Atherothrombosis in Systemic autoinmune diseases. IR: Rosario López Pedrera.

Objectives: Our team studies the cellular and molecular mechanisms of atherothrombosis development in three systemic autoimmune diseases: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) and Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). We further analyze the regulatory mechanisms promoted by new therapeutic approaches such as Statins, biological therapies (i.e. anti-TNF, anti-IL6, anti-Blyss), biosimilars, and new drugs with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects (i.e. Coenzyme Q10, cannabinoids).

Biomarkers for Systemic Autoimmune Diseases. IR: Eduardo Collantes Estévez and Rosario López Pedrera.

Objectives: Our research group also investigates new molecular biomarkers involved in the development of systemic autoimmune diseases. Specifically, the group conducts various research projects among which we can detach the so-called PRECISESADS (Molecular Reclassification to Find clinically Useful Biomarkers for Systemic Autoimmune Diseases), an European project funded by the "Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI)".

The aim of PRECISESADS is the use of -omics and bioinformatics tools for the reclassification of EAS that share common pathophysiological mechanisms. The project aims to push for personalized medicine based on clinical and molecular profiles of the individual by promoting a substantial improvement in the processes of prediction, diagnosis, and clinical developments as well as in monitoring therapeutic response.

Mechanisms involved in the development of insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome in rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis. IR: Nuria Barbarroja

Description: Metabolic disorders are strongly associated with systemic autoimmune and chronic inflammatory diseases. Our group just started a new research area focused on the study of the mechanisms involved in the development of metabolic comorbidities in rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis.

The main objectives are:

• To analyze the role of the chronic systemic inflammation in the glucose and lipid metabolism in rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis
• To study the effect of conventional therapies (DMARDs), new agents (Apremilast) and other biologic drugs (anti-TNFa) on the metabolic syndrome associated with chronic inflammatory diseases.

Inflammation and Chronic Arthropathies. IR: Eduardo Collantes Estévez.

Objectives: Our group has 3 lines of research in this field:

• Clinical and epidemiological aspects of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) (activity and disease severity) at local, national (Spanish Registry EA: REGISPONSER) and international levels (European and Latin American Registry of EA (E: RESPONDIA). In the two former we are coordinators.
• Development of a new system for evaluating the mobility of patients with AS (as an expression of structural damage and disease severity) by informatics technologies developed by our group (UCOTRACK. computerized motion capture using artificial vision; patented).
• Study of the cellular and molecular mechanisms of the inflammatory and osteoproliferative pathways, in order to find new therapeutic targets.