IDIVAL organizes two days in which students from different fields and levels will face health challenges through innovation
The “Santander i-Days 2024” event is set to inspire students from all academic disciplines in the field of healthcare innovation. This year, the event will be held on two dates: on October 29 online, and on November 6 in person at the Téllez Plasencia Hall of the Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital (HUMV).
The event, supported by the EIT Health program and organized by the Valdecilla Health Research Institute (IDIVAL), in collaboration with the University of Cantabria (UC), aims to foster the development of new skills in participants, giving them the opportunity to work in teams to address real challenges in the healthcare field.
During the first day of the event, which will be online, participants will be introduced to the challenges through team dynamics and role-play activities that will put them “in the patient’s shoes”. The session will continue with team building and a detailed explanation of the challenges, culminating in a concluding and closing session.
The second day, which will be held in person, will offer attendees the opportunity to delve into the transfer of results in healthcare, explore 3D printing applied to healthcare, and participate in group dynamics focused on creativity, ideation, and the development of prototypes. The day will also include parallel sessions and will conclude with the presentation of projects, selection of winning teams and the award ceremony.
The winning team in Santander will have the opportunity to compete in the Winners’ Event in Budapest, a meeting that will bring together the best students from across Europe for a final competition.
With the promise of acquiring new skills, receiving expert support and facing real challenges, the “Santander i-Days 2024” is a unique opportunity for students looking to make a difference in the field of healthcare innovation.
Interested parties can visit the event’s official website for more information and to register.
IDIVAL organizes two days in which students from different fields and levels will face health challenges through innovation The “Santander i-Days 2024” event is set to inspire students from all academic disciplines in the field of healthcare innovation. This year, the event will be held on two dates: on October 29 online, and on November […]
IDIVAL Advances in One-Step Diagnosis for Determining MASH and Liver Fibrosis in High-Risk Populations The United European Gastroenterology Journal has just published an innovative study in the field of hepatology. The research, conducted by the Clinical and Translational Research Groupin Digestive Diesases at IDIVAL, led by Dr. Paula Iruzubieta and Dr. Javier Crespo, in collaboration […]
A global study that determines the frequency and type of genetic variants that cause the disease
Researchers from the neurodegenerative diseases group of IDIVAL and the Neurology Service of HUMV, led by Dr. Jon Infante, have participated in an international study carried out in 16 countries and on 12,580 patients with Parkinson’s disease.
Although the cause of Parkinson’s disease is not genetic in most cases, it is estimated that around 10% may be caused by mutations in various genes. However, the knowledge we have regarding the spectrum and frequency of different genetic mutations globally is limited and biased. At a time when the first clinical trials with therapies targeting specific genetic subtypes of Parkinson’s have been initiated, a major obstacle to the conduct of these trials is that many Parkinson’s patients do not know whether their disease is caused by any of these genes.
The Rostock Parkinson’s disease study (ROPAD), published in the prestigious journal Brain, is an observational clinical study aimed at determining the frequency and spectrum of genetic variants contributing to PD in a large international cohort. Variants in 50 genes were investigated in a group of 12,580 Parkinson’s disease patients from 16 countries using a next-generation sequencing panel. In total, in 1864 participants (14.8%) some gene mutation was identified, the most frequent being in the GBA1 (10.4%), LRRK2 (2.9%), PRKN (0.9%), SNCA (0.2%) or PINK1 (0.1%) genes or a combination of mutations in two genes in two genes (∼0.2%). In patients with age of onset less than 50 years the frequency of mutations was 19.5% and in those who also had a family history it rose to 26.9%.
In the emerging era of gene-targeted clinical trials, the finding that ∼15% of patients harbor potentially actionable genetic variants offers an important perspective to affected individuals and their families, and underscores the need for genetic testing in patients with Parkinson’s disease.
The neurodegenerative diseases group of IDIVAL has a long history of research in the field of Parkinson’s disease genetics, having contributed to define the genetic epidemiology of a genetic subtype of Parkinson’s disease, associated with variants in the LRRK2 gene, particularly frequent in Cantabria. Through different studies this group has contributed to the identification of biomarkers of the presymptomatic stages of the disease.
