17/03/2022 - Press release
Researchers at the Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute and Hospital del Mar have transformed immunotherapy-resistant tumours into tumours that respond to this treatment, achieving cures in animal models through an innovative therapeutic strategy in triple-negative breast cancer, the most aggressive subtype. Researchers have discovered the essential role of a new factor, LCOR, in enabling cancer cells to present tumour antigens on their surfaces. These antigens allow the immune system to recognise the tumour, an essential step if immunotherapy treatment is to succeed. On the other hand, they have shown that cancer stem cells have very low levels of LCOR, making them invisible to the immune system and therefore resistant to treatment. The work that has just been published used an innovative experimental messenger RNA system, similar to the technology used for COVID-19 vaccines, to produce LCOR in tumour cells. In this way, the resistant tumour cells of triple-negative cancer become visible and sensitive to the immune system. This approach is also being investigated in other breast cancer subtypes
Més informació "Radical increase in the effectiveness of breast cancer immunotherapy"
22/03/2022 - Press release
In contrast, exposure to environmental pollutants such as fine particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and soot significantly increases the risk of suffering an ischaemic stroke. The article in the journal Environment International, one of the most important studies published to date in Europe, analysed data from the entire population in Catalonia, geo-referencing more than three and a half million people. The authors consider that these results mean that the maximum levels of atmospheric pollutants established by the EU need to be reconsidered. The risk of suffering an ischaemic stroke, the most common type of cerebrovascular event, is 16% less in people who have green spaces less than 300 metres from their homes. This has been revealed in a joint study by the Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute, Hospital del Mar, the Catalan Health Quality and Assessment Agency (AQuAS) from the Catalan Government's Department of Health and the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), a centre promoted by the "la Caixa" Foundation. It is the most important work in this field to date in Europe, analysing data on the entire population of Catalonia between 2016 and 2017.
Més informació "Living near green areas reduces the risk of suffering a stroke by 16%"
17/02/2022 - General information
An IMIM-Hospital del Mar research project aimed at analyzing the mechanisms that generate resistance to immunotherapy treatment in metastatic breast cancer has been selected by the Metastatic Breast Cancer Association in the third edition of this award. The project, headed by doctors Toni Celià-Terrassa and Joan Albanell, will receive 100,000 euros for its development. This afternoon saw the presentation of the III M. Chiara Giorgetti Award for research into metastatic breast cancer. This year it recognises a project from the Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM-Hospital del Mar), led by doctors Toni Celià-Terrassa and Joan Albanell. The award is promoted by the Metastatic Breast Cancer patients' association and involves a prize of 100,000 euros, 25,000 euros of which are provided by the AMAMA association.
Més informació "M. Chiara Giorgetti Award for a Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute project"
17/02/2022 - Press release
New research associates the presence of Caudovirales in gut microbiota to an improvement in cognitive functions and memory in humans, mice and flies. The results show that bacteriophages present in the gut microbiota influence the relationship between the microbiome and the brain The article, published in the journal Cell Host & Microbe, was led by Dr. Jordi Mayneris-Perxachs and Dr. José Manuel Fernández-Real, of the Nutrition, Eumetabolism and Health group of the Girona Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBGI) Dr. Josep Trueta and CIBEROBN, and has been carried out in collaboration with the Neuropharmacology research group led by Dr. Rafael Maldonado of Pompeu Fabra University and attached to the Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM); the FISABIO Foundation, the University of Valencia (UV) and the University of Alicante (UA).
14/02/2022 - General information
In addition, 71% of them claim to have a poor quality of life due to epileptic seizures, according to a study carried out by Hospital del Mar's Epilepsy Unit. Women suffer higher levels of depression and anxiety, as well as a poorer quality of life, compared to men. The results obtained raise the issue of how to address these factors as triggers of epileptic seizures. This is the largest study to date analysing psychiatric comorbidities in patients with this type of pathology. The work has been published in the journal Frontiers in Neurology. People diagnosed with treatment-resistant epilepsy have high levels of depression and anxiety, as well as a poor quality of life, according to a study published in the journal Frontiers in Neurology by Hospital del Mar's Epilepsy Unit . In fact, half of these patients suffer from depression and anxiety and more than 70% claim to have a poor quality of life. This fact suggests that a global approach to these patients should be evaluated, taking into account the psychiatric aspects of their pathology to try to control their epileptic seizures.
10/02/2022 - General information
The Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute and Hospital del Mar are once again supporting the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, raising awareness of their work and trying to encourage new vocations. In the case of the IMIM, just over half of the research positions are held by women. In the 21st century, women who decide to pursue a career in the various fields of science often receive smaller research grants than their male colleagues. They hold only 12% of the positions in national science academies, while they account for a third of all researchers. Realities that make an initiative like the International Day of Women and Girls in Science and campaigns such as She Inspired Me more necessary than ever.
Més informació "Towards full and equal access to and participation in science for women and girls"
11/02/2022 - General information
The head of the Infectious Diseases Department at Hospital del Mar and coordinator of the Infectious Pathology and Antimicrobial Research Group at the Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute, was appointed to this body, which is part of the European Medicines Agency (EMA), last month. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has selected Dr. Juan Pablo Horcajada, head of the Infectious Diseases Department at Hospital del Mar and coordinator of the Infectious Pathology and Antimicrobial Research Group at the Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM) as a member of its Scientific Advisory Group on Infectious Diseases. This is a body comprising experts in this field from several European countries, chosen by the agency after a selection process, following a proposal from the national medicines agencies.
08/02/2022 - Press release
Drugs which are commonly-used as the first line of treatment for colorectal cancer cause the tumour cells to oversecrete proteins known as mucins, according to a new study published today in the journal eLife. The proteins alter the mucous layer, forming a physical barrier that prevents drugs from reaching their intended target. Using different techniques involving genetic manipulation and the use of chemical inhibitors, the research team were able to experimentally regulate mucin secretion in cancer cell lines and patient-derived organoids, paving the way for the development of future treatments that can be used alongside chemotherapy to target drug-resistant forms of colorectal cancer. The experiments also revealed potential new biomarkers for the prognosis of the disease.
Més informació "Colorectal cancers raise defensive barrier in response to chemotherapy"
04/02/2022 - Institutional news
This morning, Minister Diana Morant visited the facilities of the Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute, accompanied by the manager of the Parc de Salut Mar, Dr. Olga Pané, the director of the IMIM, Dr. Joaquín Arribas, and the director of the IMIM's Cancer Research Programme, Dr. Juan Albanell. During the event, she visited the laboratory of the New Molecular Targets in Cancer Research Group and met with the heads of the IMIM's cancer research groups.
03/02/2022 - Institutional news
On 4 February, the XXIV Olympic Winter Games will be inaugurated in Beijing, which this year will be held under very strict COVID-19 control protocols. Three scientists from the IMIM Anti-Doping Laboratory, Rosa Ventura, Sergi Coll and Lídia Requena, will be travelling to Beijing to work in the Olympic laboratory. Rosa Ventura will be involved in the management and supervision group, Sergi Coll will be working on the detection of anabolic steroids, and Lídia Requena will be concentrating on the detection of hormones (erythropoietin, growth hormone). The Beijing Laboratory will analyse 3000 samples over the Olympic Games and another 600 during the Paralympic Games. This high volume of samples requires a great deal of analytical equipment and a large number of specialised professionals organised into shifts working around the clock.
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