This action is part of a series of meetings that the Departament is carrying out in CERCA centres, with the aim of learning about their situation first-hand
The Direcció General de Recerca (DGR) of the Govern de Catalunya has recently announced the start of a series of institutional visits to research centres across the region. One of the first visits in the area took place at the Southern Catalonia Institute of Biomedical Research (IRB CatSud, formerly IISPV). The meeting was held last Tuesday, 17 February, at the Institute’s headquarters in Tarragona.
The visit was attended by the Direcció General de Recerca, Teresa Sanchis, and the General Deputy of Recerca, Eva Pérez. Representing the Institute were the director, Joan Vendrell; the deputy director, Elisabet Vilella; the manager, Francesc López; and the head of the technical office, Elisabet Galve.
This action is part of a broader initiative aimed at strengthening direct knowledge of CERCA centres and of the different actors in the Catalan research system. The purpose of these meetings is to understand, directly and from the department’s perspective, the reality, needs, and strategic lines of each centre, with the intention of reinforcing institutional collaboration and improving public policies that support research.
For IRB CatSud, this visit is an opportunity to show the centre’s impact on the research ecosystem of Camp de Tarragona and Terres de l’Ebre, as well as to highlight its projects and research team.
A collaborative study from CIBERDEM-ISCIII shows that abdominal fat speeds up vascular ageing and increases the risk of long-term vascular complications, even before obesity appears.
A research team from the Parc Taulí Research and Innovation Institute (I3PT), together with the Pere Virgili Health Research Institute (IISPV) and the Hospital del Mar Research Institute (IMIM), has identified a clear link between abdominal fat accumulation and early vascular ageing in people with type 1 diabetes who have no previous cardiovascular disease.
The study was carried out with a group of 179 people with this condition, all evaluated at Parc Taulí University Hospital under the coordination of José Miguel González-Clemente, endocrinologist and head of the diabetes–cardiovascular risk group at I3PT, and Joan Vendrell, IISPV researcher, co-leader of the DIAMET research group and member of CIBERDEM-ISCIII.
Even though the participants had good control of blood glucose, blood pressure and lipid levels, around 10% showed signs of early vascular ageing. This is an important factor in the development of cardiovascular and microvascular complications that directly affect quality of life and life expectancy.
“In type 1 diabetes, insulin treatment is essential to control blood glucose, but over the years it can lead to gradual weight gain and a higher risk of complications,” González-Clemente explains. He adds that abdominal fat can accumulate before general obesity appears, especially visceral fat, which is metabolically active and strongly linked to artery damage. “This type of fat reduces arterial elasticity, a process related to the degradation of elastin, a key protein in the vascular wall. It may contribute to complications such as heart attack, stroke, circulation problems in the legs, or damage to the retina, kidneys and peripheral nerves.”
The waist-to-height ratio, a tool to detect early vascular ageing
To easily identify people at higher risk, the study highlights the waist-to-height ratio, calculated by dividing waist circumference by height, both in centimetres. The results show that a value of 0.56 or higher is linked to accelerated vascular ageing, measured through pulse wave velocity, a non-invasive technique that assesses arterial stiffness. “Almost all people with high pulse wave velocity had a waist-to-height ratio of 0.56 or more,” González-Clemente notes, adding that other common indicators, such as body mass index or waist-to-hip ratio, are less effective at detecting this risk.
The findings, published in Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice, underline the importance of preventing weight gain and monitoring abdominal fat as a preventive strategy. “Early control of this index would allow intervention before obesity develops, improve metabolic control and reduce the risk of long-term vascular complications,” he concludes.
The researchers point out that the next step is to confirm these results in larger cohorts with longer follow-up. The study also suggests that some drugs used in people with type 2 diabetes to reduce weight might also be useful in type 1 diabetes, although more clinical evidence is still needed.
A study of 746 older people followed for six years identifies a “microbial signature” associated with this dietary pattern and more favourable cognitive ageing
Following a Mediterranean diet not only benefits the heart and metabolism, but could also help preserve cognitive function as ageing progresses. This is according to research led by the Rovira i Virgili University (URV), the IISPV and CIBERobn, which shows how this dietary pattern is associated with a healthier gut microbiota and slower cognitive decline in older adults with overweight or obesity and metabolic syndrome.
