa", CaixaResearch Validate
Agency code: PMP21/00109
Start date: 2020
End date: 2022
Contrato Miguel Servet
PI: Marcel·la Franquesa
Funding Agency: Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII)
Agency code: HHRR CP19/00018
Start date: 2020
End date: 2024
Contrato predoctoral de formación en investigación en salud (PFIS)
PI: Marta Clos Sansalvador
Funding Agency: Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII)
Agency code: HHRR FI20/00021
Start date: 2020
End date: 2023
Project CPS 2021-041
PI of the group
Funding Agency: Gain Therapeutics
Date: 2021
Personal investigador en formació (PIF)
PI of the group
Funding Agency: Departament de Salut- Generalitat e Catalunya
Agency code: HHRR FI20/00021
Start date: 2023
End date: 2025
RICORS2040 network
PI of the group, collaboration
Funding Agency: Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII)
Agency code: RD21/0005/0009
Start date: 2023
End date: 2025
Scientific publications
Sánchez-Rodríguez MB, Téllez É, Casulleras M, Borràs FE, Arroyo V, Clària J, Sarrias MR. Reduced Plasma Extracellular Vesicle CD5L Content in Patients With Acute-On-Chronic Liver Failure: Interplay With Specialized Pro-Resolving Lipid Mediators. Front Immunol. 2022 Mar 7;13:842996. DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.842996.
Monguió-Tortajada M, Prat-Vidal C, Martínez-Falguera D, Teis A, Soler-Botija C, Courageux Y, Munizaga-Larroudé M, Moron-Font M, Bayes-Genis A, Borràs FE, Roura S, Gálvez-Montón C. Acellular cardiac scaffolds enriched with MSC-derived extracellular vesicles limit ventricular remodelling and exert local and systemic immunomodulation in a myocardial infarction porcine model. Theranostics. 2022 Jun 6;12(10):4656-4670. DOI: 10.7150/thno.72289.
Sánchez-Rodríguez MB, Téllez É, Casulleras M, Borràs FE, Arroyo V, Clària J, Sarrias MR. Reduced Plasma Extracellular Vesicle CD5L Content in Patients With Acute-On-Chronic Liver Failure: Interplay With Specialized Pro-Resolving Lipid Mediators. Front Immunol. 2022 Mar 7;13:842996. DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.842996.
Garcia SG, Sandoval-Hellín N, Clos-Sansalvador M, Carreras-Planella L, Morón-Font M, Guerrero D, Borràs FE, Franquesa M. Mesenchymal stromal cells induced regulatory B cells are enriched in extracellular matrix genes and IL-10 independent modulators. Front Immunol. 2022 Sep 14;13:957797. DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.957797.
Torres PU, Troya MI, Dauverge M, Bover J. Independent effects of parathyroid hormone and phosphate levels on hard outcomes in non-dialysis patients: food for thought. Nephrol Dial Transplant. 2022 Mar 25;37(4):613-616. DOI: 10.1093/ndt/gfab308. Erratum in: Nephrol Dial Transplant. 2022 Jun 23;37(7):1391.
Torres PU, Troya MI, Dauverge M, Bover J. Independent effects of parathyroid hormone and phosphate levels on hard outcomes in non-dialysis patients: food for thought. Nephrol Dial Transplant. 2022 Mar 25;37(4):613-616. DOI: 10.1093/ndt/gfab308. Erratum in: Nephrol Dial Transplant. 2022 Jun 23;37(7):1391.
Ketteler M, Bover J, Mazzaferro S. Treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism in non-dialysis CKD: an appraisal 2022s. Nephrol Dial Transplant. 2023 May 31;38(6):1397-1404. DOI: 10.1093/ndt/gfac236.
Romero-González G, Manrique J, Slon-Roblero MF, Husain-Syed F, De la Espriella R, Ferrari F, Bover J, Ortiz A, Ronco C. PoCUS in nephrology: a new tool to improve our diagnostic skills. Clin Kidney J. 2022 Sep 12;16(2):218-229. DOI: 10.1093/ckj/sfac203.
Graterol Torres F, Molina M, Soler-Majoral J, Romero-González G, Rodríguez Chitiva N, Troya-Saborido M, Socias Rullan G, Burgos E, Paúl Martínez J, Urrutia Jou M, Cañameras C, Riera Sadurní J, Vila A, Bover J. Evolving Concepts on Inflammatory Biomarkers and Malnutrition in Chronic Kidney Disease. Nutrients. 2022 Oct 14;14(20):4297. DOI: 10.3390/nu14204297.
Clos-Sansalvador M, Garcia SG, Morón-Font M, Williams C, Reichardt NC, Falcón-Pérez JM, Bayes-Genis A, Roura S, Franquesa M, Monguió-Tortajada M, Borràs FE. N-Glycans in Immortalized Mesenchymal Stromal Cell-Derived Extracellular Vesicles Are Critical for EV-Cell Interaction and Functional Activation of Endothelial Cells. Int J Mol Sci. 2022 Aug 23;23(17):9539. DOI: 10.3390/ijms23179539.
Clos-Sansalvador M, Monguió-Tortajada M, Roura S, Franquesa M, Borràs FE. Commonly used methods for extracellular vesicles' enrichment: Implications in downstream analyses and use. Eur J Cell Biol. 2022 Jun-Aug;101(3):151227. DOI: 10.1016/j.ejcb.2022.151227.
News
Biomaterial scaffolds containing extracellular vesicles from stem cells to control and promote heart muscle repair after heart attack
Scientists of the ICREC group at the Germans Trias i Pujol Research institute (IGTP) continue to refine their technology for repairing cardiac tissue after a heart attack. In a paper published in Bioactive Materials they present their latest work in which they use implanted scaffolds containing no cells, but extracellular vesicles that promote the repair of myocardium damaged in a heart attack.
An IGTP paper in the top 100 most read papers of Scientific Reports
A paper published by the IGTP Kidney-affecting Research Group (REMAR) is in the top 100 most read cellular biology papers in Scientific Reports in 2017. The journal published around one thousand articles on cellular biology last year, making the ranking especially remarkable for this paper on which Dr Francesc Borràs is co-corresponding author. The paper is ranked at 54.
Contact
Marcel·la Franquesa
(+34) 93 033 05 48
Jordi Bover
More links
Follow @remar_igtp on Twitter · Follow @ivecat_igtp on Twitter · Donate via Amics de Can Ruti, Fibrokit