Page 13 - ICS Vall d'Hebron University Hospital 2011

ICS · Vall d’Hebron University Hospital 2011 13
Research
In 2011, the overall results achieved by the Vall d’Hebron
Research Institute (VHIR) were positive. Despite the difficult
economic situation, the hospital’s human capital increased
by 12.7% by going from 1,196 to 1,371 people (565 of whom are
financed by the VHIR). In terms of financing, the budget
reached the considerable sum of ¤33.301 million.
The figures for the VHIR continued to be positive in terms
of active clinical trials (580), active research projects (264),
number of publications (614), their total impact factor
(3,246.591; 3.08% higher than in 2010), and mean impact
factor (5.28).
2011 was a year of consolidation of some projects begun in
the previous financial year and the beginning of other pro-
jects that will help the VHIR grow. With the official launch
of the European Infrastructure for Translational Medicine
project (EATRIS), which works on bringing research results
to patients, the VHIR confirmed its leadership of the pro-
ject, along with Carlos III Health Institute.
The main project begun in 2011 was the 2011-2015 Strategic
Plan, the tool that will guide the action of the VHIR in all
areas and provide a reference for implementing and moni-
toring all initiatives.
Of the initiatives put in place, the Innovation Model provi-
ded initial results in the form of an agreement with leading
companies in different sectors. Along the same lines, the
now consolidated Innovation Unit began transferring its
research results to society and promoting innovation by
making Vall d’Hebron University Hospital a more competi-
tive organization. In this way, it performs the functions of
an agent for economic development.
Other units created in 2010, such as the Communication
Unit, also began producing results, such as the recognition
of the VHIR website by the Internet Favourites Awards
from Diario Médico.
Outstanding Projects
• Science highlighted the VHIR’s research on the human
microbiome as one of the most important advances of the
year: the MetaHIT Project.
• A team of surgeons at Vall d’Hebron University Hospital
operated on a foetus with spina bifida using a pioneering
technique in the world tested on experiments in sheep.
• The VHIR continued to lead Eurocondor, a European pro-
ject for early treatment of blindness caused by diabetes.
• A new genetic mechanism for cardiac hypertrophy was
discovered.
• Key mechanisms were identified in the biology of cancer
stem cells.
• A new mechanism was discovered that regulates priority
cell signalling pathways.
• The Spanish Cancer Association (AECC) provided a grant
of ¤1,200,000 for a project coordinated by the VHIR
Translational Oncology and Biomedical Research Unit.
• Poor control of blood sugar levels in diabetics explains the
low activity of some defence cells.
• A recurrent fusion protein was found in colorectal
tumours.
• The action mechanism was discovered of a key protein
that may be a target for new treatments for chronic
lymphocytic leukaemia.
• The VHIR participated in an international research project
on multiple sclerosis that doubled the number of genes
associated with the disease.
• A study explained why hernias occur after surgery.
• The VHIR collaborated with Henufood to do research on
preventing chronic diseases through common foods.
• A complete genome screening identified a new marker
associated with Alzheimer’s disease.
• A lymphocyte protein may hold the key to autoimmune
attacks caused by lupus.
• Genes were identified that help with outpatient diagnosis
of endometrial cancer.