Reference:
Westenberger A, Skrahina V, Usnich T, Beetz C, Vollstedt EJ, Laabs BH, Paul JJ, Curado F, Skobalj S, Gaber H, Olmedillas M, Bogdanovic X, Ameziane N, Schell N, Aasly JO, Afshari M, Agarwal P, Aldred J, Alonso-Frech F, Anderson R, Araújo R, Arkadir D, Avenali M, Balal M, Benizri S, Bette S, Bhatia P, Bonello M, Braga-Neto P, Brauneis S, Cardoso FEC, Cavallieri F, Classen J, Cohen L, Coletta D, Crosiers D, Cullufi P, Dashtipour K, Demirkiran M, de Carvalho Aguiar P, De Rosa A, Djaldetti R, Dogu O, Dos Santos Ghilardi MG, Eggers C, Elibol B, Ellenbogen A, Ertan S, Fabiani G, Falkenburger BH, Farrow S, Fay-Karmon T, Ferencz GJ, Fonoff ET, Fragoso YD, Genç G, Gorospe A, Grandas F, Gruber D, Gudesblatt M, Gurevich T, Hagenah J, Hanagasi HA, Hassin-Baer S, Hauser RA, Hernández-Vara J, Herting B, Hinson VK, Hogg E, Hu MT, Hummelgen E, Hussey K, Infante J, Isaacson SH, Jauma S, Koleva-Alazeh N, Kuhlenbäumer G, Kühn A, Litvan I, López-Manzanares L, Luxmore M, Manandhar S, Marcaud V, Markopoulou K, Marras C, McKenzie M, Matarazzo M, Merello M, Mollenhauer B, Morgan JC, Mullin S, Musacchio T, Myers B, Negrotti A, Nieves A, Nitsan Z, Oskooilar N, Öztop-Çakmak Ö, Pal G, Pavese N, Percesepe A, Piccoli T, Pinto de Souza C, Prell T, Pulera M, Raw J, Reetz K, Reiner J, Rosenberg D, Ruiz-Lopez M, Ruiz Martinez J, Sammler E, Santos-Lobato BL, Saunders-Pullman R, Schlesinger I, Schofield CM, Schumacher-Schuh AF, Scott B, Sesar Á, Shafer SJ, Sheridan R, Silverdale M, Sophia R, Spitz M, Stathis P, Stocchi F, Tagliati M, Tai YF, Terwecoren A, Thonke S, Tönges L, Toschi G, Tumas V, Urban PP, Vacca L, Vandenberghe W, Valente EM, Valzania F, Vela-Desojo L, Weill C, Weise D, Wojcieszek J, Wolz M, Yahalom G, Yalcin-Cakmakli G, Zittel S, Zlotnik Y, Kandaswamy KK, Balck A, Hanssen H, Borsche M, Lange LM, Csoti I, Lohmann K, Kasten M, Brüggemann N, Rolfs A, Klein C, Bauer P. Relevance of genetic testing in the gene-targeted trial era: the Rostock Parkinson’s disease study. Brain. 2024 Aug 1;147(8):2652-2667. doi: 10.1093/brain/awae188. PMID: 39087914; PMCID: PMC11292909.
Cover photo: IDIVAL neurodegenerative diseases group.
A global study that determines the frequency and type of genetic variants that cause the disease Researchers from the neurodegenerative diseases group of IDIVAL and the Neurology Service of HUMV, led by Dr. Jon Infante, have participated in an international study carried out in 16 countries and on 12,580 patients with Parkinson’s disease. Although the […]
Since 2021, following the launch of the European Plan to Combat Cancer, the European Union (EU) is investing heavily in the fight against cancer. This plan sets out a new EU approach to cancer prevention, treatment and care. In particular, it proposes ten flagship initiatives and multiple measures to address all stages of the disease, from prevention to quality of life for cancer patients and survivors, focusing on those measures where the EU can add most value. To this end, it is funding numerous European initiatives aimed at the fight against cancer, within the EU4Health work program.
