La Marató 2020 promotes 36 research projects to fight COVID-19

La Marató de TV3 and Catalunya Ràdio in 2020, dedicated to COVID-19, will give 12.5 million euros to fund 36 excellence biomedical research projects to improve the quality and life expectancy of people affected by SARS-CoV-2.

The 2020 edition received 229 projects, assessed by ninety-five scientists from international fields, experts on this issue. The assessment criteria were quality, methodology and relevance of the proposals. The management of such assessment was carried out by the Agency for Health Quality and Assessment of Catalonia, from the Department of Health of the Catalan Government.

Awarded projects in La Marató 2020 leaded by the Institute of Neurosciences og the University of Barcelona

“Cognition, emotion/behaviour, brain functionality and connectivity in recovered COVID-19 patients (NAUTILUS)”

Bàrbara Segura Fàbregas, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (University of Barcelona); Maite Garolera Freixa, Joan Costa Roma Hospital de Terrassa Foundation; Claudio Ulises Cortés Garcia, Technical University of Catalonia

Funding: 399,268.75 €


“Characterization and modulation of neural networks to promote resilience to COVID-19 pandemic”

David Bartrés Faz, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (University of Barcelona); Álvaro Pascual-Leone García, Guttmann Institute Neurorehabilitation Hospital Foundation

Funding: 296,355.00 €




“Reduction of the psychosocial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in nursing home staff”

Josep Maria Haro Abad, Institute for Research and Teaching Sant Joan de Déu Private Foundation; Ellen Marïet Sijbrandij, Free University of Amsterdam; José Luis Ayuso Mateos, Faculty of Medicine of the Autonomous University of Madrid Funding: 309,920.00 €

“Efficiency and neurologic adverse effects of the vaccine against COVID-19 in immunoexpressed multiple sclerosis patients”

Albert Saiz Hinarejos, August Pi i Sunyer Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBAPS) and Hospital Clínic de Barcelona; Thaís Armangué Salvador, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu Foundation for Research and Teaching; Luis Antonio Querol Gutiérrez, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau Research Institute (IRHSCSP)

Funding: 397,442.50 €

“SARS-CoV-2-induced neurodegeneration: brain organoids as an analytical and predictive model (NeuroCOVID)“

Sandra Acosa, Institute of Neurosciences UB; Xavier Martínez Picado, IrsiCaixa; Arcadi Navarro, Fundació BarcelonaBeta Brain Research Center Barcelona FBB

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