The study, published in the journal BMC Medicine, analysed data from 746 older adults at high cardiometabolic risk, who were followed for six years. The research team assessed adherence to the Mediterranean diet, the composition of the gut microbiota and the progression of cognitive function over time. The results indicate that those who most faithfully followed this dietary pattern had a more favourable gut microbiota and a more positive cognitive trajectory.
One of the most innovative aspects of the work is the identification of a “microbial fingerprint” characteristic of the Mediterranean diet. This new biomarker, based on the presence and abundance of certain gut bacteria associated with this type of diet, is also linked to slower cognitive decline. According to the authors, this finding provides new clues about the biological mechanisms that explain the benefits of the Mediterranean diet on the brain.
Eix intestí-cervell
Cognitive function includes abilities such as memory, attention, learning, language and decision-making, which are essential for maintaining autonomy in everyday life. In parallel, the gut microbiota is composed of trillions of bacteria that are involved in key processes such as digestion, immunity and the production of substances that influence the body’s functioning. In recent years, research has revealed the existence of the so-called gut-brain axis, a bidirectional communication system through which intestinal microorganisms can produce compounds that reach the brain and affect its functioning.
“Aquest estudi demostra que la microbiota intestinal és una peça clau en els beneficis cognitius de la dieta mediterrània”, explica Jiaqi Ni, primera autora del treball i investigadora predoctoral de la URV. “Els nostres resultats suggereixen que alguns bacteris intestinals associats a una major adherència a aquest patró alimentari podrien protegir davant del deteriorament cognitiu”.
En la mateixa línia, el catedràtic de la URV Jordi Salas-Salvadó, director de l’estudi, destaca que “identificar una empremta microbiana associada a la dieta mediterrània obre noves oportunitats per dissenyar intervencions nutricionals o microbianes orientades a promoure un envelliment cognitiu saludable”. De la seva banda, les investigadores del Departament de Bioquímica i Biotecnologia de la URV Nancy Babio i Stephanie K. Nishi subratllen la rellevància dels resultats en un context d’envelliment poblacional i augment de la prevalença de la demència, i apunten que millorar la qualitat de la dieta és una estratègia senzilla i accessible amb beneficis reals per a la salut cerebral.
El treball ha estat liderat per la investigadora predoctoral Jiaqi Ni i dirigit per Jordi Salas-Salvadó, Nancy Babio i Stephanie K. Nishi, membres de la Unitat de Nutrició Humana del Departament de Bioquímica i Biotecnologia de la URV, amb la col·laboració d’investigadors del consorci PREDIMED-Plus. L’estudi s’emmarca en una recerca multicèntrica que contribueix a aprofundir en la relació entre alimentació, microbiota intestinal i salut cerebral al llarg de l’envelliment.
Referència bibliogràfica: Ni J, Hernández-Cacho A, Nishi SK, Babio N, Belzer C, Konstati P, Vioque J, Corella D, Castañer O, Vidal J, Moreno-Indias I, Torres-Collado L, Coltell O, Fitó M, Ruiz-Canela M, Wang DD, Tinahones FJ, Salas-Salvadó J. Mediterranean diet, gut microbiota, and cognitive decline in older adults with obesity/overweight and metabolic syndrome: a prospective cohort study. BMC Med. 2025 Dec 1;23(1):669. doi: 10.1186/s12916-025-04488-y.
A study from URV, with participation from IISPV, compares abdominal ultrasound with magnetic resonance imaging and shows the potential of this technique to detect early risk of prediabetes and metabolic syndrome in people with abdominal obesity
The distribution of body fat, especially the fat accumulated in the abdomen, is a key factor in the risk of developing metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. However, not all abdominal fat has the same impact on health: subcutaneous fat, located under the skin, does not carry the same risks as visceral fat, which is stored deeper and can come into direct contact with vital organs. Identifying which type of fat is more predominant in a person is essential to assess metabolic risk and to guide clinical interventions. In this context, a study led by researchers from the Department of Medicine and Surgery at the Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV), with the participation of research staff from the IISPV, analysed how useful and reliable abdominal ultrasound can be for measuring visceral fat, compared with magnetic resonance imaging, which is currently considered the reference technique.
