The Carlos III Institute of Health finances 9 new IRBLleida research projects

The Lleida Institute for Biomedical Research (IRBLleida) has received funding for 9 new research projects in the call for health research projects (health research fund [FIS]) from the Carlos III Health Institute. In the same call for proposals, the Strategic Action in Health (AES), the Institute has also received funding to hire three doctors with proven research careers, a young researcher and a research manager. In addition, the funding is completed with two mobility grants and three grants in thematic networks for cooperative health research (RETICs). In total, IRBLleida will receive 1,908,030 euros in funding.

In the case of new projects, this funding will make it possible to finance projects in different fields such as Spinal Muscular Atrophy, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Parkinson's Disease, stroke, obstructive sleep apnea, endometrial and lung cancer, the creation of a simulation environment for trials and socio-occupational and health precariousness. All of these grants make it possible to promote and boost biomedical research in Lleida by hiring personnel and starting up pioneering research. In total, IRBLleida will receive 970,783 euros to finance the projects over 3 years, from 2021 to 2023.

The projects that have been granted are:

1. 'Analysis of the beneficial effects of treatment with calpain inhibitor drugs and combined therapies on Spinal Muscular Atrophy', led by Rosa Maria Soler, professor at the University of Lleida (UdL) and head of the Neuronal Signalling Unit group. Funding: 82,280 euros.
2.  ' Intracellular lipid metabolism, mRNA processing and cellular stress at the crossroads of the physiopathology of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, led by the UdL professor and head researcher of the Metabolic Physiopathology group, Manel Portero. Funding: 214,170 euros.
3.  'Effects of the combination of the rolling carpet of a gamified virtual environment with non-invasive brain stimulation in Parkinson's disease: a randomised clinical trial, led by the UdL professor and researcher of the Healthcare Research Group, Helena Fernández. Funding: 62,920 euros.
4. 'Determination of the time of onset of ischemic stroke and recoverable tissue by means of the signature 'OMIC IS BRAIN', led by the medical specialist in Neurology at the Hospital Universitari Arnau de Vilanova de Lleida (HUAV), professor at the UdL and head of the Clinical Neurosciences group, Francesc Purroy. Funding: 185,130 euros.
5. 'Transcription and machine learning to assist in clinical decision-making with patients suspected of obstructive sleep apnoea', led by the principal investigator of the Translational Research in Respiratory Medicine group, David de Gonzalo. Funding: 147,620 euros.
6. 'Role of ARID1A in context-dependent endometrial carcionogenesis. Analysis of molecular mechanisms and possible therapeutic implications', led by Núria Eritja, lecturer at the UdL and principal researcher in the Oncological Pathology group. Funding: 87,120 euros.
7. 'Liquid biopsy using pleural liquid supernatant and plasma to study the mutational profile in lung cancer', led by the Head of the Internal Medicine Service at the HUAV, professor at the UdL and head of the Cancer Biomarkers Research Group (GReBiC), José Manuel Porcel. Funding: 96,800 euros.
8. 'Development of a simulation environment as a support tool for the design of studies and clinical trials', led by the UdL lecturer and head of the statistical systems and methods research biology group, Albert Sorribas. Funding: 43,318 euros
9.  'Agricultural work and migration in Spain: socio-labour precariousness and health (PSLyS)', led by UdL professor and researcher from the Health Care Research Group, Erica Briones. Funding: 51,425 euros.