Endocrinology & Nephrology
Diabetes & Metabolism
Rafael Simó
Principal Investigators Cristina Hernández Pascual, David Martínez Selva, Josep A Villena Delgado | Researchers Patricia Mónica Bogdanov, Andreea Ciudin, Marta García Ramírez, Albert Lecube Torello, Jorge Mesa Manteca, Carles Zafon Llopis | Researchers in training Lidia Corraliza Márquez, Cristina Sáez Lopez, Cristina Solà Adell, Olga Simó Servat | Nursing, technical and administrative staff Lorena Ramos Pérez, Tania Martínez Pamies, Eila Van Reck Nofre
Summary
Our research is addressed towards gaining new insights in the pathogenesis and treatment of prevalent diseases such as diabetes and obesity. In fact, type 2 diabetes and obesity are the most prevalent metabolic diseases world-wide, reaching epidemic proportions, and constitute two of the biggest current health problems. Within the field of diabetes our main line of research is devoted to diabetic retinopathy (DR) which is the most common diabetic complication. Current treatments for DR are applicable only at advanced stages of the disease and are associated with significant adverse effects. Therefore, new pharmacological treatments for the early stages of the disease are needed. In this regard, treatments based on neuroprotection open up a new approach for preventing or arresting DR development. It should be noted that we are coordinating the first clinical trial using eye drops for the treatment of the early stages of DR. In addition, we are developing a new score system to better identify type 2 diabetic patients at risk of ischemic events and worse outcomes. Finally, we are evaluating the usefulness of the assessment of retinal neurodegeneration to identify diabetic patients at risk for developing Metabolism disease.