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Neurovascular Jordi Jiménez Conde

The Neurovascular Research Group (NEUVAS) was formed in 2005 at the Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM) in Barcelona, currently Hospital del Mar Research Institute.

Structure

The group is coordinated by Dr. Jiménez and Dr. Ois, with Dr. Cuadrado and Dr. Giralt serving as scientific leaders and heads of various research areas within the group. It is a translational research group composed of clinical neurologists specializing in cerebrovascular pathology, a data scientist expert in biocomputing and artificial intelligence, a nurse specialist in clinical trials, and trainee or basic researchers.

Meetings and Spaces

NEUVAS has its own assigned spaces at the Hospital del Mar Research Institute, located within the Barcelona Biomedical Research Park (PRBB) building, adjacent to the hospital. A weekly NEUVAS group meeting is held to share updates on active projects, plan dissemination and training aspects, and discuss technical issues and possible solutions. Additionally, group members participate in various weekly meetings and clinical sessions related to the Neurology Service, such as sessions on cerebral vascular malformations, carotid stenosis, patent foramen ovale, and bibliographic sessions. Each research line also conducts its own periodic meetings.

Research in Cerebrovascular Pathology, Aging, and Cognitive Decline

The group maintains a strong commitment to research, exploring a synergistic approach that encompasses both clinical and basic objectives, always focused on the internalization and societal translation of results. Currently, the group is accredited as a consolidated group by AGAUR (2021 SGR 00044) and receives priority funding from RICORS-ICTUS.

The group bases its research on two registries, BASICMAR (PI051737) and HSA-MAR (PI19/00011). The BASICMAR registry includes more than 11,400 stroke patients evaluated at Hospital del Mar and provides epidemiological, clinical, radiological, and prognostic data. Additionally, the HSA-MAR registry collects information from patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage and patients with vascular malformations, reaching 1,200 registered subjects to date. Both registries are associated with a medical imaging repository and a biobank of biological samples (serum bank and gene bank).

We have the infrastructure and expertise to conduct clinical trials in both the acute and stable phases of stroke.

Thanks to all this research work, the group has been granted various competitive projects both nationally and internationally, has participated in the development of clinical guidelines, both national and international, has implemented hospital care processes, conducts clinical trials, has contacts with various companies, and has been granted a patent.

Collaborations and Internationalization of the Group

NEUVAS maintains regular collaborations at the national level with other clinical and cardiovascular genetics groups from IMIM, ISGlobal, Applied Pharmacology, Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research, IDAEA-CSIC, as well as with various researchers from the RICORS stroke network and the stroke care plan in our community. At the international level, the group collaborates with researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Center for Genomic Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard University, Broad Institute, groups from the International Stroke Genetics Consortium (ISGC), groups from the Brown University School of Public Health in Providence (Rhode Island, USA), groups from UMC Utrecht, Southampton University, and University of Geneva within the ISGC framework.

Educational Role

Finally, it is important to highlight the strong link between the group and Pompeu Fabra University. Senior researchers in the group are part of the faculty of the Faculty of Health Sciences, where they teach various degrees, such as Medicine, Biology, Biomedical Engineering, and Physiotherapy. Several group members are PhD thesis supervisors, responsible for the training of medical specialists, and collaborate as tutors for undergraduate theses of university students.

Acknowledgments

We are immensely grateful for the essential collaboration of the patients and families who participate in our registries, as without them all this research work would be impossible.