The multidisciplinary Immunology of Diabetes Group at the IGTP is part of the Immunology Section of the Germans Trias i Pujol University Hospital (HUGTiP). It is made up of researchers, endocrinologists, paediatricians and technicians; the group works to understand more about the causes of type 1 diabetes. The research of the group is focused on translational research: Immunotherapies for the prevention and treatment of Type 1 diabetes, pathogenic mechanisms of autoimmunity and paediatric type 1 diabetes: tolerance, spontaneous remission and biomarkers. Their goal is to contribute to therapeutic intervention in type 1 diabetes and other autoimmune diseases.

The principal investigator, Marta Vives-Pi (MSc, PhD), has been working in the field of autoimmune diseases since 1988. Since 1996 she has been leading different research projects, with special emphasis on the development of experimental immunotherapies. In 2000 she started the specific pathogen free Unit (SPF) at the IGTP for the study of experimental models of type 1 diabetes. M. Vives-Pi is also the co-founder and Scientific Director of Ahead Therapeutics SL a spin-off company set up to transfer the immunotherapy technology generated by the group to the clinical arena and convert know-how into treatments for autoimmune diseases such as type 1 diabetes and multiple sclerosis.

Group Members

Marta Vives-Pi, mvives(ELIMINAR)@igtp.cat, Group Leader and PI
Silvia Rodríguez-Fernández,srodriguez(ELIMINAR)@igtp.cat, Postdoctoral Investigator
David Perna-Barrull, dperna(ELIMINAR)@igtp.cat, Postdoctoral Investigator
Rosa M Ampudia, rampudia(ELIMINAR)@igtp.cat, Research Technician
Laia Gómez-Muñoz, lgomez(ELIMINAR)@igtp.cat, Predoctoral Investigator

Publications

See Publications Marta Vives-Pi

Research lines

Immunotherapies for the prevention and treatment of type 1 diabetes

The line of research aims to stop the autoimmune response using innovative therapies to re-establish the cellular tolerance of the insulin-producing cells.

Pathogenic mechanisms of autoimmunity

This line of research aims to identify the mechanisms of the specific immune responsible for destruction of insulin-producing beta cells, with special atention to prenatal environmental factors.

Pediatric type 1 diabetes: tolerance, spontaneous remission and biomarkers

The aim of this line is to explore mechanisms of tolerance restablishment in children at the onset of the disease, and to define new biomarkers of remission.

Projects

Spin-off  Company

Member of the Working Group Pancreatic Islets of the Spanish Diabetes Society