Metabolic diseases of pediatric origin
Research Program
Where we are
SJD Barcelona Children's Hospital
Related websites
SJD Barcelona Children's Hospital We are a multidisciplinary group of physicians, nutritionists, biologists and biochemists. This allows us to carry out both basic and patient-centred translational research. Our main focus of interest are the molecular mechanisms involved in the development of metabolic diseases of paediatric origin.
Over the last five years, and in close collaboration with the Endocrinology Unit of the SJD Barcelona Children's Hospital, we have created a solid structure of clinical research with the aim of facilitating the conduct of translational projects. We also avail of these clinical research projects as the basis for the training of the Unit's clinical staff and ultimately in the completion of their doctoral theses.
We have been recognised by the Government of Catalonia as a consolidated research group (SGR 845) since 2017.
Research lines
- Role of the composition of breast milk in the risk of childhood obesity (Principal investigator: Carles Lerín).
- Clinical research in childhood obesity (Principal investigator: Carles Lerín).
- Animal childhood obesity models (Principal investigator: Josep Jiménez).
- New treatments for type 1 diabetes (Principal investigator: Josep Jiménez)
Scientific objectives
- To study the molecular mechanisms involved in the development of childhood obesity and diabetes.
- To identify new early biomarkers of risk of obesity and associated metabolic diseases.
- To design new strategies for the prevention and treatment of childhood obesity.
Area/Field of expertise
Our research focuses on gaining a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms linking nutrition and growth during the very early stages of life with the subsequent development of childhood obesity and metabolic diseases in adulthood. This paradigm is known as the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD). To accomplish this, we have a highly multidisciplinary group of physicians, nutritionists, biologists, biochemists and laboratory technicians. Together we carry out eminently translational research characterised by:
- The development and characterisation of experimental (mouse) models that closely recapitulate human pathophysiology.
- The conduct of clinical trials to develop new preventive and treatment strategies.
This research is bidirectional in that it enables the transfer of questions arising in clinical practice to experimental models and, vice versa, the transfer of the knowledge acquired in the laboratory to clinical studies.
For the past five years, we have been working on "omic" techniques to gain a further understanding of these processes and to identify early biomarkers. More specifically, we are conducting (i) targeted and non-targeted metabolomics in breast milk of women with and without obesity, and (ii) analyses of the metabolome, epigenome and, more recently, metagenome in a clinical cohort of prepubertal children with obesity.
We are currently evaluating the physiological role of these biomarkers through in vitro and in vivo animal cell models. Our aim is to better understand their possible involvement in the pathophysiology associated with metabolic diseases and then propose new nutritional-therapeutic interventions for the treatment of childhood obesity and associated metabolic disorders.
Group members
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Jefe de Grupo Senior
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Investigador
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Jefe de Grupo Senior
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Investigador
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Investigador colaborador
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Investigador pre-doc
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Investigador
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Investigador post-doc
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Investigador
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Investigador pre-doc
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Investigador
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Investigador pre-doc
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Ayudante de investigación
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Investigador post-doc
Last Publications
- Selma-Royo M, Bäuerl C, Mena-Tudela D, Aguilar-Camprubí L, Pérez-Cano FJ, Parra-Llorca A, Lerin C, Martínez-Costa C and Collado MC Anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgA and IgG in human milk after vaccination is dependent on vaccine type and previous SARS-CoV-2 exposure: a longitudinal study. GENOME MEDICINE . 14(1): 42-42.
- Bäuerl C, Randazzo W, Sánchez G, Selma-Royo M, García Verdevio E, Martínez L, Parra-Llorca A, Lerin C, Fumadó Victoria, Crovetto F, Fàtima Crispi Brillas, Pérez-Cano FJ, Rodríguez G, Ruiz-Redondo G, Campoy C, Martínez-Costa C and Collado MC SARS-CoV-2 RNA and antibody detection in breast milk from a prospective multicentre study in Spain. ARCHIVES OF DISEASE IN CHILDHOOD-FETAL AND NEONATAL EDITION . 107(2): 216-221.
- Cárdenas-Fuentes G, Homs C, Ramírez-Contreras C, Juton C, Casas-Esteve R, Grau M, Aguilar-Palacio I, Fitó M, Gomez SF and Schröder H Prospective Association of Maternal Educational Level with Child's Physical Activity, Screen Time, and Diet Quality. Nutrients . 14(1): 160.
Projects
- Project name:
- Non-genomic Inheritance of environmentally-induced traits: Deciphering epigenetically-driven genetic variation in mammals
- Leader
- José Carlos Jiménez Chillarón
- Funding entities:
- John Templenton Foundation
- Code
- ID 62167
- Starting - finishing date:
- 2021 - 2024
- Project name:
- Modulación de la dieta durante las primeras etapas de la vida como estrategia de prevención de la obesidad infantil
- Leader
- Carles Lerin Martinez
- Funding entities:
- Ministerio de Economía Y Competitividad (MINECO)
- Code
- PDC2021-121816-100
- Starting - finishing date:
- 2021 - 2023
- Project name:
- Impact of maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination on breast milk antibodies, milk bioactive compounds and maternal-child health (MilkCORONA)
- Leader
- Carles Lerin Martinez
- Funding entities:
- Fundació La Marató de TV3
- Code
- 202106-32
- Starting - finishing date:
- 2021 - 2023
Theses
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Papel de la microbiota intestinal en el tratamiento del síndrome de Prader-Willi
- Author
- Amat Bou, Montserrat
- Institution
- UNIVERSIDAD DE BARCELONA
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Estudi de l'oncostatina M i de la termogènesi del teixit adipós marró, abans i després de la cirurgia bariàtrica
- Author
- Piquer García, Irene
- Institution
- UNIVERSIDAD DE BARCELONA
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Nutrició perinatal i programació de risc metabòlic a llarg termini: estudi de possibles mecanismes i intervencions en models d’experimentació animal
- Author
- Ramon Krauel, Marta
- Institution
- UNIVERSIDAD DE BARCELONA
News
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Human milk from women infected and vaccinated for coronavirus has antibodies against COVID-19
Human milk from infected women and vaccinated for coronavirus has antibodies against COVID-19, according to two published studies in the medRxiv repository and launched by the scientific consortium MilkCorona,
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Supplementing the maternal diet with betaine during lactation may reduce the risk of childhood obesity
Decreased levels of betaine in breast milk are associated with accelerated growth in babies during the first few months of life, a risk factor for childhood obesity. Study led by a research team from the Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu and SJD Barcelona Children’s Hospital, published in the scientific journal Science Translational Medicine.
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First scientific conference on nanotechnology and rare diseases
The Spanish nanomedicine platform (Nanomed Spain), together with the Sant Joan de Déu Research Institute and the IBEC (Institute of Bioengineering of Catalonia), organised an event within the framework of the Rare Disease Day at which they presented the latest innovations in the field of nanomedicine for the treatment and diagnosis of these diseases.