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 in 2017. CKDs often lead to end stage renal diseases, which require replacement therapy, such as kidney transplantation. The 2019 report of OCATT, the Catalan Transplantation Organization, 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 its Catalan name, REcerca en Malalties d'Afectació Renal) is a multidisciplinary group including more than 25 professionals from Germans Trias University Hospital (HUGTiP) & Research Institute (IGTP) - 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 on 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, they have developed several research projects with competitive and non-competitive financing, defended 6 PhD thesis, and 6 more PhD students are currently training within the group.

Keywords: Nephrology, transplant immunology, translational medicine, biomarkers, advanced therapies.

Kidney affecting diseases (REMAR) research group

Group leader

  • Jordi Bover Sanjuán, MD, PhD
    Jordi Bover Sanjuán, MD, PhD

    Jordi Bover Sanjuán, MD, PhD

    Since June 2021, Dr Jordi Bover has been the head of the Nephrology Service at Germans Trias i Pujol University Hospital (HUGTiP) in the northern metropolitan area of Barcelona (Badalona). He previously worked at Fundació Puigvert where he was research professor in Nephrology UAB/FP. Trained in the pathophysiology of complications of chronic kidney disease (CKD) at Wadsworth Veteran Affairs Medical Center (UCLA) in Los Angeles, USA, Bover was a fellow of the National Kidney Foundation of Southern California and has been the author or co-author of multiple scientific articles from international journals and reference books in your specialty. Likewise, he was a founding member of the EDTA CKD-MBD Working Group, and was recently named a distinguished member of the European Renal Association (FERA).

    His main activity and interests include CKD, its early diagnosis, as well as its complications, especially the pathophysiology and treatment of bone-mineral metabolism disorders (CKD-MBD) and associated cardiovascular disease. Dr Bover has coordinated national guidelines and actively participated in the development of international guidelines. He has organized symposiums and meetings and given conferences on all these topics in more than 40 countries.

    Contact: jbover.ics(ELIMINAR)@gencat.cat
    ORCID: 0000-0003-3577-2273

  • Marcel·la Franquesa Bartolomé, PhD
    Marcel·la Franquesa Bartolomé, PhD

    Marcel·la Franquesa Bartolomé, PhD

    Marcel·la Franquesa is a biologist with a translational interest in the field of nephrology. Her research has consistently focused on advanced therapies and regenerative treatments for kidney diseases. She initially worked in gene therapy and cell therapy using mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), and currently focuses on the field of extracellular vesicles (EVs) as therapeutic tools.

    Throughout her career, she has had the opportunity to work in several laboratories, including the Experimental Nephrology Laboratory led by Prof. J. Grinyó at IDIBELL (L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona), the Nephrology Laboratory led by Prof. J. Bonventre at Harvard Medical School (Boston, MA), and the Transplantation Laboratory led by Prof. Carla Baan at Erasmus MC (Rotterdam, the Netherlands), together with Dr Martin Hoogduijn.

    Dr Franquesa was a board member of ECTORS (the Cell Therapy and Regeneration section of the European Society for Organ Transplantation - ESOT) and is currently President of the Spanish Group for Innovation and Research in Extracellular Vesicles (GEIVEX).

    Contact: mfranquesa(ELIMINAR)@igtp.cat
    ORCID: 0000-0002-1287-8908

     

Research lines

Novel therapeutic approaches in experimental Kidney disease

This line of research led by Dr. Marcel·la Franquesa is committed to the research in the potential therapeutic role of MSC-EV (Extracellular Vesicles) and their study in different in vivo and vitro kidney damage models.

Cardiorenal syndrome

The cardiorenal syndrome is a complex clinical condition where dysfunction in the heart and kidneys is interconnected, with acute or chronic impairment in one organ leading to dysfunction in the other. The syndrome involves hemodynamic changes, neurohormonal activation, inflammation, and oxidative stress, creating a vicious cycle that worsens patient outcomes. Early recognition and integrated management of both cardiac and renal aspects are crucial for improving prognosis.

Chronic Kidney Disease - Mineral and Bone Disorder (CKD-MBD) and CKD associated-osteoporosis

Mineral and bone disorders in CKD are involved not only in bone but also cardiovascular health. The group is analysing several aspects of quantity and quality of bone in CKD patients.