In this context, since 2022 the Medical Oncology group HUMV – IDIVAL has been expanding its participation in various joint actions in this area. Firstly, it participates in the joint action eCAN (Joint Action on strengthening eHealth including telemedicine and telemonitoring for health care systems for cancer prevention and care) (2022-2024), whose overall objective is to evaluate the benefits of teleconsultation and telemonitoring on the quality of life of patients with different types of cancer. Among the activities developed in this initiative, the Medical Oncology Service of HUMV participated in two pilot studies in patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer and in patients with advanced cancer, with the aim of evaluating the possible benefits of a tele-rehabilitation program or remote psycho-oncology support, respectively, with very satisfactory results for both patients and healthcare staff involved. This team also participates in two closely linked joint actions: JANE (Joint Action on Networks of Expertise) (2022-2024), whose ultimate aim is to create networks of experts in different areas of cancer, such as personalized primary prevention, survivorship, palliative care, omic technologies, high-tech medical resources, poor prognosis or complex cancer; and CraNE (Network of Comprehensive Cancer Centres: Preparatory activities on creation of National Comprehensive Cancer Centres and EU Networking) (2022-2024), whose objective is to establish the necessary pre-conditions to create a network of comprehensive cancer centers (CCC) in Europe. Likewise, since 2024 this team participates in the joint action EUCanScreen (Implementation of cancer screening programmes) (2024-2028) where the Digestive team of HUMV/IDIVAL also collaborates, and whose objective is to guarantee the sustainability of the implementation of high quality screening tests for breast, cervical and colorectal cancer, as well as the implementation of the recently recommended screening programs for lung, prostate and gastric cancer, thus facilitating the reduction of the cancer burden and achieving equity throughout the EU.
Finally, from late 2024/early 2025, the HUMV/IDIVAL Medical Oncology Service, and in collaboration with other HUMV services, including the Hematology Service, will participate in two new joint actions: EUnetCCC and JANE-2. EUnetCCC (The European Comprehensive Cancer Centre Network) is a continuation of the current CraNE joint action, through which the aim is for numerous centers in Europe, including HUMV, to be accredited as CCCs. This will provide cancer patients with greater access to early detection programs, screening, diagnosis, treatment, innovative strategies, research and training of oncology staff, in line with the objectives of the European Cancer Plan. JANE-2 (Joint Action on Networks of Expertise on Cancer), on the other hand, is a European initiative which, based on previous work carried out in the context of its predecessor joint action (JANE), aims to create and implement seven networks of experts in different areas of cancer: cancer with a poor prognosis or complex, palliative care, survivorship, personalized primary/secondary prevention, omics technologies, high-tech medical resources, and adolescents and young adults with cancer.
The results derived from the participation of the team in all these European initiatives will bring great benefits for cancer patients, resulting in significant improvements in the management of their disease and in their quality of life. Furthermore, it is of great strategic interest for IDIVAL, HUMV, the Cantabrian Health Service and, in general, for the National Health System, because of its contribution to the objective of trying to position and consolidate our center and health system as a national and international reference in the field of oncology, as well as for the potential health and socioeconomic benefits associated with the development of these projects.
Cover photo: HUMV Medical Oncology Group – IDIVAL
The Medical Oncology Service of the Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital participates in numerous European initiatives within the EU4Health program. Since 2021, following the launch of the European Plan to Combat Cancer, the European Union (EU) is investing heavily in the fight against cancer. This plan sets out a new EU approach to cancer prevention, […]
The research article titled “Sensitization symptoms are associated with psychological and cognitive variables in COVID-19 survivors exhibiting post-COVID pain,” carried out by researchers of the IDIVAL nursing group, in collaboration with the Pneumology Service of the Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital (HUMV) Paula Parás Bravo, Manuel Herrero Montes and Diego Ferrer Pargada, focuses on post-COVID pain, a condition affecting a significant proportion of SARS-CoV-2 survivors.
The research reveals that up to 60% of COVID-19 survivors may develop long-term symptoms known as persistent COVID, with a high percentage experiencing chronic musculoskeletal pain. This type of pain, characterized as nociplastic, is not only associated with high pain intensity but also with psychological and cognitive symptoms such as anxiety, depression, and catastrophizing.
