RESEARCH GROUPS

Infectious Diseases

Overview

Team

Publications

Patents

Dissemination

87

Number of publications

68.97
%

% Q1

35.63
%

% D1

49.43
%

% Leadership

48.84
%

% Female Leadership

1.60

CROWN (2021-2025)

16.70
%

HCP10% (2021-2025)

67.82
%

% Open access

42.53
%

% International Collaboration

9

Highly cited papers / HCP 1% (2021-2025)

7

Publications in high-IF journals with high Altmetric scores

41

Number of Ongoing Projectes (total)

3

International ongoing projects

10

Number of New projects (total)

0

International new projects

31

Number of Active clinical Trials

6

Number of New Clinical Trials

2

Number of Theses

We are a multidisciplinary group composed of professionals in Medicine, Nursing, and other biomedical specialties, with a translational approach that integrates basic and clinical research to improve healthcare quality. Our research lines focus on: antimicrobial resistance, healthcare-associated and complex community-acquired infections, infections in immunocompromised patients, HIV infection, sexually transmitted infections, and global health (health issues that cross geographic borders, with a special focus on tropical diseases). These areas are complemented by clinical research activities and biological experimentation in laboratory settings. In addition to collaborating with national and international groups, our researchers coordinate two clinical research networks within the Spanish Biomedical Research Centre in Infectious Diseases (CIBERINFEC).

CORE/MISSIONS

  • AI, Data, Imaging & Digital Health
  • Environmental & Public Health
  • Innovative & Advanced Therapies
  • Transplant & Immunomodulation

PROGRAMS

  • Woman, Gender & Diversity Perspective in Health Research
Group Leader

Maria José Buzon and Israel Molina

Principal Investigator (PI)

Meritxell Genescà, Fernando Salvador, Adrian Sánchez, Nuria Serre, Inés Oliveira, Jordi Gómez, Marisa Aznar, Esperanza Esteban, Dolors Rodríguez Pardo, Òscar Len, Joan Gavaldà, Ibai Los Arcos, Vicenç Falcó, Joaquín Burgos, Jordi Navarro, Adrià Curran, Pau Bosch

Researchers

Núria Fernàndez Hidalgo, Adaia Albasanz, Maider Arando, Jorge Garcia, Vicence Descalzo, Patricia Alvarez, Silvina Magnani, Ana Gallego, Mireia Vives, Diana Pou, Raisa Morales, Pepe Santos, Elena Trigo, Júlia Sellarés, Joan Martínez, Juan Espinosa

PhD Students

Ester Márquez, Cristina Kirkegaard, Anna Falcó, Arnau Monforte, Paula Suanzes, Alba González, Oriol Ruiz, Diego González, Aleix Benitez, Celia Sánchez y Nuria Casalé.

Lab Technicians

Xavier Gomis, Irene Mota

Gallego-Cortés A, Sánchez-Gaona N, Mancebo-Pérez C, Ruiz-Isant O, Benítez-Martínez A, Landolfi S, Castellví J, Pumarola F, Ortiz N, Llano I, Lorente J, Mañalich-Barrachina L, Prado JG, Martín-Gayo E, Falcó V, Genescà M, Buzon MJ.
Identification of inducible HIV reservoirs in tonsillar, intestinal and cervical tissue models of HIV latency
Nature Communications. 2025 Nov 24;16(1):10353
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-65288-9
IF: 15.7

Burgos J, Curran A, Garcia J, Campany D, Descalzo V, Suanzes P, Navarro J, Planas B, Sanchiz M, Landolfi S, Dinares C, Hernández-Losa J, Falcó V
Effectiveness of Electrocautery, Topical Cidofovir, and Topical Sinecatechins for the Treatment of Anal High-Grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesions in Persons With HIV: An Open-Label, Randomized Controlled Trial
Clin Infect Dis. 2025 Sep 16;81(2):333-340
DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciaf086
IF: 7.3

