News

Anna Castells Nobau has been awarded the Best Abstract Award at the international conference The Barcelona Debates on the Human Microbiome, thanks to her innovative research titled “Microviridae bacteriophages influence behavioural hallmarks of food addiction via tryptophan and tyrosine signalling pathways.”

Her study delves into the role of the gut microbiota in food addiction, a condition that affects approximately 16% of the general population and shares neurological mechanisms with substance abuse disorders. In her research, Castells identified a virus from the Microviridae bacteriophage family — harmless to humans but capable of infecting gut bacteria — as a key factor in altering brain circuits related to dopamine, the neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and reward.

“We observed that the presence of this bacteriophage altered neural pathways related to dopamine — the very ones that modulate addictive behaviours toward food. Moreover, when we transferred the microbiota from individuals with food addiction — which contained this virus — to healthy mice, those mice also developed food addiction behaviours,” she explained.

The research also identified a compound capable of blocking the effects of the bacteriophage, thereby preventing changes in the brain and offering a potential protective mechanism against food addiction.

This study provides a new perspective on the biological mechanisms involved in food addiction and opens the door to potential therapeutic strategies based on microbiota modulation.

We are proud to announce that ScienHub has been officially reclassified as a Critical Service Provider by Cardialysis. This recognition reflects the strength of our collaboration and the trust placed in our team’s expertise and commitment to excellence in clinical research. As part of this milestone, we have also updated our Master Service Agreement.

We are currently engaged in six active studies, and we remain fully dedicated to delivering high-quality results as Cardialysis’ trusted Spanish CRO partner.

We look forward to continuing this impactful partnership and contributing to the advancement of cardiovascular research.

On May 9th, we organized the 3rd edition of the HIV Immersion Workshop at the Centre de Simulació Clínica Avançada of the Vall d’Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus. This hands-on workshop, aimed at early-career physicians, focused on comprehensive care for people living with HIV and offered intensive training based on clinical simulation—a tool that is increasingly recognized in the field of medical education.

The workshop brought together 8 participants who rotated through three simulated clinical scenarios, each led by renowned experts in their respective fields.

One of the participants, Dr. Jade Soldado from the Hospital del Mar, especially appreciated the workshop’s collaborative and immersive approach:
«The most important aspect was being able to meet with fellow junior colleagues alongside experts and facilitators. It really helped me gain a broader perspective on what is done in other settings and learn from other professionals», she shared.

In addition to the clinical content, Dr. Soldado emphasized the value of the communication skills developed during the workshop:
«I would highly recommend it. It not only expands your knowledge about HIV but also teaches you how to emotionally engage with patients. Simulation adds immense value, both for those participating and for those observing», she added.

For Dr. Soldado, this type of training represents a turning point in medical education:
«I believe these kinds of workshops are a cornerstone of medical training. Not everything can be theoretical. The practical experience they provide is essential», she concluded.

The event reaffirmed the value of clinical simulation as a training method in HIV care and highlighted the need to continue promoting dynamic and interdisciplinary learning environments.

The Clinical Trials Information System (CTIS) has launched an interactive map that allows patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals to easily access up-to-date information on clinical trials across the European Union. This new tool enables users to search for ongoing studies by medical condition and geographical location, providing clear and accessible data on the study phase, eligibility criteria, trial sites, and contact information for participating centers. As it is a newly launched platform, the available information is being progressively updated to ensure its accuracy and completeness.

Currently, the system gathers information from 8,979 active clinical trials distributed across 8,589 centers throughout Europe.

The tool represents a major step forward in enhancing transparency and real-time access to clinical research.

At ScienHub, we also wanted to contribute to a more open and participatory research environment. That’s why we created the Soc Recerca platform, a space where interested individuals can learn about scientific projects, connect with them, and participate as volunteers in studies.

ScienHub Education, the training platform of the Fundació Lluita contra les Infeccions, has organized the first specialized training event as part of its accreditation as a Center of Excellence in Infectious Diseases by Gilead Sciences. The event, held on February 19 and 20, 2025, brought together experts to discuss the latest advances in SARS-CoV-2 infections and immunocompromised patients.

The program featured specialists such as Dr. Roger Paredes, Head of the Infectious Diseases Department at Hospital Germans Trias, who emphasized: “This course allows us to establish a meeting space to share knowledge on complex infections.” Dr. Lourdes Mateu and Dr. Alba Romero led key sessions on long COVID and kidney transplantation.

This initiative strengthens ScienHub Education’s commitment to innovation and training in the field of infectious diseases.

