Eixarch H, Boutitah-Benyaich I, Plaza J, Rodríguez-Vidal S, Salvadó M, Mancera-Arteu M, Almenara-Fuentes L, Dalmases M, Vives-Pi M, Montalban X, Barneda-Zahonero B, Espejo C
Reprogramming autoimmunity: inducing antigen-specific tolerance via apoptotic mimicry in an experimental model of multiple sclerosis
J Neuroinflammation. 2025 Nov 28;22(1):281
DOI: 10.1186/s12974-025-03618-w
IF: 10.1
RESEARCH GROUPS
Clinical Neuroimmunology
78
Number of publications
92.31
%
% Q1
46.15
%
% D1
53.85
%
% Leadership
38.10
%
% Female Leadership
3.68
CROWN (2021-2025)
35.58
%
HCP10% (2021-2025)
66.67
%
% Open access
55.13
%
% International Collaboration
38
Highly cited papers / HCP 1% (2021-2025)
7
Publications in high-IF journals with high Altmetric scores
33
Number of Ongoing Projectes (total)
3
International ongoing projects
5
Number of New projects (total)
2
International new projects
28
Number of Active clinical Trials
5
Number of New Clinical Trials
2
Number of Theses
The Clinical Neuroimmunology Group advanced research across diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic aspects of multiple sclerosis (MS). We investigated blood and body fluid biomarkers contributing to MS diagnosis and identified markers associated with clinical conversion in radiologically isolated syndrome. We developed age‑dependent therapeutic targets for progressive MS and an antigen‑specific tolerance strategy using myelin‑loaded liposomes. A major clinical milestone was the treatment of the first MS patient with anti‑CD19 CAR‑T cells in the CA061‑1006 clinical trial. We published the Barcelona‑Baseline Risk Score and the Deep‑PIRA model, integrating clinical data and deep learning MRI analysis to predict disease prognosis and progression. Educational activities addressed the 2024 McDonald criteria and biomarker interpretation, including NfL and GFAP. The group also published multicentre results of a nurse‑led Expert Patient Programme, showing improved patient activation.
CORE/MISSIONS
- AI, Data, Imaging & Digital Health
- Environmental & Public Health
- Innovative & Advanced Therapies
PROGRAMS
- Woman, Gender & Diversity Perspective in Health Research
TEAM
Group Leader
Xavier Montalban Gairín
Principal Investigator (PI)
Georgina Arrambide García, Álvaro Cobo Calvo, Manuel Comabella López, Carmen Espejo Ruiz, Nicolás Miguel Fissolo, Arnau Hervera Abad, Sunny Malhotra, Xavier Montalban Gairín, Jaume Sastre-Garriga, Mar Tintoré Subirana, Carmen Tur Gomez
Researchers
Helena Ariño Rodríguez, Elisenda Anglada Clofent, María Jesús Arévalo Navinés, Adriana Casallas Vanegas, Joaquín Castilló Justribó, Herena Eixarch Ahufinger, Ingrid Galán Cartañá, Luciana Soledad Midaglia Fernández, Andrés Míguez González, Neus Mongay Ochoa, Carlos Nos Llopis, Jordi Río Izquierdo, Miguel Ángel Robles Sánchez, Xavier Sibera Aresté, Paula Tagliani, Ana Zabalza De Torres
PhD Students
Francisco José Aparicio Serrano, Luca Bollo, Imame Boutitah Benyaich, René Carvajal, María Ruoxuan Crespí Amer, Delon La Puma, Iker Elosua Bayés, Daniela León Castillo, Elisa Marín Ordovás, Ariadna Masot Llima, Edwin Roger Meza Murillo, Agustin Pappolla, Rucsanda Pinteac, Breogán Rodríguez Acevedo, Carmen Santoyo Medina, Alex Rovira Rincón
Lab Technicians
Mireia Castillo Juárez, Inés Faci Sánchez, Lucía Gutiérrez Ruiz, Alba Hernández Badosa, Gloria López Comellas
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
Montalban X, Lebrun-Frénay C, Oh J, Arrambide G, Moccia M, Pia Amato M, Amezcua L, Banwell B, Bar-Or A, Barkhof F, Butzkueven H, Ciccarelli O, Chataway J, Cohen JA, Comi G, Correale J, Deisenhammer F, Filippi M, Fiol J, Freedman MS, Fujihara K, Granziera C, Green AJ, Hartung HP, Hellwig K, Kappos L, Kimbrough D, Killestein J, Lublin F, Marignier R, Marrie RA, Miller A, Otero-Romero S, Ontaneda D, Ramanathan S, Reich D, Rocca MA, Rovira À, Saidha S, Salter A, Sastre-Garriga J, Saylor D, Solomon AJ, Sormani MP, Stankoff B, Tintore M, Tremlett H, Van der Walt A, Viswanathan S, Wiendl H, Wildemann B, Yamout B, Zaratin P, Calabresi PA, Coetzee T, Thompson AJ
Diagnosis of multiple sclerosis: 2024 revisions of the McDonald criteria
Lancet Neurol. 2025 Oct;24(10):850-865
DOI: 10.1016/S1474-4422(25)00270-4
IF: 45.5
Boutitah-Benyaich I, Eixarch H, Villacieros-Álvarez J, Hervera A, Cobo-Calvo Á, Montalban X, Espejo C
Multiple sclerosis: molecular pathogenesis and therapeutic intervention
Signal Transduct Target Ther. 2025 Oct 2;10(1):324
DOI: 10.1038/s41392-025-02415-4
IF: 52.7
