The Clinical Research Unit (UIC) is a transversal platform for supporting clinical research that manages and promotes biomedical research, making itself available to all researchers, within the scope of Tarragona’s healthcare institutions, which serve a population of approximately 800,000 inhabitants.
It includes the Joan XXIII (Tarragona) and Sant Joan (Reus) University Hospitals, the Institut Pere Mata University Hospital (Reus), the Verge de la Cinta Hospital (Tortosa), and the Santa Tecla Hospital (Tarragona), among others.
The main objective is to support, promote and enhance clinical research carried out within and from the Institution, guaranteeing ethical, scientific and quality standards, in order to carry out efficient studies and ensuring compliance with current regulations.
The UIC has two parallel infrastructures located on one side in the Joan XXIII Health Park (HUJ23) and on the other in the Sant Joan University Hospital (HUSJR) to carry out and support clinical trials, observational studies and intervention studies. Both nodes have multipurpose clinical consultations equipped with systems for monitoring vital signs for clinical trials and studies; consultations for specific body composition studies; equipment for functional tests related to basal and postprandial metabolism and assessment of new drug treatment; and space to carry out complementary tests.
In addition, from 2027, the UIC located in HUSJR will have a Phase I Clinical Trials Unit, Phase II and III clinical consultations, a clinical study monitoring room with remote digital access, its own archive and document management area, a space to manage the pharmacy service and a laboratory for sample processing. In addition, advanced technology equipment will be incorporated:
Gemma Aragonès Bargalló
Unit Coordinator
Cristina Sepúlveda Carcelero
Higher Administrative Technician (CTA)
cristina.sepúlveda@irbcatsud.cat
Sara Candelas Barcina
Nurse / Clinical Trials Coordinator
Gloria Torres Perez
Nurse / Clinical Trials Coordinator
María José Pastor Ramírez
Nurse / Clinical Trials Coordinator
mariajose.pastor@irbcatsud.cat
Brenno Domínguez Porfirio
Data Manager – metabolism expert
brenno.dominguez@irbcatsud.cat
Nina Vidal González
Data Manager – Nutritionist
Francesc Xavier Ramon Anglada
Specialist Technician in Radiodiagnosis and Imaging
francescxavier.ramon@irbcatsud.cat
– Administrative and documentary management: Preparation of financial reports, review of the documentation necessary for the formalization of contracts and performance of tasks linked to study management, such as contact, monitoring and control of documentation with CROs and clinical study promoters, among others.
– Coordination of clinical trials and studies: Guarantees compliance with the protocol, data integrity and fluid communication between all agents involved, ensuring that the trial is carried out with the highest quality and regulatory standards.
– Research Nursing Support: Technical execution of the study protocol, performance of clinical procedures, monitoring and care of participants, accurate recording of data and compliance with GCP regulations.
– Data Recording; Collection, updating and recording of study data through CRFs, response to monitor queries (CRA), among others.
– Functional-Metabolism Studies; Postprandial metabolism tests (OGTT, MTT) that provide a dynamic view of metabolic mechanisms and drug action, ideal for early phases of therapy development, and the euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp test (EHC), the reference method for assessing insulin sensitivity. In addition, a metabolic chamber is available to perform indirect calorimetry studies to analyze energy expenditure.
– Body Composition Study; Analysis of the distribution and metabolism of adipose tissue.
– Medical Imaging Service; Characterization of organs and tissues as well as their anatomical and functional properties.
– Scientific and/or technical support to researchers: Advice from study design to final execution to ensure solid and transferable results.
The aim of the platforms is to provide a quality scientific, technical and methodological support service for internal and external researchers at the IRB CatSud.
+ 34 977 75 89 27 / + 34 977 29 79 96
uic.adminitracio@irbcatsud.cat
Tarragona Node:
+34 630518491
Reus Node:
+34 686432860
The Cell Culture Platform is a technical and scientific support unit that offers support to research groups, both internal and external to the IRB CatSud, providing them with the appropriate facilities and equipment for the cultivation, maintenance and execution of bioassays with eukaryotic cells.
The Statistical Support Platform is a cross-cutting platform for statistical support to researchers that offers a support and advice service in all phases of the development of a research project: methodology, design, analysis and publication.
The Clinical Pharmacy Department is a central clinical support service with its own activities and support for the other healthcare services of the ICS Camp de Tarragona.
Bioinformatics service available to all IRB CatSud professionals.
The Cell Culture Platform is a technical and scientific support unit that offers support to research groups, both internal and external to the IRB CatSud, providing them with the appropriate facilities and equipment for the cultivation, maintenance and execution of bioassays with eukaryotic cells.
The Statistical Support Platform is a cross-cutting platform for statistical support to researchers that offers a support and advice service in all phases of the development of a research project: methodology, design, analysis and publication.
The Clinical Pharmacy Department is a central clinical support service with its own activities and support for the other healthcare services of the ICS Camp de Tarragona.
Bioinformatics service available to all IRB CatSud professionals.