In clinical practice, the risk associated with abdominal fat is usually assessed by measuring waist circumference. However, this simple method is limited because it cannot distinguish between subcutaneous and visceral fat. Imaging techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography provide this information with high accuracy, but they are expensive, require specialised equipment, and are not easily available in primary care. To explore more accessible alternatives, the research team aimed to validate the use of abdominal ultrasound to characterise fat distribution. “Ultrasound is available in most primary care centres and hospitals, and with trained health professionals it allows real-time imaging at a very low cost,” explains Claudia Jiménez-ten Hoevel, researcher at the Department of Medicine and Surgery at the URV and co-author of the article.
The key question was how similar the results of ultrasound could be to those of magnetic resonance imaging when analysing abdominal fat. To answer this, the team worked with a sample of 113 adult volunteers with abdominal obesity, living in Reus and nearby areas. All participants underwent both a magnetic resonance imaging scan and an abdominal ultrasound within a short period —between three and four days— to ensure comparable results.
A valid and accurate tool
The results of the study, published in Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, show that visceral fat measurements obtained through ultrasound had good agreement with those obtained through magnetic resonance imaging. However, the researchers also found some limitations of ultrasound when measuring subcutaneous fat, something that previous studies had already suggested. “The main conclusion is that ultrasound can be especially useful when the goal is to identify visceral fat, which is the type most clearly linked to metabolic risk,” says Anna Pedret, researcher from the same department. This potential adds to the fact that ultrasound is easy to use for trained staff and is available in most health centres.
Visceral fat: an indicator of metabolic risk
The analysis also allowed the researchers to explore whether the amount of visceral fat measured by ultrasound could predict future metabolic problems. The results show a relationship between high levels of visceral fat and the presence of prediabetes —a condition where blood sugar levels are high but still below the threshold for type 2 diabetes— as well as metabolic syndrome —a group of risk factors that increase the likelihood of cardiovascular disease.
More specifically, the study identifies a level of visceral fat above which the risk of associated diseases increases significantly. For example, a thickness of 7.35 centimetres or more is linked to a higher risk of prediabetes, while from 5.77 centimetres there is a relationship with the probability of metabolic syndrome. These findings highlight the potential of ultrasound as an exploratory tool: “Including abdominal ultrasound in routine clinical practice, especially in nutrition and primary care, could improve risk assessment and allow more personalised interventions,” the researchers explain.
The research group Nutrició Funcional, Oxidació i Malalties Cardiovasculars (NFOC-SALUT) from the URV and the Institut d’Investigació Sanitària Pere Virgili (IISPV) continues working to promote the use of ultrasound as an affordable, fast, and easily applicable technique in clinical practice. The team is now studying the impact of abdominal fat distribution in other population groups and its relationship with different health conditions, such as cognitive function or sarcopenia. In this context, the group is carrying out new studies using abdominal ultrasound in people aged 60 to 74, with ongoing research and open participation. Interested individuals can contact the team at estudisalimentacionfocsalut@gmail.com.
Bibliographic reference: Jiménez-Ten Hoevel C, Besora-Moreno M, Queral J, Llauradó E, Valls RM, Solà R, Pedret A. Ultrasound and MRI abdominal fat distribution and its associations with metabolic conditions in adults with abdominal obesity. Diabetes Obes Metab. 2025 Dec 17. DOI: 10.1111/dom.70390. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 41403258.
In Spain, 17,241 sudden cardiac deaths are recorded every year
The incidence of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in the Mediterranean area is one third lower than in countries in northern Europe and America. This is the conclusion of a study co‑led by the Pere Virgili Health Research Institute (IISPV) and the Catalan Medical Emergency System (SEM), with the participation of the Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences of Catalonia (IMLCFC), Joan XXIII University Hospital of Tarragona, Sant Joan University Hospital of Reus, Xarxa Santa Tecla, IDIAP Jordi Gol, Rovira i Virgili University, and the Catalan Health Institute. The study, recently published in the international journal BMJ Global Health, analyses the factors that explain the lower impact of sudden cardiac death in the Mediterranean region.
