Organised by: Clinical Research Unit, IISPV – IRB CatSud
Event details
Date: January 23, 2026
Time: from 09:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Venue: Multipurpose Hall of the University Hospital Sant Joan de Reus
The rigorous design and implementation of clinical nutrition studies are essential to ensure reliable, reproducible results with a real impact on population health. The aim of this workshop is to address, in a practical and applied manner, the main methodological, ethical and operational aspects involved in the nutrition research process, from the initial formulation of the research question to the dissemination of results.
Through lectures delivered by professionals with extensive experience, key topics will be addressed, such as researcher bias, appropriate study design, data management and protection, good laboratory practices, participant recruitment and retention, reporting according to international standards, and strategies for communicating scientific results.
• To ensure rigorous, high-quality nutrition research from the initial phases of the project.
• To identify and prevent researcher bias in clinical studies.
• To improve methodological design, data management and research reproducibility.
• To provide practical tools for participant recruitment, follow-up and retention.
• To promote appropriate reporting and responsible dissemination of scientific results.
• Ability to design clinical nutrition studies using sound methodological criteria.
• Identification of sources of bias and application of strategies to minimise them.
• Efficient, secure and structured management of research data.
• Application of good laboratory practices to ensure reproducibility.
• Knowledge of CONSORT guidelines and strategies for responsible scientific dissemination.
• Researchers in nutrition and health
• Technical and research support staff
• Scientific platform staff
• Healthcare professionals
• Students and individuals interested in nutrition research
09:15 a.m. – Opening session
09:30 a.m. – Researcher bias in nutrition (25 min)
Dr Sangeetha Shyam – Human Nutrition Unit, IISPV
Definition. Researcher bias in the nutrition research process. Consequences of researcher bias for nutrition. Ways to prevent it. Examples of bias.
Based on: Shyam S, Salas-Salvadó J. The impact of investigator bias in nutrition research. Frontiers in Nutrition. 2025 Apr 17;12:1513343
09:55 a.m. – The importance of ensuring rigorous research from the outset (45 min)
Dr Jordi Salas-Salvadó – Human Nutrition Unit, IISPV
Better not to publish just for the sake of publishing. Who should be involved in project design. The importance of properly formulating the research question. Choosing the appropriate design to answer the question. Inclusion and exclusion criteria and sample size calculation. How to recruit participants. Proper intervention design. Choosing the appropriate tools. Design of the statistical analysis plan. Design of how results will be reported. Design of a contingency plan. Data sharing.
10:40 a.m. – Coffee break ☕
11:10 a.m. – Data collection and data management in clinical studies (30 min)
Dr Nancy Babio – Human Nutrition Unit, URV
Planning and standardisation of data collection: clear definition of variables, data sources and tools (CRFs, questionnaires, electronic records). Quality, validation and entry of collected information. Management, cleaning and structuring of databases (clear coding, handling of missing values). Secure data storage and data protection (secure storage systems with access control, backups and appropriate documentation).
11:50 a.m. – Good laboratory practices: the foundation of reproducible research (30 min)
Dr Maria Vinaixa – MIL@b Group – Metabolomics Platform, IISPV/URV
Good Laboratory Practices (GLP) establish a quality system that regulates how laboratories plan, conduct and record their studies to ensure research reproducibility. GLP involve having well-defined study protocols, ensuring data traceability, applying standard operating procedures, maintaining equipment calibration and validation, ensuring comprehensive documentation of the research process and promoting continuous training, among others. Beyond ensuring quality standards, GLP enable high-level, high-impact research.
12:20 p.m. – The art of recruiting participants (10 min)
Drs Verònica Luque and Carme Rubio – Paediatrics, Nutrition and Human Development Research Unit (PEDINUR)
Recruiting volunteers in nutrition studies is an art in itself: from finding them in diverse settings to communicating information in a clear and approachable way. In this talk, we will explore how to make the process legally sound, ethically respectful and effective.
12:30 p.m. – Avoiding dropout (10 min)
Dr Indira Paz Graniel – Human Nutrition Unit, URV
Strategies used in different nutritional intervention studies to reduce dropout and maintain participant adherence, especially in long-term studies, will be shared. The most effective actions to maintain participant engagement and retention over time will be highlighted.
12:40 p.m. – Reporting and CONSORT guidelines (15 min)
Dr Sangeetha Shyam – Human Nutrition Unit, IISPV
Importance of complete and accurate reporting in research. Reporting guidelines according to study design. CONSORT 2025 Statement: updated guideline for the publication of randomised clinical trials. CONSORT extension for nutrition – examples of good practice.
12:55 p.m. – Dissemination of results (15 min)
Dr Jordi Júlvez – NeuroÈpia Group, IISPV
The dissemination of scientific results is the mechanism through which knowledge generated by research is transferred to society. In this session, several examples of how to communicate these results will be presented, especially in cases where the information is sensitive for society or potentially controversial. These contexts require a more reflective and careful approach to communication strategies.
01:10 p.m. – The new IISPV Clinical Research Unit (CRU): UpToDate (15 min)
Dr Joan Vendrell – Director of IISPV
01:30 p.m. – Closing session
INFORMACIO IMPORTANT
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