Daan K. J. Pieren, Sebastián G. Kuguel, Joel Rosado, Alba G. Robles, Joan Rey-Cano, Cristina Mancebo, Juliana Esperalba, Vicenç Falcó, María J. Buzón & Meritxell Genescà
Limited induction of polyfunctional lung-resident memory T cells against SARS-CoV-2 by mRNA vaccination compared to infection
Nature Communications 14, 1887 (2023
DOI: doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-37559-w
IF: 15.7

Aceituno L, Nuñez-Conde A, Serra-Pladevall J, Viñado B, Castella E, Escolà-Vergé L, Pigrau C, Falcó V, Len O
Oral quinolones versus intravenous β-lactam for the treatment of acute focal bacterial nephritis: a retrospective cohort study
Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 2024 Aug;43(8):1559-1567
DOI: 10.1007/s10096-024-04871-2
IF: 3

Bosch-Nicolau P, Fernández ML, Sulleiro E, Villar JC, Perez-Molina JA, Correa-Oliveira R, Sosa-Estani S, Sánchez-Montalvá A, Del Carmen Bangher M, Moreira OC, Salvador F, Mota Ferreira A, Eloi-Santos SM, Serre-Delcor N, Ramírez JC, Silgado A, Oliveira I, Martín O, Aznar ML, Ribeiro ALP, Almeida PEC, Chamorro-Tojeiro S, Espinosa-Pereiro J, de Paula AMB, Váquiro-Herrera E, Tur C, Molina I;
Efficacy of three benznidazole dosing strategies for adults living with chronic Chagas disease (MULTIBENZ): an international, randomised, double-blind, phase 2b trial
Lancet Infect Dis. 2024 Apr;24(4):386-394
DOI: 10.1016/S1473-3099(23)00629-1
IF: 31

HR20-00218 Enhancing Tissue-Specific Immune Microenvironments for the Cure of HIV
Principal Investigator: Maria J. Buzon.
Agency: ”la Caixa” Foundation
Funding: 699,134 €
Period: November 2020 – October 2024

PI23/01184. Clinical Efficacy of Oral Cefixime and Fosfomycin-Trometamol in the Treatment of Acute Bacterial Prostatitis (CEFOSPROST): A Pilot, Comparative, Randomized, Open-Label, Multicenter Trial.
Principal Investigator: Joaquín Burgos Ciprian
Agency: Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII)
Funding: 180,000 €
Period: January 2024 – December 2026

Charting SARS-CoV-2 Entry Factors in Human Tissues
Principal Investigator: Meritxell Genescà
Agency: Fundació La Marató de TV3
Funding: 400,000 €
Period: October 2021 – September 2023

Operational Research Against Chronic Childhood Malnutrition in Angola (Project CRESCER) a community-based randomised controlled trial
Principal Investigator: Israel Molina Romero
Agency: European Commission (EUROPEAID Programme)
Funding: 6,720,000 €
Period: 2021 – 2026

PI22/01894.Evaluation of Biomarkers of Cure and Disease Progression in Chagas Disease in a Prospective Patient Cohort
Principal Investigator: Israel Molina Romero
Agency: Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII)
Funding: 135,520 €
Period: 2023 – 2025

ENTRECTINIB AS ANTIVIRAL AGENT FOR THE TREATMENT OF CORONAVIRUS INFECTIONS
Priority Number: EP21382677.9
Priority Date: 23.07.2021
Applicants: IMIM, VHIR

BI-FUNCTIONALIZED NANOPARTICLES, PROCESS FOR ITS PREPARATION AND USES THEREOF
Priority Number: EP19382675.7
Priority Date: 02/08/2019
Applicants: 55% VHIR, 22.5% ICREA, 22.5% ICN2

BIOFILM FORMATION PREVENTION SYSTEM FOR RESPIRATORY MEDICAL DEVICES
Priority Number: U202032239
Priority Date: 0
Applicants: 100% VHIR

NK CELLS ADAPTED TO TISSUES
Priority Number: EP 26 382 623.2
Priority Date: 30/04/2026
Applicants: 100% VHIR