Fissolo N, Schaedelin S, Villar LM, Lünemann JD, Correale J, Rejdak K, Schwab N, Vilaseca A, Held F, García-Merino A, Bittner S, Trojano M, Furlan R, Tumani H, Pérez-Miralles F, Rosenstein I, Galimberti D, Álvarez-Bravo G, Thouvenot E, Llufriu S, Khoury SJ, Hoepner R, Martínez-Yélamos S, Hegen H, Drulovic J, Téllez-Lara N, Khalil M, Oechtering J, Pérez-Sempere Á, Rodríguez-Antigüedad A, Enrique-Martínez J, Strijbis E, Killestein J, Eichau S, Colombo E, Schaller-Nagengast J, Midaglia L, Sánchez-López AJ, Monreal E, Chan A, Paul F, Rovira À, Tintoré M, Lycke J, Zipp F, Hemmer B, Kuhle J, Montalban X, Comabella M; RIS Study Group
Prognostic Factors for Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms in Radiologically Isolated Syndrome
JAMA Neurol. 2025 Jul 1;82(7):722-733
DOI: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2025.1481
IF: 21.3
Tur C, Carbonell-Mirabent P, Otero-Romero S, Cobo-Calvo Á, Arévalo MJ, Ariño H, Arrambide G, Auger C, Carvajal R, Castilló J, Comabella M, Galán I, Midaglia L, Nos C, Pappolla A, Pareto D, Río J, Rodríguez-Acevedo B, Saez de Gordoa E, Vidal-Jordana Á, Zabalza A, Sastre-Garriga J, Rovira À, Montalban X, Tintoré M
The Barcelona baseline risk score to predict long-term prognosis after a first demyelinating event: a prospective observational study
Lancet Reg Health Eur. 2025 Apr 19;53:101302
DOI: 10.1016/j.lanepe.2025.101302
IF: 13.0
SELECTED PROJECTS
Bridging EBV-Host ImbalaNce to Disease Onset and Progression in Multiple Sclerosis - BEHIND-MS. Reference: BEHIND-MS – 101137235
Principal Investigator: Manuel Comabella
Agency: European Commission – HORIZON
Funding: 248,720 €
Period: 2024 – 2028
Deep learning for early assessment of the risk of progression in multiple sclerosis: from routine structural MRI to histopathology, via quantitative neuroimaging. Reference: PI24/01277
Principal Investigator: Carmen Tur
Agency: Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities
Funding: 152,500 €
Period: 01/01/2025 - 31/12/2027
PROBiMS Study – The effect of probiotic administration as a complementary treatment in multiple sclerosis: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Reference: PI24/01122
Principal Investigator: Carmen Espejo
Agency: Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities
Funding: 227,500 €
Period: 01/01/2025 - 31/12/2027
Profiling of patients with highly active multiple sclerosis and assessment of highly efficacious treatment effects on the evolution of their disease. Reference: PI22/01570
Principal Investigator: Georgina Arrambide
Agency: Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities
Funding: 169,400 €
Period: 01/01/2023 - 31/12/2025
Underlying mechanisms of axonal damage and disability in myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein-associated disease (MOGAD): the MOGAXON project. Reference:PI24/00859
Principal Investigator: Álvaro Cobo Calvo
Agency: Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities
Funding: 201,875 €
Period: 01/01/2025 - 31/12/2027
PATENTS
Intellectual property registration (SafeCreative): “Spider-MS: An individualised polyhedral prediction of multiple sclerosis prognosis.”
Priority Number: Proof identifier: 2507022365929
Priority Date: 02/07/2025
Applicants: Fundació Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron – Institut de Recerca
DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES
Class talk: “The brain” (2 talks)
Place: Escola Josep Maria Jujol (Bracelona)
Date: 28/02/2025
Brief: Talks at Escola Josep Maria Jujol (1st year primary school): “The brain” (2 talks) – Feb2025
Class talk: “Artificial intelligence” (2 talks)
Place: Escola Santa Teresa (Bacelona)
Date: 31/03/2025
Brief: Talks at Escola Santa Teresa (5th and 6th years of primary school): “Artificial intelligence” (2 talks) – Mar2025
VHIR AI DAY 2025 'Pioneering the Present. Previewing the Future. Unlocking the AI Journey in healthcare'
Place: Vall d'Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR)
Date: 18/06/2025
Brief: Organisation of and participation at AYDAY at VHIR 2025 – June2025
Escolab programme
Place: Vall d'Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR)
Date: 22/01/2025
Brief: Escolab programme, promoted by Barcelona City Council, which aims to bring science closer to educational centres. In January 2025, we hosted first-year students from the vocational training programme in Pathological Anatomy and Cytodiagnosis at Santa Maria dels Apòstols School.
Dona i EM: Factors hormonals, embaràs i menopausa
Place: Fundació Esclerosi Múltiple (FEM)
Date: 04/03/2025
Brief: This informational session focuses on the specific impact of multiple sclerosis on women, exploring how hormonal changes—such as those occurring during pregnancy or menopause—can influence the disease and overall well-being. Led by a neurologist from the Centre d’Esclerosi Múltiple de Catalunya, the event addresses key questions about gender differences in MS and highlights current research in this area.