The study’s results show that self-reported sensitization symptoms are closely related to pain intensity, anxiety and depression levels, as well as catastrophizing and kinesiophobia in COVID-19 survivors who were hospitalized. Regression analysis indicates that 60.2% of the variance in Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI) scores can be explained by anxiety levels and pain intensity, suggesting that post-COVID pain exhibits characteristics of a nociplastic condition.
The patients were drawn from their specific post-COVID consultation, where more than 500 people who had suffered severe COVID infections and other patients, who despite initial mild involvement, presented later limiting symptomatology, were reviewed.
The project, funded by the Next-Val 2021 call from IDIVAL, has been crucial for better understanding the mechanisms behind post-COVID pain and guiding personalized treatments for survivors. This research not only highlights the importance of integrating psychological and cognitive variables into pain management but also underscores the need for a more comprehensive approach to address the complex symptoms associated with persistent COVID.
Thanks to the results obtained, the article has seen very high interaction in citations by other researchers who have referenced the work of IDIVAL’s nursing research group.
For more details on this research, you are invited to read the full article: https://doi.org/10.1111/papr.13146
Cover Photo: IDIVAL Nursing Research Group
Published in June 2022, the article has been recognized by Wiley as one of the ten most cited during 2022 and 2023 in the journal PAIN Practice The research article titled “Sensitization symptoms are associated with psychological and cognitive variables in COVID-19 survivors exhibiting post-COVID pain,” carried out by researchers of the IDIVAL nursing group, […]
The ambitious biomedical research project Cohorte Cantabria has today reached 40,000 participants, approaching its goal of 50,000 volunteers. The great reception of this initiative by the Cantabrian population reflects the commitment of our citizens to improve public health through research. The study has become so important that it has been presented to His Majesty King Felipe VI and on June 27th the Governing Council declared it a strategic action at regional level to provide it with its own governance and funding within the Marqués de Valdecilla Research Institute Foundation (IDIVAL).
Cohorte Cantabria was launched in April 2021 and is led by the Valdecilla Research Institute (IDIVAL). It takes place at the Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital (HUMV), where staff from IDIVAL and the Cantabrian Health Service work together to ensure excellent care for volunteers on a daily basis.
In a continuing effort to enrich the project, Cohorte Cantabria has recently added a new questionnaire on medical diagnoses covering all specialties. Work is also underway to include cognitive tests and more questionnaires on lifestyle habits to provide an even more complete picture of the determinants of health.
The collaboration of Cantabrians with the study goes beyond the donation of data and samples. Groups such as the Loredo Neighborhood Council, the Aras-Voto Women’s Association and the College of Economists have supported this research with financial contributions since its inception. In addition, companies such as PITMA, Nestlé or Sidenor have already signed an agreement for the dissemination of the study among their workers, facilitating their attendance during working hours. And more and more institutions are approaching the project to initiate scientific collaborations and position Cantabria at the forefront of research.
Cohorte Cantabria aims to recruit 20% of the target population, made up of Cantabrian residents between 40 and 69 years of age. The participation target has already been exceeded in municipalities such as Santa Cruz de Bezana and Camargo, and the team is focusing its efforts on increasing participation in more distant regions such as Liébana, Saja-Nansa, Campoo-Los Valles, Valles Pasiegos and Asón-Agüera to ensure a representative sample of the entire region.
Precision Medicine as a goal
Promoted by IDIVAL, the Valdecilla Hospital and with the support of the Government of Cantabria and the Cantabrian Health Service (SCS), Cohorte Cantabria’s mission is to advance personalized medicine. The study seeks to improve medicine so that it becomes more inclusive and takes a more preventive and predictive approach, protecting the health of all to avoid the development of certain diseases or improve the course of others.
The project, multipurpose and open to the scientific community, is generating an invaluable database with information on the habits, socioeconomic, demographic and clinical factors of the Cantabrian population. This anonymized information is available to develop national and international research projects that address health and disease from multiple perspectives.
For more information or to register, interested parties can visit the project website at https://cohortecantabria.com/.
