The research consists of two fundamental lines: clinical research and basic laboratory research.

Clinical research

The group is at present carrying out 6 competitive public research projects approved by external agencies (4 by the Ministry of Health and 2 by the Ministry of Education and Science) and 2 competitive basic research projects financed by private funds (information updated to February 2006).
The research group co-ordinates a national research programme in diabetes and forms part of a European resistance-to-insulin network. At present it is collaborating with centres in Lyon (France), Rome (Italy), Bialystok (Poland), Aarhus (Denmark), Osaka (Japan), Phoenix (USA) and Melbourne (Australia).
The research is concerned with the study of metabolic and nutritional factors connected with health maintenance and illness-free ageing.

Metabolic techniques carried out:
 
      •   Multi-canal bio-electric impairment measurement
      •   Test of endovenous tolerance to glucose with repetitive sampling
      •   Hyperinsulinemic euglycaemic clamp
      •   Vascular reactivity test by means of high resolution Doppler ultrasound
      •   Vascular reactivity test by means of laser

Laboratory research

In 2003 a laboratory research unit was created at the Girona Hospital, later to become integrated in the activity of the Girona Research Institute. Its main aim is to  increase basic knowledge of clinical findings.

      •    Cell cultures

- Modelization of hepatocytes in culture as an action target for insulin

      •     Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

- Calculation of protein total by means of ELIZA

- Calculation of the expression and study of genetic polymorphisms by means of  real-time PCR
- Sequencing of ADN for the study of genetic polymorphisms
- Miniarrays for the study of expression of genes in adipose and muscular tissue

- Massive study of SNPs in collaboration with external agencies