In 2024, ScienHub launched Soc Recerca, a digital platform designed to connect volunteers with clinical studies and streamline medical research management. Anna Chamorro, Lead Study Coordinator at ScienHub Research Support, highlights its importance in advancing science and making research more accessible.

“Soc Recerca aims to bring research closer to people and make it more interactive, where participants and scientists actively collaborate. It not only facilitates study enrollment but also provides clear information about processes and volunteer rights.”

The platform has optimized recruitment, enabling high-demand studies to find participants quickly and efficiently. A key example was the COVID-19 vaccine trials, where Soc Recerca received 4,000 applications in a single weekend, selecting between 200 and 300 participants in record time.

Beyond recruitment, Anna Chamorro emphasizes the effort to understand what drives or hinders participation in clinical studies:

“We want to learn from volunteers’ experiences, understand their concerns, and improve the information provided to make research more accessible and safer for everyone.”

With the leadership of professionals like Anna Chamorro, ScienHub reaffirms its commitment to medical innovation and informed participation in science.

This February, we co-organized, together with the Fight Infections Foundation, the second edition of the Revolution conference, coordinated by Drs. Boris Revollo and Arkaitz Imaz, which brought together experts to discuss the advances and challenges in the treatment and prevention of HIV. Among the speakers was Alejandro Gaviria, former Minister of Health of Colombia, who shared his experience on the democratization of access to treatments and the financial sustainability of healthcare systems in middle and low-income countries.

Alejandro Gaviria, who led the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of Colombia for six years, highlighted the importance of ensuring equitable access to medications and managing technological pressure, a key challenge for health equity. He also emphasized the bioethical dilemmas he faced as a minister, stressing that many of the challenges in healthcare sustainability stem from decisions on treatment financing. For him, these debates should play a central role in public discussion.

The Fights Infections Foundation and PharmaMar have launched the Thalassa 2.0 trial to evaluate the efficacy of plitidepsin in patients with long COVID. ScienHub Research Support will oversee the study’s execution with patients from the Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, in collaboration with IrsiCaixa.

The phase II study will include 90 patients divided into three groups: one will receive plitidepsin in four cycles, another will receive two cycles of placebo followed by two of plitidepsin, and the third will receive only a placebo.

Primary objective: Assess health changes using the PROMIS-29® system.
Secondary objective: Analyze the safety and tolerability of plitidepsin.

This project strengthens ScienHub’s commitment to researching innovative treatments.

We are pleased to announce the launch of Soc Recerca, the ScienHub Research Support platform designed to recruit volunteers interested in participating in clinical trials. Its mission is to drive clinical medical research and contribute to the advancement of global health.

The importance of Soc Recerca lies in its ability to accelerate the recruitment of volunteers, a crucial factor for the success of clinical trials. The platform not only informs participants about the objectives of each study but also enables a more organized and efficient selection process, fostering more inclusive and participatory research.

The Spanish Agency of Medicines and Medical Devices (AEMPS) has published the Guide for the Implementation of Decentralized Elements in Clinical Trials. This document, created by a multidisciplinary group coordinated by the AEMPS, addresses the increasing use of digital tools in clinical trials. It also complements the European 2022 guide, tackling aspects that were open to interpretation depending on the legislation of each member state. Both guides aim to provide clear recommendations for procedures carried out outside trial centers, ensuring data reliability and facilitating regulatory decision-making.

Decentralized clinical trials (DCTs) bring studies closer to patients through technologies such as telemedicine, virtual recruitment, electronic consent, and mobile nursing. This model helps involve people facing barriers such as distance, limited mobility, or lack of availability to travel.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, ScienHub successfully implemented home-based CTUs, adapting to patients’ needs. We continue to offer these solutions today to ensure the continuity of trials.

The document will be officially presented during the first quarter of 2025 in a discussion held at the AEMPS headquarters. The event will also be available for streaming.

As part of the IMMUNOCORE study, led by Dr. Bea Mothe and Aroa Nieto as Study Coordinator at ScienHub Research Support, a sponsor audit has been carried out with very positive results. The audit committee highlighted the quality of the work carried out and congratulated the team for its excellent management and execution of the study.

IMMUNOCORE’s study is a phase I/II study evaluating the safety, pharmacokinetics and antiviral activity of a new treatment for patients with chronic HIV infection. Tasks performed by team members include trial coordination, performing protocol procedures, data entry, and participant follow-up.

These positive assessments reflect the solidity and quality of the work of the ScienHub Research Support CTU team, made up of more than 20 professionals highly specialized in the implementation of clinical studies.