27/06/2025 - Press release
A study by the Hospital del Mar Research Institute, recently published in the journal PNAS, advances our understanding of how the brain makes decisions by participating in the storage of associations between different stimuli. The research has identified the importance of specific brain areas in these processes, particularly the amygdala and its relationship with parts of the cerebral cortex. This finding could lead to new therapeutic approaches for treating mental disorders such as psychosis or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The study was conducted on mice, but the researchers believe that the mechanisms involved may be similar in humans.
Més informació "Understanding How the Brain Makes Decisions"
20/06/2025 - Press release
People with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) who suffer from sarcopenia, or loss of muscle capacity, have higher levels of a protein called myostatin, which, under normal conditions, helps regulate muscle growth. Elevated levels of this protein trigger a series of reactions in the muscle cells, preventing regeneration and growth after damage, leading to muscle mass loss in these patients. This was revealed by a study from the Hospital del Mar and the Hospital del Mar Research Institute, which opens the door to developing treatments targeted at this protein to reverse this situation.
Més informació "Researchers Discover the Cause of Muscle Loss in Some COPD Patients"
06/06/2025 - Press release
Following a diet based on Mediterranean diet recommendations and engaging in moderate physical activity is associated with a 41% to 59% lower risk of starting antidepressant, anxiolytic, antipsychotic, and antiseizure medications. The study is published in the journal Age and Ageing and is based on data from the PREDIMED study, a clinical trial on the effects of the Mediterranean diet in the prevention of cardiovascular disease. The analysis includes data from between 6,000 and 7,000 participants in the study, all older adults at risk for chronic illness.
06/06/25 - Press release
Having high blood levels of a type of molecule, spermidine, before surgery increases the risk of tumor recurrence after surgery by 4.7 times. This risk decreases if spermidine levels in the patient's blood drop after surgery. The study is published in the Annals of Surgery journal and opens the door to determining which individuals are at higher risk, either before entering the operating room or just afterward, in order to offer them complementary or specific treatment.
27/05/2025 - Press release
A joint project between the three research institutions has been selected for funding by the XPRIZE Foundation of the United States. It will receive $250,000 to demonstrate that it is possible to extend human healthy lifespan. The VITA project proposes combining two existing molecules and a multimodal lifestyle intervention to extend quality of life during aging. The team formed by the three institutions now has one year to provide the first preliminary results and move on to a new stage of the awards, where the efficacy of the proposed new therapy will be assessed.
20/05/2025 - Press release
A study from the Hospital del Mar, the Hospital del Mar Research Institute, and the Reference Laboratory of Catalonia validates the effectiveness of combining a molecule, apotransferrin, with existing antibiotics to treat the antibiotic-resistant bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The research, published in the International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents, opens the door to a new strategy for tackling the problem of antibiotic-resistant bacteria by preventing them from accessing the iron they need to complete their life cycle. The new drug combination enhances the ability of antibiotics. Additionally, apotransferrin is a drug already used in other diseases, which could facilitate its use in bacterial infections.
16/05/2025 - Press release
Researchers from the Stem Cells and Cancer team at the Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute and the Hospital del Mar Research Institute have developed a method to confidently produce blood cell precursors from stem cells in mice, by activating a set of seven key genes in the laboratory. The team, led by Dr. Anna Bigas, takes a step forward towards the production of precursor cells able to restore the bone marrow of blood cancer patients, in a successful example of regenerative medicine.
15/04/2025 - Press release
A study by researchers from the Hospital del Mar Research Institute, IIBB-CSIC-IDIBAPS, Mayo Clinic, IBYME (CONICET), and CaixaResearch Institute demonstrates the role of the Galectin-1 protein in the nucleus of the cells surrounding the tumor-fibroblasts-contributing to their activation. Activated fibroblasts promote tumor growth and spread, while also conferring resistance to treatments. This may be one of the reasons behind the high aggressiveness of pancreatic cancer, which has a five-year survival rate of only 10%. The study's findings open the door to new therapeutic strategies against this type of cancer, focusing on the possibility of inhibiting this protein within the cells that surround and protect the tumor.
Més informació "Key to the high aggressiveness of pancreatic cancer identified"
09/04/2025 - Press release
A study involving more than 1,700 people from five hospitals in Barcelona, Sweden and Italy has validated the usefulness of a biomarker in blood to detect Alzheimer's disease in the clinical setting. The study, published in the journal Nature Medicine, demonstrates that this test can be a useful and applicable tool in routine medical practice. The automated analysis of this biomarker is more than 90% effective in identifying patients with Alzheimer's disease. It is an easy-to-use tool that can partly replace other, more complex diagnostic tests, such as lumbar puncture or positron emission tomography (PET). The study has established cut-off points from which the patient's symptoms can be considered to be caused by Alzheimer's, if Alzheimer's disease can be ruled out, or if further tests are needed to determine the cause of the disease.
Més informació "A blood test for early detection of Alzheimer's disease"
27/03/2025 - Press release
Previously unknown access points in cell membrane proteins have been discovered, enabling laboratory-developed drugs to modify cell function. The discovery was made possible through computer simulations with an unprecedented level of detail. The results are available online to support the development of new, targeted drugs for a wide range of diseases. Research centers from thirteen countries collaborated on the study, which has been published in Nature Communications.
Més informació "New pathways discovered for drugs to act on cells"
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