Non-invasive biomarkers

The group has a strong commitment with the discovery and clinical validation of non or minimally invasive biomarkers for kidney disease. In this line both urine derived EVs and circulating immune cells are being studied.

POCUS

Point-of-care Ultrasound for the diagnostic aid in kidney disease patient management. This non-invasive methodology is quickly gaining interest and its implementation represents a great advance for both patients and clinicians.

MONIK

The MONIK study aims at non-invasive potassium monitoring in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients.

Active projects

Languaje Models of Healthcare (MNEMOSYNE)

PI: Javier Juega
Funding agency: MICIN
Agency code: PID2024- 162984NB-I00
Duration: 01/09/2025 - 31/08/2029

Urine-derived miRNAs mirroring affected compartments in renal biopsies: Deeping on Liquid Biopsies for chronic kidney disease (miREBIO)

PI: Francesc E Borràs
Funding agency: Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII)
Agency code: PI25-1087
Duration: January 2026 – December 2028

Development and clinical validation of noninvasive Test for the diagnosis and Monitoring of renal fibrosis in patients with Chronic kidney disease (PROMORFI)

PI: Debios & Maribel Troya
Funding agency: Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII)
Agency code: CPP_2024_Debios_IGTP
Duration: October 2025 - October 2028

RICORS2040-Renal

PI: Alberto Ortiz; PI of the group: Marcel·la Franquesa
Funding agency: ISCIII
Agency code: RD24/0004/0005
Duration: 2025 - 2027

Vesículas extracelulares en la innovación renal: Modelización, biomarcadores y terapéutica MSC-EV para la glomeruloesclerosis focal y segmentaria- Proyecto EV-FSGS

PI: Marcel·la Franquesa
Funding agency: ISCIII-AES
Agency code: PI24/00615
Duration: 2025 – 2027

Vesículas extracelulares en la innovación renal: Modelización, biomarcadores y terapéutica MSC-EV para la glomeruloesclerosis focal y segmentaria- Proyecto EV-FSGS

PI: Marcel·la Franquesa
Funding agency: Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII)
Agency code: PI24/00615
Duration: January 2025 – December 2027

Disminuir la absorción intestinal de fósforo como estrategia para enlentencer la progresión de la enfermedad renal crònica en pacientes de Atención Primaria

PI: Mariano Rodriguez / HUGTP PI: Jordi Bover
Funding agency: Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII)
Agency code: ICI22/00090
Duration: January 2023 - December 2026

Estudio del MIR125b en la nefropatía diabética: contribuciones de los órganos-on-a-chip a la medicina personalizada: proyecto iROC

PIs: M Hueso and Jordi Bover
Funding agency: Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII)
Agency code: PI23/00927
Duration: 01/01/2024 - 31/12/2026

Monitorización hiperpotasemia en paciente crónico renal bajo diálisis - MONIK

PI: Daniel Moreno / HUGTiP PI: Jordi Bover
Funding agency: Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII)
Agency code: CPP2022-009868
Duration: January 2023 – December 2026

Past 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)
Agency code: PI20/00097
Duration: 01/01/2021 - 31/06/2025

FIBROKIT - Primera tecnología no invasiva per detectar i monitoritzar la fibrosi renal

PI: Francesc E. Borràs
Funding Agency: Agència de Gestió d'Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca (AGAUR)
Agency code: 2023PROD0009
Duration: 01/02/2024 - 31/07/2025

FIBROKIT: First IVD-based non-invasive monitoring of kidney fibrosis

PI: Francesc E. Borràs
Funding Agency: Fundació "la Caixa"
Agency code: CI23-30015
Duration: 03/11/2023 - 03/11/2025

Glaucoma y Vesículas Extracelulares (GLAUVEX): Biomarcadores e intervención terapéutica

PI: Francesc E. Borràs
Funding agency: Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII)
Agency code: PI22/00688
Duration: 02/01/2023 - 01/01/2026

Fibrokit - Urine Extracellular Vesicles based diagnosis for Non-invasive monitoring of renal dysfunction and fibrosis grade

PI: Francesc E. Borràs
Funding agency: Obra Social Fundación "la Caixa"
Agency code: CI19/000448
Duration: 01/01/2020 - 31/12/2021

