Diabetes and Metabolism : VHIR Annual Report 2020

Vascular Biology and Metabolism (VAM)

< Back

Overview

The VAM area was created to allow a comprehensive, cooperative and multidisciplinary approach in basic, clinical and epidemiology research. The ultimate goal is the innovation and transfer of solutions in a group of diseases that are closely interrelated and that constitute the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the world: cardio-cerebrovascular disease, diabetes-metabolic syndrome and renal impairment. The VAM area includes preclinical and clinical research staff from our center, and collaborative work with groups of the highest international prestige. VAM area includes 8 groups: Cardiovascular Pathology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Nephrology, Ophthalmology (focused on retinal vascular disease), CIBBIM-Nanomedicine and Kidney Physiopathology, Medical Molecular Imaging, Neurovascular Diseases, and Research on Aging, Frailty and Transitions in Barcelona. All groups use an integrative tridimensional approach to generate knowledge on the mechanisms of diseases to generate new diagnostic and therapeutic tools.

Publications

281
total
1353
impact factor
4.81
average impact factor

Group Leader: Rafael Simó Canonge

We demonstrated that the assessment of retinal sensitivity in combination with parameters of fixation by using microperimetry could be a reliable method for detecting prodromal stages of dementia in the type 2 diabetic population. This finding is the basis of the RECOGNISED project coordinated by Prof. Simó and funded by the EC in 2019 (GA 847749), which started on 2020.  We successfully finished the Phase I clinical trial aimed to assessing the safety of topical administration (eye drops) of GLP-1.  These new therapeutic approach addressed to treat early stages of diabetic retinopathy, has been patented by VHIR and we are performing the clinical development in collaboration with Ferrer International. Creation of a new spin-off of VHIR (Endolipid Therapeutics SL) based on the anti-lipogenic and lipolytic action of SHBG. We have shown that diabetic retinopathy is an independent and powerful risk factor for subclinical cardiovascular disease.

VHIR Annual Report 2020