Barcelona hospital first in the world to use 3D for endoscopies
Hospital Clínic tries out new technology on prostate enlargement surgery, with 23 successful operations carried out so far
hospital clinic
Barcelona researchers come up with method to improve colon cancer screening
IDIBAPS research institute develops project to provide better diagnosis of tumors, detect polyps and avoid unnecessary colonoscopies
Barcelona Clinic seeks donations to train eye doctors in developing countries
The hospital has become the first public university center in Europe after creating a teaching center in the surgical area
New study puts Barcelona among world's top tech cities
Catalan capital is included in ranking of 30 most innovative urban centers by global real estate firm, Savills
Barcelona hospital first to use 5G technology for remote surgery
Clínic hospital project aims to allow surgeons around the world to cooperate during operations
Two Catalan hospitals join European epilepsy treatment project
The epilepsy units of the Hospital del Mar and Hospital Clínic-Sant Joan de Déu in Barcelona aim to discuss the cases with experts in European centers
34 scientists from Catalan centers in ‘Highly Cited Researchers’ ranking
Half belong to University of Barcelona or Hospital Clínic-Idibaps
Barcelona hospital treats double the number of sexual assault victims than in 2005
Hospital Clínic's specialist team deals with a case of aggression a day, some 91% of whom are women
Giving birth despite premature menopause: gynecologists apply innovative technique
Twelve women under 35 undergo groundbreaking surgery at Barcelona’s Hospital Clínic to resume ovulation
Catalan researchers isolate and control AIDS virus for the first time
A clinical trial of a vaccine has proved, for the first time ever, that the immune system of those infected with AIDS can be re-educated in order to control the virus for long periods of time and without taking anti-retroviral drugs. In particular, 5 of the 13 patients whom participated in the trial and stopped their treatment achieved control of the virus for 5, 13, 17, 20 and 27 weeks respectively. The research, which is still ongoing, is being developed in different hospitals in Barcelona and Badalona and is directed by the IrsiCaixa AIDS Research Institute, a leading centre for research into the eradication of HIV/AIDS and related diseases, and the Fight AIDS Foundation, a non-profit organisation that is dedicated to healthcare, research and education in the field of HIV/AIDS, created by Doctor Bonaventura Clotet in 1992.
Genetic alterations in cancer patients, identified by new computational method developed in Barcelona
A new computational method allows the detection, within just a few hours, of the genetic alterations responsible for the formation and progression of cancer tumours. This new method manages to accurately identify almost all types of genetic changes of cancer cells in a simple, quick and precise way. It is also able to identify large-scale chromosome rearrangements, which had been difficult to be detect until this breakthrough. The new method, called SMUFIN, has been developed by the Barcelona Supercomputing Centre and the ICREA (Catalan Institution of Research and Advanced Studies), in collaboration with research groups from Barcelona, Oviedo and Heidelberg. This progress has been published by the prestigious journal 'Nature Biotechnology' and represents a significant step forward towards the personalised treatment of cancer and other illnesses.
Catalan tenor Josep Carreras: "We are an adult people and we know how to make our own decisions"
On Tuesday evening the Barcelona-born opera tenor, Josep Carreras received the Golden Medal of the Catalan Parliament for his outstanding and internationally-recognised professional career, but also for his efforts leading a foundation that fights Leukaemia. In his acceptance speech, Carreras defended Catalonia's right to self-determination and the independence vote scheduled for the 9th of November. Carreras, who became a true world star in the 1990s with the Three Tenors, praised the idiom "live and let live", meaning that the Spanish authorities should authorise the self-determination vote. He asked the Catalan MPs "to do whatever is necessary to ensure that the others live and let us live". His words were particularly relevant as they were said at such an important event and two days ahead of the massive pro-independence demonstration, which will take place in Barcelona on Catalonia's National Day (the 11th of September).
Barcelona-based Professor Pedro Alonso named Director of the WHO Global Malaria Program
On Wednesday the World Health Organisation (WHO) appointed Barcelona-based researcher Pedro Alonso as the new Director of its Global Malaria Program. Alonso is a key figure in the global fight against malaria and has lead research into a vaccine to combat the life-threatening illness. He has been involved with WHO since 2011, when the organisation appointed him as the Chair of the GTS Steering Committee on the Global Technical Strategy on Malaria. Alonso is currently the Director of the Barcelona Institute for International Health Research. He is also the Head of the Department of International Health and Tropical Medicine at Barcelona's Hospital Clínic and a lecturer at Barcelona University. The physician is due to start his new position in October and is expected to give his formal recommendation on the strategy against malaria in the first quarter of 2015.
Catalonia, a hub of global biomedical research
Catalonia has established a reputation as a global centre of scientific excellence, pioneering research and innovative ideas. This corner of Europe, with just 0.1% of the world’s population, accounts for nearly 1% of global scientific production. The Catalan Research system, formed of 12 internationally esteemed universities, over 60 research centres, 15 world class hospitals, and almost 9,000 innovative companies, attests to the Catalonia's ambitions in science. This territory is also a magnet of international funding: with 1.5% of Europe’s population, it receives 2.2% of European competitive funds and 3.5% of European Research Council (ERC) grants. There can be no doubt that Catalonia is now a benchmark in Southern Europe, producing frontier research and punching considerably above its weight in terms of scientific contribution. It is attracting worldwide talent and projects, and many consider it to be fast becoming the Palo Alto of biomedical research.
World’s smallest pacemaker implanted in 4 patients in Barcelona's Hospital Clínic
Barcelona’s Hospital Clínic has installed the ‘Micra’ 24mm pacemaker - equivalent to the size of a one euro coin - in 4 patients as part of a clinical trial involving 10 medical centres and 60 patients troughout the world. This innovative wireless system is minimally invasive since it does not require any surgical procedure but is implanted in the heart through the femoral vein using a catheter. Such a procedure can be performed within 30 minutes and also reduces the patients’ risks of future infections. According to the Medical Director of the Hospital, Josep Brugada, if the clinical study is successful, it will involve a “paradigm shift”. Experts estimate it could reach hospitals within the next two or three years.