IVD-based non-invasive detection & monitoring of kidney fibrosis

PI: Francesc E. Borràs
Funding Agency: CERCA Gínjol Patent Funds
Duration: 01/09/2022 - 01/09/2023

Project CPS 2021-041

PI of the group
Funding Agency: Gain Therapeutics
Date: 2021

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
Duration: 2020 - 2023

Contrato Miguel Servet

PI: Marcel·la Franquesa
Funding Agency: Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII)
Agency code: HHRR CP19/00018
Duration: 2020 - 2024

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
Duration: 01/01/2022 - 31/12/2025

Spain CKD cause (SPACKDc)

PI: Alberto Ortiz Arduan
Funding Agency: Ministerio Ciencia e Innovación
Agency code: PMP21/00109
Duration: 01/01/2022 - 12/2025

Personal investigador en formació (PIF)

PI of the group
Funding Agency: Departament de Salut - Generalitat e Catalunya
Agency code: HHRR FI20/00021
Duration: 2023 - 2025

RICORS2040 network

PI of the group, collaboration
Funding Agency: Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII)
Agency code: RD21/0005/0009
Duration: 2023 - 2025

Primera tecnologia no invasiva para detectar y monitorizar la fibrosis renal

PI: Francesc E. Borràs
Funding agency: FIPSE
Duration: 01/11/2022 - 01/06/2023

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

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
Duration: 2020 - 2024

FIBROKIT - Test no invasivo para monitorizar la Fibrosis Renal

PI: Francesc E. Borràs
Funding Agency: Departament de Salut - Generalitat e Catalunya
Agency code: SLT033/23/000014
Duration: 01/12/2023 - 30/11/2024

Scientific publications

Highlighted publications

Fusaro M, Chandran M, Nickolas T, Ferrari S, Cossettini A, Ebeling PR, Mc Closkey E, Harvey N, Pierroz DD, Cannata-Andia J, Cheung A, Guglielmi G, Glüer C, Foldes J, Lems W, Trombetti A, Mithal A, Napoli N, Haarhaus M, Ferraro PM, Ketteler M, Bellasi A, Moyses R, Evenepoel P, Jørgensen HS, Reginster JY, Halbout P, Bover J, Gallieni M, Salam S, Eastell R, Hansen D, E C, Brandi ML. A consensus statement on the management of vertebral fractures in CKD stages G4-G5D. Nephrol Dial Transplant. 2026 Feb 27;41(3):584-598. DOI: 10.1093/ndt/gfaf256.

Mazón-Ruiz J, Banegas-Deras EJ, Fernández-Rodríguez JM, Domingo M, de la Espriella R, Llàcer P, Cobo-Marcos M, Trullàs JC, Biegus J, Bayés-Genís A, Nuñez J, Romero-González G. The chloride paradigm shift in heart failure: From neglected ion to keystone of precision diuretic therapy. Eur J Heart Fail. 2025 Dec;27(12):3084-3095. DOI: 10.1002/ejhf.70081.

Gifre L, Fusaro M, Lloret MJ, Massó E, Peris P, Nogués X, Gelpi R, Prior-Español Á, Ara J, Cozzolino M, Ureña-Torres PA, Bover J. PTH Analog Therapy in CKD G4-G5D: Current Evidence and Potential Role of Abaloparatide in Adynamic Bone Disease. J Clin Med. 2025 Dec 24;15(1):133. DOI: 10.3390/jcm15010133.

Garcia-Lahosa A, Moreno-Millán S, Sanchez-García MC, Sanchez-Cardenas M, Steiss C, Escobar WJ, Nuñez-Moral M, Soler-Majoral J, Graterol Torres F, Ara J, Bover J, Sánchez-Alvarez JE, Husain-Syed F, Koratala A, Romero-González G, Fernández-Delgado S, Rodríguez-Chitiva N, Marcos-Ballesteros E. Point-of-Care Ultrasonography in Advanced Nephrology Nursing Practice: Seeing Beyond the Numbers. Diagnostics (Basel). 2025 Dec 14;15(24):3196. DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics15243196.

