2020 is coming to its end, a year with great difficulties and challenges. However, this year, more than ever, we have proved the strength of our research.
We would like to thank our researchers for the engagement and perseverance that secures a better quality of people’s life every day. We also want to thank all the people who support us and make our work possible.
To commemorate this (surely unforgettable) year, here you have a compilation of the top 10 news stories from our house:
IDIBELL and Dexeus Woman will study embryonic development by genetic edition of human embryos
A unique and pioneering project in Spain will study the first development of human embryos through the genetic editing technique CRISPR/Cas9. The study led by Dr. Veiga aims to improve assisted reproduction techniques.
The identification of a brain circuit could reveal the risk of developing Alzheimer’s in healthy people
The study published in the Journal of Psychiatric Research has provided the first evidence that a poor neural connection between brain stem and cerebellum may predict the risk to develop Alzheimer’s disease.
Researchers from the Institute of Biomedical Research in Bellvitge (IDIBELL) and the Consortium of the Biomedical Research Network in Mental Health (CIBERSAM), the University of Barcelona and the University Hospital of Bellvitge (HUB), in collaboration with researchers from the FLENI centre in Buenos Aires (Argentina) and the Consortium of the Biomedical Research Network in Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED) participated in the study.
Papillomavirus vaccine prevents 90% of cervical cancers
18,247 samples of cancer patients from 50 countries have been collected and analysed in a collaborative study involving research centres around the world, including the Bellvitge Institute of Biomedical Research (IDEBELL), the Catalan Institute of Oncology (ICO), the German Centre for Research on Cancer (DKFZ), the Dutch DDL Diagnostic Laboratory and the Lycer and Infections Biology Group.
The vaccine currently in use, the nonavalent vaccine, protects against half of the cases of cancers in anatomical locations associated with HPV infection. In particular it prevents 90% of cases of cervical cancer.
Management of hemato-oncological patients in times of Covid-19
Anna Sureda’s team published a reflection on the management of cancer patients in Covid-19’s time in the Journal Lancet Hematology. At that time the wave of cases was just starting to increase, and it was necessary to organize medical staff and patients to deal with it as best as possible.
New release of the documentary “Bellvitge, a hospital transformed by Covid-19”
The documentary premiered on La 2 from TVE Catalunya: “Bellvitge, a hospital transformed by the Covid-19”, a film on the landmark transformation that IDIBELL and the University Hospital of Bellvitge have suffered during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The viewer discovers how 400 beds have been moved to assemble new hospitalization and critics units, among other facts and testimonies. If you missed it or want to see it again, the documentary is now available on IDIBELL’s YouTube channel.
Age and male sex key factors in the risk of mortality of hospital admission by Covid-19
A study conducted in 127 medical centres, including IDIBELL, have collected medical problems and prognosis of 4.035 patients with COVID-19 in Spanish hospitals.
The statistical analysis revealed the existence of 17 variables that were associated with a higher risk of death, age being the most determinant of them.
Identified the cellular process by which chemotherapy with Cisplatin causes neural damage
Once the mechanism is described by the IDIBELL, ICO, HUB and UAB team, new strategies can be designed to mitigate the adverse effects of Cisplatin, one of the most common drugs in chemotherapy.
Interferon, the key to many of Covid-19’s most serious cases in young people
The international consortium Covid Human Genetic Effort published two articles in the journal Science with the participation of the IDIBELL member Dr. Aurora Pujol. The two articles point to interferon as responsible for 15% of the serious cases of Covid-19.
Identified a biomarker that predicts the increase in malignancy by antiangiogenic therapy in renal cancers
The team of Dr. Oriol Casanovas, a researcher at IDIBELL and ICO, shows that antiangiogenic drugs, in some cases, increase tumor aggression and identifies a biomarker that could predict this malignant response to therapy.
Today we launch sinergia, a new web portal for the dissemination of research and innovation in health at L’Hospitalet
We’ve finished the year giving a party! We celebrated a virtual IDIBELL’s open day via https://sinergia.l-h.cat/
The portal will remain open with permanent content. We want to highlight a virtual escape room in IDIBELL laboratories, family workshops and 360° visits through Bellvitge’s facilities. Don’t miss it! Enter now!