According to the study (Epidemiology of sudden cardiac arrest in the western Mediterranean area based on a prospective registry), 70% of sudden deaths are caused by cardiac conditions. Chronic coronary disease is identified as the main cause of sudden death, followed by acute coronary disease and cardiomyopathies. In addition, 15% of sudden deaths are due to non‑cardiac cardiovascular causes, such as pulmonary thromboembolism or intracranial haemorrhage. The remaining 15% are related to non‑cardiovascular causes, such as digestive bleeding or infections. Alfredo Bardají, cardiologist at Joan XXIII University Hospital, highlights that “this study found that acute myocardial infarction as a cause of sudden cardiac death is decreasing, thanks to improvements in early treatment”.
Regarding the possible prevention of sudden death, Youcef Azeli, principal investigator of the study, SEM doctor, physician at Sant Joan University Hospital of Reus and head of the IISPV research group in emergencies, explains that “only one third of patients have a previous history of heart disease, which makes prediction difficult. Also, in 50% of cases, cardiac arrest occurs without previous symptoms, which makes treatment harder”. Even so, the study shows that one in five patients had a medical consultation in the four weeks before the event, which highlights the need to work on medium‑term prevention strategies to improve the detection of patients at risk.
This research is also relevant for two additional reasons. First, it involved up to six institutions, which made it possible to gather information from many different sources. In this regard, the participation of the Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences of Catalonia (IMLCFC), part of the Department of Justice and Democratic Quality, is especially important. Its director, Eneko Barbería, points out that “including forensic analyses and data allows us to obtain a complete picture of sudden cardiac death and makes this study unique in the Mediterranean area and in Europe”.
Second, this is the first study that provides real data on the incidence of sudden death in Catalonia and Spain, thanks to the wide participation of institutions that contributed information. According to the Catalonia Cardiac Arrest and Sudden Death Registry (RAIMCAT), 2,700 cases are recorded every year in Catalonia and initially attended by SEM, which means 7 cases per day. In Spain as a whole, the annual number is 17,241 cases, or 47 cases per day. This study, unique in Europe, shows that sudden cardiac death is one of the most important causes of death in Spain, just after lung cancer.
The survival rate after sudden cardiac arrest is only 10%. Cases with previous chest pain or where an automated external defibrillator (AED) is used before SEM arrives have a better chance of survival. For this reason, in the presence of warning signs such as chest pain, or when witnessing a sudden loss of consciousness, it is essential to recognise the situation quickly, start high‑quality chest compressions, and use an AED as soon as possible.
This study, funded by the Catalan Resuscitation Council (CCR), has made it possible to identify the cause of death in a higher percentage of cases than other published studies. Research like this, with high‑quality registries on sudden cardiac death, helps advance precision medicine, prevention, and treatments that improve patient care.
Reference: Azeli, Y., Barbería, E., Solà-Muñoz, S., Landín, I., Fernández, A., Rey-Reñones, C., García-Gual, C., Gomez-Tortosa, A., Granado-Font, E., Fernandez-Sender, L., García-Vilana, S., Bonet, G., Jimènez-Fàbrega, X., & Bardaji, A. (2025). Epidemiology of sudden cardiac arrest in the western Mediterranean area based on a prospective registry. BMJ global health, 10(11), e020462. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjgh-2025-020462
This tool gathers detailed nutritional information on 850 products from 42 brands available in the main supermarkets in Spain. Its aim is to provide dietetics, nutrition, paediatrics and other health professionals with a reliable and updated source of information about the composition of these foods. This allows them to accurately assess nutrition during the first years of life and offer recommendations that promote a healthier and more sustainable diet. In addition, the results can serve as a basis for designing more effective food and regulatory policies.
