The latest edition of La Marató de 3Cat, dedicated to research on respiratory diseases, raised 10 million euros to support 36 projects led by 60 research teams across Catalonia. Respiratory diseases affect beyond two million people in the region, represent the second leading cause of hospital admission and the third leading cause of death, and are one of today’s major public health challenges.
Within this framework, the Institut de Recerca Sant Pau (IR Sant Pau) will participate in four projects funded by the Fundació La Marató de 3Cat, which will allocate nearly half a million euros in total to the research activities carried out at the center. These projects cover a wide range of areas within respiratory health—from basic and preclinical research to clinical and public health studies—and strengthen Sant Pau’s contribution to the study of these diseases.
The projects funded and linked to Sant Pau involve researchers David de la Rosa Carrillo, David Ramos Barbón, Otavio Ranzani, and Ivan Castellví Barranco. All are engaged in initiatives that will promote high-quality biomedical research in the field of respiratory diseases and foster collaboration between research centers.
Among the initiatives led from Sant Pau, the clinical trial coordinated by Dr. David de la Rosa Carrillo, with a budget of 200,000 euros, will evaluate the use of inhaled antibiotics in patients with bronchiectasis not associated with cystic fibrosis. The study aims to determine whether this treatment can reduce exacerbations and improve quality of life in these patients, who often suffer from recurrent infections and progressive loss of lung function. The project will follow a randomized, double-blind design to ensure maximum reliability of the results.
With a similar budget of around 200,000 euros, Dr. David Ramos Barbón will lead a study focused on discovering and validating new small molecules capable of reversing airway remodeling in asthma. This structural process contributes to the severity and chronicity of the disease and will be studied through preclinical models to evaluate the therapeutic potential of different compounds. The findings could pave the way for future clinical trials and innovative pharmacological approaches.
Dr. Otavio Ranzani, researcher at IR Sant Pau, will coordinate the project Protecting Respiratory Health in Catalonia: Climate, Air, and Health (PRISMA-CAT), with a funding allocation of approximately 125,000 euros. The study will analyze how air pollution and climate variability affect the respiratory health of the Catalan population. By integrating environmental, epidemiological, and public health data, the project aims to identify risk patterns and develop preventive strategies to protect the most vulnerable groups from the impact of climate change.
Finally, Dr. Ivan Castellví Barranco will take part in a project led by the Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), for which IR Sant Pau will receive 90,000 euros. The study will focus on identifying cellular and molecular biomarkers in bronchoalveolar lavage to improve the diagnosis and monitoring of sarcoidosis. This systemic inflammatory disease, which can impact multiple organs—particularly the lungs—will be analyzed using advanced techniques to better understand the immune mechanisms that determine its progression and treatment response.
Through these four projects, IR Sant Pau will strengthen its contribution to respiratory disease research and its commitment to translating scientific knowledge into better health outcomes for the population. The collaboration with La Marató de 3Cat continues to be a key driver for advancing excellence in biomedical research that directly addresses real patient needs.