Troya MI, Bover J, Cia Hidalgo A, Malumbres S, Sánchez-Bayá M, Massó E, Coll-Brito V, Anton-Pampols P, da Silva I, Soler-Majoral J, Marcos E, Moreiras Abril B, Pérez-León N, Morera García M, Golf Zaragoza JP, Jusmet Miguel X, Lejardi Estevez Y, López-Alarcón R, Blanco I, Morales Indiano C, Gràcia-Garcia S, Buño Soto A, Górriz JL, Buades JM, Ortiz A, Sánchez E, Ara J. The importance of disease coding following the diagnosis of chronic kidney disease: From ICD-10 code N18.9 to the role of clinical laboratories. Nefrologia (Engl Ed). 2025 Nov;45(9):501410. DOI: 10.1016/j.nefroe.2025.501410.

de la Espriella R, Górriz JL, Cobo M, Marques Vidas M, Seller J, Méndez Fernández A, Soler MJ, Romero-González G, Codina P, Caravaca Pérez P, Broseta JJ, Martínez Botella C, Sanchis J, Bayés-Genís A, Núñez J. Heart Failure in Advanced Chronic Kidney Disease: Overlooked No More. JACC Heart Fail. 2025 Sep;13(9):102581. DOI: 10.1016/j.jchf.2025.102581.

Piccoli GB, Ahmed SB, Fakhouri F, Garovic VD, Hladunewich MA, Jesudason S, Prakash J, Webster AC, Zakharova E, Cheung M, King JM, Jadoul M, Winkelmayer WC, Wyatt CM; Conference Participants. Women and kidney health: conclusions from a Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) Controversies Conference. Kidney Int. 2025 Sep;108(3):355-379. DOI: 10.1016/j.kint.2025.02.021.

Bartoli G, Dello Strologo A, Arena M, Ceravolo MJ, Mitterhofer AP, Pesce F, Grandaliano G. Diabetes Mellitus in Kidney Transplant Recipients and New Hypoglycemic Agent Options. Int J Mol Sci. 2025 Jun 20;26(13):5952. DOI: 10.3390/ijms26135952.

Praga M, Caravaca-Fontán F, Da Silva I, Fernández-Juárez G, Gutiérrez E, Sevillano AM, Trimarchi H. Tailored management strategies for IgA nephropathy based on clinical presentations. Nephrol Dial Transplant. 2025 Apr 28;40(5):874-883. DOI: 10.1093/ndt/gfae289.

Jørgensen HS, Vervloet M, Cavalier E, Bacchetta J, de Borst MH, Bover J, Cozzolino M, Ferreira AC, Hansen D, Herrmann M, de Jongh R, Mazzaferro S, Wan M, Shroff R, Evenepoel P. The role of nutritional vitamin D in chronic kidney disease-mineral and bone disorder in children and adults with chronic kidney disease, on dialysis, and after kidney transplantation-a European consensus statement. Nephrol Dial Transplant. 2025 Apr 1;40(4):797-822. DOI: 10.1093/ndt/gfae293.

Gelpi R, Casas A, Taco O, Sanchez-Baya M, Nassiri M, Bolufer M, Paul J, Molina M, Cañas L, Vila A, Ara J, Bover J. Kidney Transplant: More than Immunological Problems. J Clin Med. 2025 Mar 19;14(6):2101. DOI: 10.3390/jcm14062101.

Cozzolino M, Bover J. New perspectives on chronic kidney disease-mineral bone disorder. Clin Kidney J. 2025 Mar 13;18(Suppl 1):i1-i2. DOI: 10.1093/ckj/sfae432.

Magagnoli L, Cassia M, Galassi A, Ciceri P, Massó E, Gelpi R, Bover J, Cozzolino M. Vitamin D: are all compounds equal? Clin Kidney J. 2025 Mar 13;18(Suppl 1):i61-i96. DOI: 10.1093/ckj/sfae417.

Julián MT, Codina P, Lupón J, Zamora E, Pérez-Montes de Oca A, Domingo M, Santiago-Vacas E, Borrellas A, Ruiz-Cueto M, González-Gallego C, Troya M, Romero-González GA, Alonso N, Bayes-Genis A. Long-term trajectory of estimated glomerular filtration rate in ambulatory patients with type 2 diabetes and heart failure: clinical insights and prognostic implications. Cardiovasc Diabetol. 2025 Mar 5;24(1):104. DOI: 10.1186/s12933-025-02632-9.

