Study of Immune Deficiency Diseases in Paediatrics (GEMDIP)

Our group studies childhood diseases caused by a dysfunction of the immune system such as primary and secondary immunodeficiencies, rheumatic, autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases.

We were granted the AGAUR recognition (GRPRE 2017/SGR1547) in 2017 and retain it to date.

Research lines

  1. The main focuses of this team led by Dr Antón are autoimmune diseases (such as juvenile idiopathic arthritis, juvenile dermatomyositis or scleroderma), autoinflammatory diseases (genetic and epigenetic studies) and the aetiology of Kawasaki disease, with special interest in the role of the microbiome and environmental factors. This team has also participated in various clinical trials in systemic lupus erythematosus, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, ANCA-positive vasculitis and polyarteritis nodosa, and autoinflammatory diseases such as HIDS, TRAPS or colchicine-resistant Familial Mediterranean Fever.
  2. The team led by Dr Alsina focuses on primary or congenital immunodeficiencies and secondary immunodeficiencies, including 1) primary immunodeficiencies of the IL-12 / IFN-γ pathway, which generate susceptibility to intracellular infections (mycobacteria, leishmania and others); 2) primary immunodeficiencies with a predominant immune deregulation component (inflammation, lymphoproliferation, autoimmunity), paying particular attention to cells with a regulatory role (regulatory T and B lymphocytes); 3) immunodeficiencies secondary to the use of monoclonal antibodies (especially anti-TNF-α agents during pregnancy and  their impact on the neonatal immune system development) and those caused by new cell therapies such as CART19. The aim is to gain a better understanding of the immune dysfunction in these three disease groups and to identify biomarkers and new therapeutic targets.

Scientific objectives

  1. To develop and validate cellular, transcriptomic and epigenetic biomarkers in immune-mediated diseases, both for diagnostic and monitoring purposes.
  2. To identify new genes associated with immune-mediated diseases, mainly in the group of primary and autoinflammatory immunodeficiencies.
  3. To identify new therapeutic targets for immune-mediated diseases.

Area/Field of expertise

The research carried out by our group is part of the study of the clinical, immunological, molecular and therapeutic aspects of paediatric immune-mediated diseases, focusing on primary immunodeficiencies, autoinflammatory diseases, rheumatic and autoimmune diseases.

We are a group of physicians from two complementary clinical areas, Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, in addition to an immunologist and biologists, offering a more global approach to the questions posed by our research into immune-mediated diseases. In addition to using the most advanced methodologies in clinical research (pathological anatomy and imaging), our laboratory, in close collaboration with the Immunology Department of the Hospital Clínic Barcelona, has extensive experience in immunological studies (functional and genetic) aimed at the study of patients with immune-mediated and autoinflammatory diseases.

Group members

Last Publications

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Projects

Project name:
Consorcio estatal en red para el desarrollo de medicamentos de terapias avanzadas (CERTERA)
Leader
Alessandra Magnani
Funding entities:
Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII)
Code
CERT22/00008
Starting - finishing date:
2024 - 2026
Project name:
Valoración del riesgo de recaída en pacientes con dermatomiositis juvenil inactiva mediante la utilización de un panel de biomarcadores en sangre periférica
Leader
Estibaliz Iglesias Jimenez
Funding entities:
Sociedad Española de Reumatología Pediátrica (SERPE)
Code
PCP00405
Starting - finishing date:
2024 - 2025
Project name:
Functional profiling array for primary immune regulatory disorders-research
Leader
Laia Alsina Manrique de Lara
Funding entities:
Pharming Group N.V.
Code
PCP00389
Starting - finishing date:
2023 - 2025
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Theses

  • Immune system profile of newborns born to mothers treated with anti-TNF-a through pregnancy.
    Author
    Luo, Yiyi
    Institution
    UNIVERSIDAD DE BARCELONA
    19/03/2024
  • Immune system profile of newborns born to mothers treated with TNF inhibitors through pregnancy
    Author
    Luo, Yiyi
    Institution
    UNIVERSIDAD DE BARCELONA
    19/03/2024
  • Infección por SARS-CoV-2 en niños y adultos jóvenes con errores congénitos de la inmunidad: expresión clínica y esta inmune
    Author
    García García, Ana Pilar
    Institution
    UNIVERSIDAD DE BARCELONA
    21/06/2023
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News

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