La Marató 2021 endorses UBneuro research projects on mental health

In 2021, La Marató de TV3 i Catalunya Ràdio was dedicated to mental health in order to raise public awareness of disorders with many stigmas, and it raised 12.1 million euros. Now, these funds will be used to promote 36 research projects led by 81 research teams.

With the funds raised thanks to this solidarity initiative, new tools will be created for the prevention and diagnosis of mental illnesses, and more efficient treatments will be designed, with the aim of improving the quality of life of patients and their families.

A total of 150 projects applied for this funding, and these were assessed by 111 international experts on mental health. They assessed the projects’ quality, methodology and relevance. This evaluation was managed by the Catalan Agency for Health Quality and Evaluation of the Catalan Ministry of Health. In the coming years, the 81 winning research teams will work to find answers and offer a comprehensive approach to mental health.

As in previous editions, La Marató promotes UB research projects, in this case, dedicated to the fight against mental illness.

List of La Marató 2021 awarded projects linked to the Institute of Neurosciences

“Retinal structure as a potential biomarker in schizophrenia disorders”

Miquel Bernardo, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, UBneuro, August Pi i Sunyer Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBAPS) and Hospital Clínic de Barcelona.

Funding: €46,312.50

“Clinical, cognitive, epigenetic and neuroimaging characteristics of children and adolescents born to patients with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder: creation of a predictive model of psychopathology and functioning at ten years”

Josefina Castro, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, UBneuro, August Pi i Sunyer Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBAPS) and Hospital Clínic de Barcelona.

Funding: €197,803.75

“Non-invasive home-based brain stimulation for treatment-resistant depression: feasibility, efficacy and biomarkers of treatment response”

David Bartrés-Faz, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, UBneuro and August Pi i Sunyer Biomedical Research Institute; Gabriele Cattaneo, Guttmann Institute Neurorehabilitation Hospital and Guttmann Institute Foundation.

Funding: €298,850

“New therapeutic targets in depression: the role of situational perception”

David Gallardo, Faculty of Psychology, UBneuro; Marta Subirà, Parc Taulí Foundation; Miquel Domènech, Autonomous University of Barcelona.

Funding: €399,787.50

“Improving the treatment of childhood anorexia through exposure to the body with virtual reality”

José Gutiérrez, Faculty of Psychology, UBneuro

Funding: €192,187.50

“Study of the accelerated ageing hypothesis in schizophrenia: analysis of the epigenetic clock in advanced age: ENCLOSE-Age study (EpigeNetic CLOck in SchizophrEnia- inAged adults)”

Rafael Penadés, Faculty of Psychology, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona and Clinic Foundation for Biomedical Research; Bárbara Segura, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, UBneuro.

Funding: €137,447.31

“Design and analysis of the efficacy of a brief intervention based on a mobile application for self-harm: self-report, momentary and biological measures as predictors of treatment”

Marina López, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, UBneuro; Daniel Vega, Igualada Health Foundation; Jordi Solé Casals, Balmes University Foundation; Azucena García, Jaume I University.

Funding: €398,526.25

“Deciphering the clinical, neurobiological and genetic correlates of first mania episodes in bipolar disorder: NOTION project”

Eduard Vieta, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, UBneuro, August Pi i Sunyer Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBAPS) and Hospital Clínic de Barcelona; Sergi Mas, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences; María Mur, Institute of Biomedical Research of Lleida (IRBLL) and Dr Pifarré Foundation; Silvia Amoretti, Vall d’Hebron University Hospital Foundation – Research Institute (VHIR).

Funding: €399,699.25

“Glutamatergic neurotransmission and its correlates in brain structure and function during the neurodevelopmental trajectory leading to schizophrenia: from mice to humans”

Gisela Sugranyes, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona and August Pi i Sunyer Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBAPS), UBneuro; Jordi Llop, Centre for Cooperative Research in Biomaterials-CIC (CIC biomaGUNE)

Funding: €297,978.50