Cardiovascular Epidemiology and Genetics
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Epidemiology and Public Health Programme
Group Leader
Roberto Elosua Llanos
The group focuses on the study of the epidemiology and genetic basis of cardiovascular disorders and their risk factors. The group participates in international consortia using genome-wide and exome sequencing approaches to identify common and rare genetic variants associated with cardiovascular traits. We are also interested in the study of epigenetic signatures, mainly DNA methylation, related to these diseases.
The research team comprises a multidisciplinary group of epidemiologists, biologists, biochemists, clinicians and biostatisticians who work together to tackle these topics. We use this knowledge to identify new mechanisms and new predictive biomarkers of cardiovascular risk, and to define instrumental variables to assess the causal relationship between a biomarker and a cardiovascular phenotype.
The members of the group also participate in the REGICOR (REgistre GIroní del COR) study to determine the burden of cardiovascular disease and its risk factors at the population level, and to develop and improve cardiovascular risk functions. We are also actively exploring the dose-response relationship between physical activity and cardiovascular disease, and the mechanisms by which physical activity reduces cardiovascular risk. Finally, we are also exploring, developing and evaluating new approaches to improve cardiovascular prevention by using new information-technology tools.
Research group
Members
Albert Clarà Velasco (Researcher)
María Grau Magaña (Researcher)
Alina Velescu (Researcher)
Maria del Mar Vila Muñoz (PhD Student)
Marta Cabañero Marimon (Technician)
Alba Fernández Sanlés (Technician)
Isaac Subirana Cachinero (Technician)
Esmeralda Gómez Pires (Research Assistant)
Main Publications
• Grau M. Lipid parameter thresholds: The debate continues. Eur J Prev Cardiol 2019;26(14):1493–1495. IF 5.64. Q1.
• Subirana I, Fernández Avilés F, Elosua R, Lidón RM, García-Dorado D, Marrugat J; investigadores del estudio ATHOS. Interhospital Variability in Acute Coronary Syndrome Management in the ATHOS Study. Rev Esp Cardiol (Engl Ed) 2019; 72: 691-693. IF 5.126. Q1.
• Sayols-Baixeras S, Fernández-Sanlés A, Prats-Uribe A, Subirana I, Plusquin M, Künzli N, Marrugat J, Basagaña X, Elosua R. Association between long-term air pollution exposure and DNA methylation: The REGICOR study. Environ Res 2019; 176: 108550. IF 5.026. Q1.
• De Gonzalo-Calvo D, Elosua R, Vea A, Subirana I, Sayols-Baixeras S, Marrugat J, Llorente-Cortés V. Soluble low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1 as a biomarker of coronary risk: Predictive capacity and association with clinical events. Atherosclerosis 2019; 287: 93-99. IF 4.255. Q1.
• Fa-Binefa M, Clará A, Pérez-Fernández S, Grau M, Dégano IR, Martí-Lluch R, Ramos R, Marrugat J, Elosua R. Early smoking-onset age and risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality. Prev Med 2019; 124: 17-22. IF 3.499. Q1.
Ongoing Research Projects
• Eficacia de una aplicación móvil para la prevención de las enfermedades cardiovasculares a través del empoderamiento individual y comunitario
- Financing institution: Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria. ISCIII (PI17/00250)
- Period: from 2018 to 2020
- Principal investigator: Grau Magaña, María
• Seguiment de la cohort poblacional de l’estudi REGICOR: tendències en la incidència de malaltia cardiovascular, en la prevalença de factors de risc, identificació de nous mecanismes i biomarcadors predictius, i avaluació d’estratègies de prevenció
- Financing institution: Departament de Salut, Generalitat de Catalunya (SLT002/16/00088)
- Period: from 2017 to 2019
- Principal investigator: Elosua Llanos, Roberto
Participation in Research Networks
• CIBER Enfermedades Cardiovasculares
- Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria. ISCIII (CB16/11/00246)
- Principal investigators: Elosua Llanos, Roberto; Clará Velasco, Albert; Velescu, Alina
• CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública
- Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria. ISCIII (CB06/02/0029)
- Principal investigator: Grau Magaña, María
Clinical Trials Signed in 2019
• Preparación e implementación del protocolo del estudio "Ensayo clínico abierto, no aleatorizado en dos conglomerados constituidos por dos poblaciones urbanas distintas, compartivo de una intervención preventiva con un grupo control sin intervención sobre el control de factores de riesgo cardiovascular. Healthy Communities".
- Fundació Privada SHE
- Principal investigator: Elosua Llanos, Roberto
Theses
• Sayols-Baixeras S. DNA methylation and its relationship with lifestyle, environmental and cardiovascular risk factors. Universitat Pompeu Fabra
- Director: Elosua Llanos, Roberto; Lluís-Ganella, C
- Date of defense: 18/02/2019
• Vázquez Oliva, G. El síndrome coronario agudo: tendencias en la magnitud del problema, en el manejo hospitalario y en la aparición de complicaciones en un estudio de base poblacional y mejoras en las estrategias de prevención individual. Universitat de Girona
- Director: Elosua Llanos, Roberto
- Date of defense: 08/02/2019
Awards
• María Grau Magaña. Prize for the best publication in primary care. Col·legi Oficial de Metges de Barcelona. 27/11/2019.
• Roberto Elosua Llanos. Second prize for the most cited long-term article in Revista Española de Cardiología 2019. Sociedad Española de Cardiología (SEC). 18/10/2019.
Appointments
• Roberto Elosua Llanos. Professor of Medicine. Universitat de Vic-Universitat Central de Catalunya. Date: 12/07/2019.
Outreach
Dissemination to Society and Initiatives of Citizen Participation
• Roberto Elosua Llanos, María Grau Magaña, Alba Fernández Sanlés. Workshop Mesure your cardiovascular health. Open Day of the Parc de Recerca Biomèdica de Barcelona (PRBB), 5 October 2019.
• Roberto Elosua Llanos. Excursion through the different stages of a research project. Students of the Secretary Coloma Institute visit the Laboratory of Cardiovascular Epidemiology and Genetics Group. ACCÉS Project (Bringing Science Closer to Secondary Schools) included in the Escolab Project. Barcelona Science Programme of the Institute of Culture. 21 March 2019.
2019
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08003 Barcelona
(+34) 93 316 04 00
info@imim.es