Animal Facility (PRBB)

The PRBB animal facility is one of the most complex and robotized installations of its kind in Europe and is fully accredited by AAALAC, the International Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care. This is the maximum international certification and implies an acknowledgement of the quality of the operation of the facility which translates into better practices and research results. The main animal models are zebrafish and mice, but it is also possible to use rats, hamsters, rabbits, frogs and axolots.

The animal facility covers 4,500 m2 with six independent units, which are connected and run under a single management:

• The aquatic animal area (zebrafish and xenopus)

• The specific pathogen germ free (SPF) barrier zone for rodents, with modern auto-ventilated microisolators and three support laboratories

• A transgenesis area with large laboratories (250 m2) for the production of genetically modified mice

• The experimental area with laboratories, surgery rooms and an irradiator

• The quarantine area with its own access changing rooms and embryonic transfer re-derivation laboratory

• A conventional animal facility, located at an adjacent building, which is connected via a tunnel with the PRBB, and has a surface area of 1,300 m2, mainly for studies with animal models in neuropharmacology and immunology

The number of Animal Facility users in 2019 was 418.

The Ethical Committee for Animal Research (in USA, IACUC-Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee) conducted 9 meetings where 44 projects were evaluated (6 from IMIM). These projects include 92 experimental procedures (16 from IMIM).

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Clinical Research Unit (IMIM)

The Clinical Research Unit (CRU) has 12 beds and capacity to run different studies at the same time. The equipment is especially well suited for Phase I clinical trials in drug development, for bioequivalence studies, for nutritional interventions or for the evaluation of nutraceuticals. Studies are performed in accordance with the Good Clinical Practice (GCP) standards. The CRU is accredited by the Government of Catalonia for the performance of Phase I studies.

The Drug Research Ethical Committee (CEIm-Parc de Salut Mar) evaluates the study protocols in accordance with Spanish and European regulations. The CEIm has two regular meetings every month. It is accredited by the Government of Catalonia and the Spanish Agency of Medicines and Medical Products.

Available services

• Phase I and Phase II clinical trials

• Evaluation of the abuse potential of new drugs

• Psychopharmacology and behavioral pharmacology clinical studies

• Methodological advice for clinical trial protocols

• Nutritional interventions and evaluation of nutraceuticals

• Pharmacokinetic studies

- Bioavailability, including bioequivalence studies of generic drugs

- Metabolism and identification of metabolites

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Health-Related Quality of Life Questionnaires

BiblioPRO is a virtual library of Quality of Life Questionnaires and other Patient Reported Outcomes (PROs) in Spanish with free and open access.

The mission of our project is to promote the adequate use of HRQL instruments in Spanish among researchers, clinicians and health management, by providing exhaustive online information, evidence-based evaluations, and specialized training in this area.

The library currently holds information on 2,027 questionnaires and is updated periodically.

BiblioPRO is a CIBER in Epidemiology and Public Health research and knowledge transfer support action, initiated, directed and coordinated by the Health Services Research Unit of the IMIM, with the IMIM Foundation support.

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