research GROUPS

• Apoptotic Signalling

Gabriel Gil

• Applied Clinical Research in Hematological  Malignances

Carles Besses

• Colorectal Neoplasms Clinical and Translational Research

Xavier Bessa

• Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Tumor Development

Antonio García de Herreros

• Gastroesophageal Carcinogenesis

Manuel Ramón Pera

• Genitourinary Cancer

 Josep Lloreta

• Localised Hyperthermia Therapies

Fernado Burdío

• Molecular Cancer Therapeutics

Joan Albanell

• Molecular Mechanisms of Cancer and Stemness

Lluís Espinosa

• Molecular Mechanisms of Tumorigenesis

Pilar Navarro

• Poly (ADP-ribose) Polymerases

José Yélamos

• Radiation Oncology

Manuel Ignacio Algara

• Stems Cells and Cancer

Anna Bigas

• Translational Research on Hematological Neoplasms

Blanca Espinet

Main Programme Organization and Objectives

The programme includes basic, preclinical and clinical groups. Group leaders include basic scientists, digestologists, hematologists, immunologists, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, pathologists, and surgeons, resulting in a multidisciplinary programme that allows undertaking collaborative projects focused on clinically relevant questions. The ultimate goal for this programme is to work at the interface between the laboratory and the clinic, with a priority in translational research.

11 groups (Albanell, Besses, Burdío, Yélamos, Navarro, Espinet, Bessa, Bigas, Manuel Pera, García de Herreros, and  Lloreta) are accredited by the Catalan Government (AGAUR).

In the transition from RTICC to CIBER, Anna Bigas and Joan Albanell groups play leading roles in the Molecular Mechanisms and “Breast Cancer programmes” respectively.

Overall Scientific Objectives and Strategy

We aim to provide novel discoveries that may help to advance personalized medicine across a number (but not limited to) of highly prevalent cancer types, including breast, colon, lung, pancreas, prostate and bladder cancers, as well as chronic myeloproliferative diseases and lymphoma. These diverse cancers represent well the main types in which our institute has both clinical and research expertise.

Our overall strategy includes: (i) Interrogate clinical specimens using high-throughput screening technologies and then go back to the lab, and (ii) Develop hypothesis-based studies in preclinical models and test salient findings in clinical specimens. The basic research groups should study and validate mechanistically the findings of the other groups and also provide translational hypothesis on their current main areas (EMT, NF-κB, oncogenic signalling, among others). We also incorporate, by means of collaboration with other programmes, immunology research (Inflammatory and Cardiovascular Disorders Programme), bioinformatics (Biomedical Informatics Programme) and epidemiology (Epidemiology and Public Health Programme).

We also develop clinical translational research in the fields of cancer role, personalized medicine across various tumor types, innovative surgical devices, and bone health in cancer survival, cardio-hematology and immunotherapy. We also have a growing phase I clinical programme.

Overall Technological Objectives

The aims are to develop novel biomarkers for cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment selection, and develop novel therapeutic strategies, based on the discovery of novel mechanisms of cancer initiation or progression, as well as on translational and clinical studies. Surgeons also develop innovative technological surgical devices.

Overall Educational Objectives

The combination of researchers with different areas of training (basic, translational and clinical) aims to result in both scientists with a clinical perspective and clinicians that understand science. A number of internal and external collaborations are established, including national and international collaborations.

​