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.
Group leader
- 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 is a biologist with a translational interest in the field of nephrology. The focus of her research has always been the advanced therapies and regenerative therapies in kidney disease. From gene therapy and cell therapy to the current main interest in EVs as therapeutic targets. During her career, she had the opportunity to work in different laboratories such as the Experimental Nephrology lab led by Dr J Grinyó at IDIBELL, the Nephrology Lab led by Dr J Bonventre at Harvard Medical School and the Transplantation Lab led by Carla Baan at Erasmus MC.
Franquesa has been board member of ECTORS (Cell therapy and Regeneration Section of the European Society for Organ Transplantation-ESOT), and is currently vice-chair of the Grupo Español de Innovación e Investigación en Vesículas Extracelulares (GEIVEX).
Contact: mfranquesa(ELIMINAR)@igtp.cat
ORCID: 0000-0002-1287-8908
Team
Researcher, Head of the IVECAT lab
Francesc Borràs, PhD(ELIMINAR)
Head of Uro-Nephro Unit
Jordi Ara, MD, PhD(ELIMINAR)
Nephrologist, Head of Transplantat Unit
Anna Vila Santandreu, MD(ELIMINAR)
Nurse, clinical assays monitor
Laia Valls(ELIMINAR)
Post-doctoral researcher
Marta Clos Sansalvador, PhD(ELIMINAR)
PhD students
Sergio G Garcia(ELIMINAR)
Marta Sanroque Muñoz(ELIMINAR)
Linrong Pan(ELIMINAR)
Researcher
Estanislao Navarro, PhD(ELIMINAR)
Research technician
Miriam Font(ELIMINAR)
Nephrologists
Maribel Troya Saborido, MD, PhD(ELIMINAR)
Javier Juega, MD, PhD(ELIMINAR)
Fredzzia Graterol, MD, PhD(ELIMINAR)
Laura Cañas, MD, PhD(ELIMINAR)
Jordi Soler, MD, PhD(ELIMINAR)
Maria Molina, MD, PhD(ELIMINAR)
Angela Casas, MD, PhD(ELIMINAR)
Rosana Gelpi, MD, PhD(ELIMINAR)
Iara da Silva, MD, PhD(ELIMINAR)
Gregorio Romero, MD(ELIMINAR)
Elisabet Massó, MD(ELIMINAR)
Omar Taco, MD(ELIMINAR)
Paula Anton, MD(ELIMINAR)
Veronica Coll, MD(ELIMINAR)
Maya Sanchez-Baya, MD(ELIMINAR)
Carles Cañameras, MD(ELIMINAR)
Néstor Rodríguez, MD(ELIMINAR)
Javier Paul, MD(ELIMINAR)
Monica Bolufer, MD(ELIMINAR)
Marina Urrutia, MD(ELIMINAR)
Pathologist
Paula Rodríguez, MD(ELIMINAR)
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
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
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
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
MONIK
PI: Jordi Bover
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
Past projects
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
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 2024 publications
Clos-Sansalvador M, Taco O, Rodríguez-Martínez P, Garcia SG, Font-Morón M, Bover J, Vila-Santandreu A, Franquesa M, Juega J, Borràs FE. Towards clinical translation of urinary vitronectin for non-invasive detection and monitoring of renal fibrosis in kidney transplant patients. J Transl Med. 2024 Nov 15;22(1):1030. DOI: 10.1186/s12967-024-05777-5
Zamora E, Codina P, Aimo A, Lupón J, Domingo M, Troya M, Santiago-Vacas E, Cediel G, Borrellas A, Ruiz-Cueto M, Romero-González GA, Santesmases J, Nuñez J, Bover J, Ara J, Bayes-Genis A. Trajectories of Kidney Function in Heart Failure Over a 15-Year Follow-Up: Clinical Profiling and Mortality. JACC Heart Fail. 2024 May;12(5):849-859. DOI: 10.1016/j.jchf.2024.01.004
Perezpayá I, Garcia SG, Clos-Sansalvador M, Sanroque-Muñoz M, Font-Morón M, Rodríguez-Martínez P, Vila-Santandreu A, Bover J, Borràs FE, Cañas L, Franquesa M. Molecular screening of transitional B cells as a prognostic marker of improved graft outcome and reduced rejection risk in kidney transplant. Front Immunol. 2024 Aug 12;15:1433832. DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1433832
Additional information
Collaborative networks
- REMAR Group is part of the Collaborative National Network: RICORS-2040 aiming at advancing the current knowledge in kidney related diseases and patients' clinical management from basic and clinical research approaches.
- Is actively involved in the Geivex Group (Group for Extracellular Vesicles Study) due to the group research in Extracellular vesicles. More information
- The clinical members of the REMAR Group are involved in the Spanish Society of Nephrology (SEN), with a special contribution in Cardiorenal Syndrome and in the GENDEREN and the GLOSEN groups. Also in several European consensus contributions through ERA-EDTA, and KDIGO Guidelines.
Doctoral theses
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
Based on research from IVECAT group leader and member of the REMAR Group, Dr Francesc Borràs, the group has created the spin-off Debios Diagnostics.
Outreach activity in 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
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- The group has been also involved in the organization 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.
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- 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
Researchers from IGTP bring science to schools and inspire future generations
In this year’s edition of #científiques, fourteen researchers from IGTP have shared their expertise in various schools and secondary schools across Catalonia, offering students a first-hand and inspiring insight into their work in biomedical research.
A new study analyses how mRNA changes during the progression of atherosclerosis
Researchers from IDIBELL and IGTP have studied variations in mRNA length during the progression of atherosclerosis in a mouse model. The results could help identify new biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets.
Contact
(+34) 93 033 05 48
Jordi Bover
More links
Follow @remar_igtp on X · Follow @ivecat_igtp on X · Donate via Amics de Can Ruti, Fibrokit