Photo: part of the Cohort Cantabria team with the 40,000th participant and her husband.
Cantabria’s largest biomedical research project, a pioneer in Spain, makes steady progress towards its goal of 50,000 participants. The ambitious biomedical research project Cohorte Cantabria has today reached 40,000 participants, approaching its goal of 50,000 volunteers. The great reception of this initiative by the Cantabrian population reflects the commitment of our citizens to improve public […]
Researchers from the Immunopathology Group of IDIVAL, led by Dr. Javier Loricera García and Dr. Ricardo Blanco Alonso, have carried out two studies to increase our knowledge of the complications derived from GCA. The first of them arises from the concern generated by the considerable proportion of patients with CGA who relapse despite conventional treatment with high-dose glucocorticoids, methotrexate and/or tocilizumab. The janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT) signaling pathway is implicated in the pathogenesis of GCA, so inhibitors of janus kinases (iJAK) may constitute a therapeutic alternative.
In the study, the effectiveness of iJAKs in refractory or recurrent GCA in clinical practice is evaluated and, in addition, a review of the literature in this regard is performed.
Analyzing 35 patients from thirteen Spanish hospitals and the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston (USA), clinical remission, complete remission and safety are evaluated.
The results suggest that iJAKs could be effective in GCA, even in cases refractory to tocilizumab or methotrexate. Pending publication of the results of the randomized controlled clinical trial phase 3 of upadacitinib (NCT03725202), this study may help in making therapeutic decisions in patients with refractory/recurrent GCA.
The article has been published in the prestigious journal Arthritis Research and Therapy.
The second study stems from the need to test the effectiveness of tocilizumab in combating aortitis in GCA, which frequently leads to the formation of aneurysms.
A multicenter retrospective analysis of patients with aortitis secondary to GCA treated with tocilizumab from 57 Spanish hospitals was performed. Remission is evaluated according to the definition of the European Alliance of Rheumatology Associations (EULAR) and by imaging techniques. Clinical remission and normalization of C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), the glucocorticoid-sparing effect, as well as the prevention and improvement of aneurysms are also measured.
From a sample of 196 patients, analyzed over two years, results suggest that patients with aortitis in the context of GCA treated with tocilizumab experience rapid and sustained clinical and laboratory improvement. However, this clinical and analytical improvement in many cases does not translate into an improvement in imaging tests. On the other hand, tocilizumab appears to prevent the development of new aneurysms in patients with GCA, but does not appear to prevent the progression of established aneurysms.
The results of that study are shown in the European Journal of Internal Medicine.
References:
Loricera J, Tofade T, Prieto-Peña D, Romero-Yuste S, de Miguel E, Riveros-Frutos A, Ferraz-Amaro I, Labrador E, Maiz O, Becerra E, Narváez J, Galíndez-Agirregoikoa E, González-Fernández I, Urruticoechea-Arana A, Ramos-Calvo Á, López-Gutiérrez F, Castañeda S, ºUnizony S, Blanco R. Effectiveness of janus kinase inhibitors in relapsing giant cell arteritis in real-world clinical practice and review of the literature. Arthritis Res Ther. 2024 Jun 5;26(1):116. doi: 10.1186/s13075-024-03314-9. PMID: 38840219; PMCID: PMC11151571.
Martín-Gutiérrez A, Loricera J, Narváez J, Aldasoro V, Maiz O, Vela P, Romero-Yuste S, de Miguel E, Galíndez-Agirregoikoa E, Fernández-López JC, Ferraz-Amaro I, Sánchez-Martín J, Moya P, Campos C, López-Gutiérrez F, Castañeda S, Blanco R; Tocilizumab in Giant Cell Arteritis Spanish Collaborative Group. Effectiveness Of Tocilizumab In Aortitis And Aneurysms Associated With Giant Cell Arteritis. Eur J Intern Med. 2024 Jun 21:S0953-6205(24)00253-X. doi: 10.1016/j.ejim.2024.06.013. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 38908981.
