About
The IVECAT group has the ultimate goal to transfer knowledge to society, harnessing Extracellular Vesicles (EVs) as "Theranostic" actors. The group works with EVs since 2006, with a special interest in Diagnostic (Biomarkers) and Therapeutic (Advanced Therapies) approaches.
As a basic research group, the team identified the need to join efforts with clinical research aiming to reach shared objectives. In this sense, they have stablished multiple and transversal collaborations with Clinical Services at the Germans Trias i Pujol University Hospital. In particular, along with the Nephrology Service, they are the "basic" branch of the REMAR-IGTP group, a Consolidated Research group of the IGTP.
Yet, given the multidisciplinary approaches in which EVs may be applied, this research group develops research projects and collaborates with several Clinical Departments at the Hospital, including Cardiology, Neurology, Ophthalmology, and Infectious Diseases, among others.
Keywords: Translational medicine, extracellular vesicles, exosomes, advanced therapies, biomarkers.
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Research lines
Development of new strategies for the improvement in the objective diagnosis of diseases/pathologies (Biomarkers)
PI: Dr Francesc E. Borràs
This line of research has a clear translational vocation aiming to improve the quality of life of patients, defining new approaches to avoid or reduce the need on invasive techniques such as biopsies. In this regard, the group is undergoing several studies to define these new strategies in diverse pathological processes, including renal fibrosis, polycystic kidney disease, dialysis complications, among other pathologies.
Research in the field of preventive and therapeutic cell & "Cell-free" advanced therapies for immunomodulation and regenerative medicine (Advanced Therapies)
PI: Marcel·la Franquesa
This line of research derives from the interest of the group in the development of basic research projects with a medium-long term translational vision. In this regard, the group has developed in recent years different funded proposals in order to explore more deeply the therapeutic potential of cell therapy (such as mesenchymal stem cells or regulatory B cells) and new approaches of "cell-free" therapies, including harnessing of extracellular vesicles.
Active projects
FIBROKIT - First non-invasive solution for detection & monitoring renal fibrosis
PI: Francesc Enric Borràs
Funding agency: Agència de Gestió i d'Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca (AGAUR) - Ajut INNOVADORS
Agency code: 2022 INNOV 00027
Amb el suport del Departament de Recerca i Universitats de la Generalitat de Catalunya
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
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
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
Cerca Gínjol Patent Funds
PI of the group
Funding Agency: CERCA
Start date: 2022
End date: 2023
Scientific publications
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.
AIRG-E, EKPF, ALCER, FRIAT, REDINREN, RICORS2040, SENEFRO; SET, ONT. CKD: The burden of disease invisible to research funders. Nefrologia. 2022 Jan-Feb;42(1):65-84. DOI: 10.1016/j.nefro.2021.09.004.
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, Marta & Prat-Vidal, Cristina & Martínez-Falguera, Daina & Munizaga-Larroudé, M. & Soler-Botija, Carolina & Morón-Font, Miriam & Cserkoova, A. & Bayes-Genis, Antoni & Borràs, Francesc & Roura, Santiago & Gálvez-Montón, Carolina. Extracellular vesicles from mesenchymal stromal cells combined with tissue engineering improve cardiac function, reduce fibrosis and modulate immune response in acute myocardial infarcted pigs. Cytotherapy. 2021 May 23;5(26-27). DOI: 10.1016/S1465324921002875.
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.
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.
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.
News
Un método con agarosa muestra potencial para comprender el papel de las vesículas extracelulares en las metástasis
Un estudio colaborativo liderado por investigadores del IGTP ha revelado las posibilidades prometedoras de utilizar un ensayo de migración con puntos de agarosa para examinar la capacidad de las vesículas extracelulares de atraer a otras células en un entorno controlado. El estudio se ha publicado recientemente en la revista BMC Biology.
Dos proyectos del IGTP reciben el apoyo de la Fundación ”la Caixa” para trasladar sus investigaciones punteras del laboratorio a los pacientes
El primer test de orina que detecta la fibrosis renal como alternativa a las biopsias renales, iniciativa del grupo IVECAT, y un proyecto que aplica inteligencia artificial para categorizar rápidamente a los pacientes con ictus y mejorar sus posibilidades de recuperación, del grupo de Investigación Neurovascular, son dos de los quince proyectos procedentes de centros de investigación catalanes seleccionados en el marco de la convocatoria 2023 del nuevo programa CaixaImpulse de Innovación en Salud.
Contact
Francesc E. Borràs (Biomarkers)
(+34) 93 033 05 26
Marcel·la Franquesa (Advanced Therapies)
More links
IVECAT blog · Follow @ivecat_igtp on Twitter · Follow @GEIVEX on Twitter