According to Nancy Babio, researcher at the Human Nutrition Unit of the URV and coordinator of the project, “this database is a key step to provide health professionals with objective and evidence‑based information, in a context where the offer of commercial products for young children is growing quickly and does not always follow public health criteria”.
The results of the analysis, published in the scientific journal European Journal of Pediatrics, show worrying data. Besides confirming that only 20% of the products analysed meet all the nutritional profile and advertising criteria recommended by the WHO, it also warns that 60% of the food contains excessive amounts of sugar, and 99% of fruit purées would require a “high in sugar” warning label. In fact, none of the foods analysed should be advertised according to WHO guidelines.
The analysis also shows that 30% of the products include added sugars or sweeteners, such as honey or concentrated juices, and that none of the products meet all the WHO criteria for commercial promotion. Moreover, 98% display unauthorised claims or promotional messages.
“These results highlight the urgent need to improve regulation, both in the formulation and in the advertising of foods aimed at young children. At the moment, this is governed by a co‑regulation code (PAOS) that is not legally binding and has not worked as expected,” warns Roser Martí, president of CODINUCAT.
The Baby & Toddler Food Composition Database – InfantBase is a tool designed both for professional use and for political decision‑making.
This tool is part of the PRINUT project (Early Childhood: Nutritional Analysis and Regulation of Commercial Foods), which is aligned with public health strategies aimed at promoting healthy and safe eating during early childhood, following WHO recommendations and the PAAS (Comprehensive Plan for Health Promotion through Physical Activity and Healthy Eating) of the Government of Catalonia.
“As scientists and health professionals, we believe we have the responsibility to translate scientific evidence into effective policies that protect children’s health. We hope to receive institutional support to move forward in this direction,” concludes Babio.
The GEMMAIR research group received the Joan Pedrerol Gallego Award for the Social Impact of Research from the Social Council of the Universitat Rovira i Virgili last Thursday, 6 November. The award corresponds to the 2025 edition, in the field of health and life sciences, ex ante category.
The winning project, titled “Bisphenol A and liver health: Impact of a BPA‑free diet on Metabolic Dysfunction‑Associated Steatotic Liver Disease”, was presented by researchers Maria Teresa Auguet Quintillà, Helena Clavero Mestres, Carmen Aguilar Crespillo, José Antonio Porras, David Riesco, Salomé Martínez, Margarita Vives and Fàtima Sabench Pereferrer.
The Institut d’Investigació Sanitària Pere Virgili (IISPV) held its first PostDoc Day on Tuesday, 16 December, with the aim of giving visibility to the research carried out by the Institute’s postdoctoral researchers.
The award winners of the day were Francisco Algaba Chueca, who received the First Prize for Best Short Presentation; Laia Just Borràs, who received the First Prize for Best Flash Presentation; and Bernat Ballvè Gelonch, who received the First Prize for Best Question.
Succipro, a spin-off created in 2022 as a result of research from IRB CatSud (the new name that the current IISPV will adopt from 2026), has joined the business and innovation platform Catalonia.health. This step will help the company connect with other organisations in the Catalan biomedical sector, create synergies, share knowledge and speed up the development of its products.
Succipro focuses on developing new therapeutic strategies based on succinate modulation, with the aim of addressing inflammatory and metabolic diseases that affect millions of people. All of this is explained in this video.
At the moment, Succipro is developing a drug for the treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). It is currently in the preclinical phase and shows very promising initial results. Succipro’s drugs also have the potential to treat other complex diseases of high clinical relevance, such as diabetes or certain types of cancer, where inflammation and metabolism play an important role.
At Succipro, the team works every day to improve the quality of life of people living with these conditions. The company is strongly committed to developing therapies that address real and personalised problems in patients. This approach follows the principles of personalised medicine, designing molecules with proper scientific and methodological validation to solve problems that are not yet fully addressed.
For Succipro, joining Catalonia.health is a “strategic decision that will allow the company to build connections with other organisations in the Catalan biomedical sector”. This collaboration is expected to help create synergies, share knowledge and accelerate the development of its products. This link between science, business and health is seen as essential to position Catalonia as an international reference in biomedicine.
More information: https://www.succipro.com/ https://www.iispv.cat/