Two new publications show results on the effectiveness of inhibitors of janus kinases (iJAK) in giant cell arteritis (GCA) and on the effectiveness of the antibody tocilizumab for aortitis in GCA. Researchers from the Immunopathology Group of IDIVAL, led by Dr. Javier Loricera García and Dr. Ricardo Blanco Alonso, have carried out two studies to […]
On July 2, the Nursing research group of the Marqués de Valdecilla Health Research Institute (IDIVAL), led by Dr. Carmen Sarabia Cobo, held a progress meeting of the European project JACARDI (Joint Action on Cardiovascular Diseases and Diabetes). This meeting, held at the IDIVAL facilities, highlighted the achievements and outlined the next steps for the co-creation and implementation of three pilots in Cantabria.
The Joint Action on Cardiovascular Diseases and Diabetes (JACARDI) aims to reduce the burden of these diseases in the countries of the European Union, both at the individual and societal levels. The project seeks to integrate validated best practices and/or cost-effective interventions in different countries and regions through transnational pilot initiatives. These activities complement and reinforce existing policies and programs, covering the entire patient journey, from health literacy and awareness, to primary prevention and improved care pathways and self-management.
JACARDI also addresses cross-cutting and intersectional issues, such as promoting health equity, social, cultural and ethnic diversity, and improving data availability. With the participation of 21 EU countries and 76 partners, JACARDI will implement 142 pilots ensuring a wide geographical coverage. The adoption of a common implementation and evaluation methodology will facilitate the analysis of success factors and context, with the aim of scaling up experiences at national and regional level.
In addition, the project will also include the co-creation of a roadmap to extend the impact beyond the culmination of this 4-year project. With these initiatives, IDIVAL’s Nursing research group is committed to improving the health and well-being of patients in Cantabria, contributing significantly to the objectives of the European joint action project JACARDI.
The meeting of the IDIVAL Nursing research group highlighted the progress and next steps in the pilots it is leading in Cantabria on health literacy, integrated care pathways and self-management of patients with these diseases. On July 2, the Nursing research group of the Marqués de Valdecilla Health Research Institute (IDIVAL), led by Dr. Carmen […]
The Valdecilla Clinical Trials Unit and the Research Support Unit of the Marqués de Valdecilla Research Institute (IDIVAL) have highlighted the importance of specialised talent in supporting the execution of clinical trials. This announcement comes in light of recent findings published in a comprehensive review on challenges and solutions in the field of clinical trials.
The study, entitled ‘Navigating the challenges of clinical trial professionals in the healthcare sector’ and published in Frontiers in Medicine, reveals that the complexity and evolving nature of clinical trials requires specialised and ongoing training for the professionals involved. These professionals include principal investigators, clinical research coordinators (CRCs), nurses, clinical trial pharmacists and monitors, each facing unique challenges such as maintaining protocol compliance, managing investigational products and ensuring data integrity.
The publication emphasises that addressing these challenges requires clear role delineation, continuous professional development and supportive work environments to improve staff retention and trial outcomes. Enhanced training programmes and a collaborative approach are essential for the successful conduct of clinical trials and the advancement of medical research.
Blanca Sánchez-Santiago, co-author of the study and member of the Clinical Pharmacology Service of the Clinical Trials Unit at the Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital, added: ‘It is crucial to invest in competence development and clear role definition within clinical trial teams to ensure data integrity and participant well-being’.
The article also highlights the need for adequate support systems that are characterised by a highly demanding organisational framework, based on the International Conference on Harmonisation (ICH) Good Clinical Practice (GCP) Guidelines. This guideline sets the international standard for ethical and scientific quality in the design, conduct and reporting of clinical trials, protecting the rights, safety and well-being of trial participants.
The Valdecilla Clinical Trials Unit and the IDIVAL Research Support Unit continue to lead efforts to improve training and support for clinical trial professionals, recognising that talent and training are fundamental to the success and quality of clinical research.
Reference:
The Valdecilla Clinical Trials Unit and the Research Support Unit of the Marqués de Valdecilla Research Institute (IDIVAL) have highlighted the importance of specialised talent in supporting the execution of clinical trials. This announcement comes in light of recent findings published in a comprehensive review on challenges and solutions in the field of clinical trials. […]