Ketteler M, Evenepoel P, Holden RM, Isakova T, Jørgensen HS, Komaba H, Nickolas TL, Sinha S, Vervloet MG, Cheung M, King JM, Grams ME, Jadoul M, Moysés RMA; Conference Participants. Chronic kidney disease-mineral and bone disorder: conclusions from a Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) Controversies Conference. Kidney Int. 2025 Mar;107(3):405-423. DOI: 10.1016/j.kint.2024.11.013.

ALL PUBLICATIONS

Additional information

Collaborative networks

REMAR is an active member of the RICORS-2040, a Spanish network for the study of kidney disease with the objective of reducing the burden of this disease expected by 2040.

Several members of the groups are active in work Groups of the ERA-EDTA "European Renal Association" (Mineral bone disorders working group), SEN "Sociedad Española de Nefrología" (GendeRen: gender perspective of the disease), ISN "International Society of Nephrology" (Pregnancy and CKD Group), ISEV "International Society of Extracellular Vesicles (Urine Taskforce).

Doctoral theses

Title: Exploring Extracellular vesicles in Glomerular Disease: Biomarkers, Large-Scale production and Therapeutic insights from a Miniature swine model of experimental Adriamycin-induced Nephropathy
Author: Sergio Garcia Garcia
Supervisor: Marcel·la Franquesa
University: Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
Date of defense: 04/07/2025

Title: Kidney fibrosis & Extracellular vesicles harnessing their capacity as biomarkers and deciphering their functional mechanisms for therapeutic approaches
Author: Marta Clos-Sansalvador
Supervisor: Francesc E. Borràs
University: Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
Date of defense: December 2024

Innovation 

The group has generated a spin-off, Debios Diagnostics, with the goal of developing non-invasive biomarkers of kidney fibrosis.

Outreach activity

The team is organising monthly outreach activity in the Germans Trias Hospital: "Dimarts Nefrològics".

2025

  • The group organised World Kidney day activities to increase awareness of the disease. While giving information to patients of the Hospital Germans Trias and general population they asked for a urine sample to enlarge their biobank. That action allowed a conversation on two big pillars of the management of kidney disease:
    • The silent progression of the disease that usually is diagnosed late. Most of the times a simple blood and urine test are enough to know our kidney status. However, when the disease is picked up late, a tissue biopsy and more tests will be needed, and in critical cases dialysis or a transplantation will be needed.
    • The need to do research in early and non-invasive biomarkers and in novel advanced therapies is highly needed. Specially in the biomarker line, urine samples as a source of liquid biopsy appear as excellent and easy source.

2024

  • The REMAR Group is committed to yearly patient and public engagement since 2017 in the context of World Kidney Day. During this day the group aimed at visualising kidney disease and the importance of early diagnostic. More information
  • The group has been also involved in the organisation of a PhD Training course on "Extracellular Vesicles for Gene and Cell Therapies" in Jaca (20-21 of March 2024). The course was co-organised by the Spanish Group for Extracellular Vesicles (GEIVEX) and the Spanish Society of Cell and Gene Therapy (SETGyC) and it was a great success. More information
  • The PI, Marcel·la Franquesa, has participated in the Hesperis Course organised by the European Society of Organ Transplantation (ESOT) for organ transplant clinical fellows, giving a lecture on cell therapies and organ regeneration. More information

On the Clinical side

  • The group is actively working in the SESHAT and MONIK for telemonitoring patients with CKD.
  • Organisation of the Coordination of National and International Courses on Clinical Ultrasonography.
  • They perform a yearly Course on Kidney biopsy Hand-on methods. More information

News

- Campus Can Ruti, Innovation

An IGTP-led innovation project aims to improve detection and monitoring of chronic kidney disease with a non-invasive diagnostic tool

On the occasion of World Kidney Day, held every year on 12 March, the IGTP, in collaboration with the Nephrology Department of the Hospital Germans Trias and the spin-off Debios Diagnostics, is promoting the PROMORFI project, a translational innovation initiative aimed at improving the detection and monitoring of chronic kidney disease through new non-invasive diagnostic tools and new models of clinical care.

IGTP takes part in the innovation ecosystem of the Mobile World Congress 2026

IGTP took part in the 2026 edition of MWC and 4YFN with professionals and spin-offs from the institute, showcasing projects in health innovation and strengthening its role in connecting biomedical research with companies, investors and institutions to advance technologies with potential clinical and societal impact.

+ News