The Daniel Bravo Andreu Private Foundation has awarded its grants for biomedical research stays at benchmark centres abroad to Dr Verónica Jiménez of the CIBERCV of Sant Pau Hospital–Sant Pau Research Institute (IIB Sant Pau)–Institute of Biomedical Research of Barcelona (IIBB-CSIC), PhD candidate Carles Diez of Bellvitge University Hospital–Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL) and PhD candidate Pablo Miki Martí of Pompeu Fabra University (UPF).
Since 2013, the Daniel Bravo Andreu Private Foundation has supported scientific talent and promoted biomedical research with a high impact on academia, clinical practice and society in Catalonia through the Daniel Bravo Grants.
These grants allow researchers at public hospitals and research centres in Catalonia working in cardiology and non-invasive diagnostic techniques to do a three-to-nine months research stay, with a €3,000 stipend per month.
Improving clinical management of advanced heart failure
Carles Diez joined the Cardiology Unit at Bellvitge Hospital and the Cardiovascular Diseases research group at IDIBELL led by Dr Josep Comin-Colet in 2016. Diez is currently doing his PhD in medicine at the University of Barcelona.
Through several collaborations between the research group and Dr Ulrich Jorde, a renowned expert in heart failure, and after getting the news of the Daniel Bravo Grant, Carles Diez set his sights on conducting a research project at the Montefiore Medical Centre in New York over nine months in order to improve clinical understanding and optimise management of advanced heart failure.
With the ageing population in developed countries, heart failure has become one of the main public health issues, despite the fact that treatments have improved patients’ prognosis and quality of life. In the advanced stages of the disease, however, there is a persistent deterioration of patients’ condition and the only therapeutic options are a transplant or mechanical circulatory support from a left ventricular assist device (LVAD).
“We know that anaemia and iron deficiencies are some of the factors associated with a faster progression of heart failure and patients’ serious clinical deterioration,” notes Dr Josep Comin Colet. Through the project Clinical impact and determinants of gastrointestinal angiodysplasia, anaemia and iron deficiency in patients with advanced heart failure, awarded a grant from the Daniel Bravo Andreu Private Foundation, they hope to determine the elements that favour anaemia and iron deficiency to optimise therapeutic strategies.
“The Daniel Bravo Grant is a unique opportunity to expand on existing synergies and share knowledge with healthcare and research professionals. It will undoubtedly help us improve clinical management of patients with advanced heart failure at our hospitals and, as a result, throughout the country,” highlights Diez.
The Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL) is a biomedical research center created in 2004. It is participated by the Bellvitge University Hospital and the Viladecans Hospital of the Catalan Institute of Health, the Catalan Institute of Oncology, the University of Barcelona and the City Council of L’Hospitalet de Llobregat.
IDIBELL is a member of the Campus of International Excellence of the University of Barcelona HUBc and is part of the CERCA institution of the Generalitat de Catalunya. In 2009 it became one of the first five Spanish research centers accredited as a health research institute by the Carlos III Health Institute. In addition, it is part of the “HR Excellence in Research” program of the European Union and is a member of EATRIS and REGIC. Since 2018, IDIBELL has been an Accredited Center of the AECC Scientific Foundation (FCAECC).