The research group in Pediatric Endocrinology is led by Dr. Abel López-Bermejo since 2008. His current research is focused on the study of various alterations of postnatal growth and puberty, such as early puberty and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).
The research team leads multiple competitive research projects and supervises several doctoral and master theses in this line of research. It has the collaboration of research, clinical and healthcare staff at a national and international level. The curriculum highlights multiple publications in international indexed journals. In recent years, several metabolic, genetic and epigenetic markers have been characterized in relation to alterations in pre- and postnatal growth and metabolic dysfunction in school-aged children.
The group's main line of research is the identification of new markers that make it possible to predict the appearance and evolution of various alterations of postnatal growth and puberty. The group's specific lines of research are the following:
Study: longitudinal clinical study in cohorts of healthy pregnant women and newborns included in the health areas of Girona and the University Hospital of Girona Dr. Josep Trueta
Objective: To analyze the epigenetic marks in imprinted genes in placenta and umbilical cord as predictors of postnatal growth and susceptibility to developing metabolic and cardiovascular diseases in adulthood.
Methods: clinical, biochemical, imaging and in vivo studies (development of animal models for the analysis of epigenetic marks in tissues of metabolic regulation - liver and adipose tissue - of the offspring).
Funding: line of research consolidated with FIS projects PI13/01257, PI16/01335 and PI19/00451.
Study: studies and clinical trials in adolescents with PCOS and girls with advanced puberty included in the health areas of Girona and at the University Hospital of Girona Dr. Josep Trueta
Objectives: 1) develop a new effective metabolic treatment for PCOS; 2) Determine if metabolic treatment for PCOS can slow accelerated maturation in girls with advanced puberty; 3) To study the epigenetic factors related to pubertal evolution in girls with advanced puberty.
Methods: Observational studies and clinical drug trials in adolescents with PCOS and girls with advanced puberty.
Funding: line of research funded by the European project H2020-SC1-2020-Two-Stage-RTD SPIOMET4HEALTH 899671-2 and projects ICI21/00005 and PI22/00366.
General:
• Promote research in the area of pediatric endocrinology.
• Design new disease prevention and patient assistance strategies.
• Establish research collaborations with national and international groups in the main lines of research.
Specific:
• Generate new advances in clinical research on growth and puberty disorders.
• Analyze epigenetic marks in imprinted genes, in placenta and umbilical cord, as predictive factors of postnatal growth and cardiometabolic risk factors in children of the general population.
• Identify epigenetic marks in peripheral blood of girls with advanced puberty as factors associated with the onset of puberty and as predictive factors of pubertal evolution.
• Identify new targets and therapeutic molecules
PCOS in Adolescent Girls and Young Women: Toward a Treatment Guided by Pathophysiology
Codi oficial: 210653186 Start date:01/04/2021 Data fi: 31/03/2026 Investigador/a principal: ABEL LÓPEZ BERMEJO Organisme finançador: EUROPEAN COMISSIONA Phase II, randomised, multi-centric, multi-national clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy, tolerability, and safety of a fixed dose combination of Spironolactone, Pioglitazone & Metformin (SPIOMET) for adolescent girls and young adult women (AYAs) with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
Codi oficial: ICI21/00005 Start date:01/01/2022 Data fi: 31/12/2025 Investigador/a principal: ABEL LÓPEZ BERMEJO Organisme finançador: INSTITUTO DE SALUD CARLOS IIIEpigenética en niñas con pubertad adelantada y predicción de su evolución puberal
Codi oficial: PI22/00366 Start date:01/01/2023 Data fi: 31/12/2025 Investigador/a principal: ABEL LÓPEZ BERMEJO Organisme finançador: INSTITUTO DE SALUD CARLOS IIIEfectos del tratamiento con Spiomet a mitad de dosis en niñas con pubertad adelantada y aceleración de la maduración ósea: Estudio multicéntrico, aleatorizado y controlado con placebo
Codi oficial: ICI21/00005 Start date:01/01/2022 Data fi: 31/12/2025 Investigador/a principal: ABEL LÓPEZ BERMEJO Organisme finançador: INSTITUTO DE SALUD CARLOS IIIRed Temática de Investigación Traslacional en Pubertad
Codi oficial: RED2022-134687-T Start date:01/06/2023 Data fi: 31/05/2025 Investigador/a principal: ABEL LÓPEZ BERMEJO Organisme finançador: MINISTERIO DE ECONOMIA E INNOVACIONAjuda de personal Suport als grups PERIS - Obesitat i risc cardiovascular en pediatria
Codi oficial: SLT028/23/000143 Start date:03/08/2023 Data fi: 31/12/2025 Investigador/a principal: ABEL LÓPEZ BERMEJO Organisme finançador: GENERALITAT DE CATALUNYANovel insights into the pathogenesis of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome using a genetic 'model: identification of potential biomarkers for early diagnosis in humans
Codi oficial: 36/C/2024 Start date:10/03/2025 Data fi: 10/03/2028 Investigador/a principal: ABEL LÓPEZ BERMEJO Organisme finançador: FUNDACIO LA MARATO TV3Impronta genética y crecimiento recuperativo postnatal en recién nacidos con bajo peso al nacimiento
Codi oficial: INVEST-AEP_2019_ALB Start date:20/02/2025 Data fi: 31/12/2025 Investigador/a principal: ABEL LÓPEZ BERMEJO Organisme finançador: ASOCIACIÓN ESPAÑOLA DE PEDIATRIA
