Skip to main content
Close

The team studies the effect of ageing on the immune system and analyses the role played by the immune system in diseases such as post COVID-19 condition

The Translational Research in Immunology and Ageing (TRIA) research group focuses on translational studies to investigate the remodeling of the immune system after viral infections and during the process of ageing, focusing on three main lines of research: inflammageing and immunosenescence during HIV infection, COVID-19 vaccine response in older adults and studies on post-COVID-19 condition.

  • Inflammageing and immunosenescence during HIV infection. Despite the great improvement brought about by ART therapy, the prevalence of age-related comorbidities is higher in HIV-infected population. We study this accentuated ageing and characterize immune dysfunction, HIV reservoir and altered metabolism in ART-treated individuals. People living with HIV have a higher prevalence of cardiovascular events than the general population, associated with persistent systemic inflammation, which has also been associated with epigenetic and metabolic changes in monocytes. In this line, and in close collaboration with Dr. David Dalmau of the Fundació de Docència i Recerca Mútua Terrassa, the TRIA group is studying the metabolic and epigenetic profile of monocytes, and their involvement in systemic inflammation and cardiovascular risk (Gilead grants, CardioMetabol).
  • COVID-19 vaccine response in older adults. We are working in close collaboration with the Metropolitana Nord Primary Care Centre (DAP-MN) to evaluate the immune response generated by COVID-19 vaccines in previously infected and uninfected older adults living in long-term care facilities as well as noninstitutionalized older individuals, to adapt the SARS-CoV-2 vaccination calendar to their specific immune needs.
  • Studies on post-COVID-19 condition. In addition, our group has contributed to the establishment of the referral national clinical unit of post-COVID-19 condition at Germans Trias i Pujol Hospital, where patients who experience heterogeneous and debilitating persistent symptoms for months after SARS-CoV-2 infection are followed. In this unit, clinical care management is completely linked to longitudinal research studies to assure the well being of the patient as well to determine the origin(s) of the persistent symptomatology. In our group, we are characterizing the immune dysfunctions behind post-COVID-19 condition, to find diagnostic markers and identify treatment interventions that could lead to the recovery of these patients. We are currently participating in a clinical intervention to treat this condition (PAX study, plasmapheresis, NCT05445674).

 

Marta Massanella Luna
Principal investigator
Marta Massanella Luna
Marta Massanella graduated in Biology at the University Pompeu Fabra (Barcelona) and completed her PhD in Biomedicine at IrsiCaixa under the supervision of Dr. Julià Blanco in 2012. During her PhD,…
Go to profile
Not available in
This is not available in . You can go to the translated versions in these languages: