Page 12 - MemoriaEHD-Eng

SCIENTIFIC PROGRAMS

P1. Portal Hypertension and

Mechanisms of Transition to Cirrhosis

CIBERehd Program num. 1, named “Portal hypertension and mechanisms of transition
Description
to cirrhosis”, focuses on collaborative research on the pathogenesis, diagnosis and

treatment of liver cirrhosis, portal hypertension and its complications. In particular, the ñ
cooperative translational research that holds the Program studies the pathogenic me- ó

chanisms of liver fibrogenesis and portal hypertension and seeks to develop drugs and

therapeutic strategies to improve portal hypertension and its associated complications
(bleeding gastroesophageal varices, ascites and renal failure, bacterial infection, he-

patic encephalopathy). Research is systematized in the Program in five lines 1) hepatic

fibrogenesis, 2) portal hypertension, 3) ascites / renal function and liver insufficiency,
4) infection and bacterial translocation, and 5) hepatic encephalopathy.
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The Program is formed by eight groups, five located in Barcelona and led by Drs. Arro-

yo (Hospital Clinic), Bosch (Hospital Clinic), Genescá (Hospital Valle Hebron), Guarner
(Hospital San Pablo) and Planas (Hospital Germán Trias Pujol), two in Madrid led by

Drs. Albillos (Hospital Ramn y Cajal-University of Alcalá) and Bañares (Hospital Gre-

gorio Maran), and one in Alicante led by Dr. Such (General Hospital). In spite of its
clinical origin, all the groups included in the Program have incorporated experimental

research. The latter fact enables the Program 1 to cover the whole spectrum of trans-

lational research in the field of its competence, including studies of cell and molecular
biology, proof of concept in patients with cirrhosis and clinical trials to evaluate diffe-

rent drugs and treatment strategies.

The strategic aim of CIBERehd is to promote clinical and experimental collaborative
research. In this sense, the direction of CIBERehd has stimulated the development

of collaborative projects among groups of Program 1, as well as with groups in other

areas. The collaboration has included multicentered clinical trials, cooperation to eva-
luate prognostic markers and test and design strategies for diagnosis and treatment

with a direct impact on clinical practice. One of the initial goals of CIBERehd was to
extend this collaboration towards mechanistic basic research, using the advantages
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of cell and molecular biology. Cooperation in this sense has also been initiated among 20
T
CIBERehd groups and is expected to continue rising in coming years.
R
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Table describes the topics of research of the 8 groups of Program 1:
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