Neurosurgery

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The Neurosurgery Service has a highly established and recognised research programme, with participation in multicentre projects, clinical trials, international collaborations and a scientific track record supported by numerous publications and doctoral theses. Research is organised both within the service's own lines and in collaboration with other hospital departments and with regional, national and international reference centres.

Our scientific activity is carried out in close coordination with the centre's Multidisciplinary Clinical Research Unit (UPIC) and the Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP), which facilitates participation in Phase I–IV studies, observational studies and multicentre projects, as well as the efficient recruitment of patients for clinical trials. This infrastructure has enabled the consolidation of research contracts for members of the service upon completion of their residency.

 

► Current research lines and active projects

The Neurosurgery Service participates in and leads multicentre projects of high scientific impact, some of which are funded by competitive calls:

Projects

  • Blood-brain barrier dysfunction and oxidative stress in cerebral arteriovenous malformations

Multicentre translational study.

Funding: La Marató de TV3 Foundation (2021–2024).

Translational research focused on the mechanisms of secondary post-resection damage.

  • Early and minimally invasive surgery in intracranial haematomas

Multicentre study.

Funding: ISCIII – FIS Grant (2023–2025).

Evaluation of early biomarkers and their role in secondary brain injury.

  • Intestinal microbiota variability and mortality in subarachnoid haemorrhage

Funding: Trias Talents Grant 2023.

  • Consolidation of research into minimally invasive evacuation of intracranial haematomas

Funding: Trias Sapiens Grant 2023.

  • Relationship between seasonality, environmental pollution and incidence of spontaneous SAH

Study by the Neurosurgery Department without competitive funding.

Completed projects

  • Prospective registry of subarachnoid haemorrhage in Catalonia

Multicentre collaboration. Funding: Ictus Foundation.

  • REACT (Clazosentan) multicentre clinical trial

International study on the prevention of vasospasm after aneurysmal SAH.

 

► Doctoral Theses from the Service

The Service of Neurosurgery has a long history of doctoral theses that have contributed to the generation of knowledge in areas such as functional neurosurgery, vascular surgery and neuro-oncology:

  • ‘Functional stereotactic surgery in Parkinson's disease’

Dr Jorge Luis Muñoz – Instituto Superior de Ciencias Médicas de La Habana (Cuba).

  • ‘Surgical treatment of low-grade gliomas and working memory’

Dr Pilar Teixidor – University of Barcelona.

  • ‘Aneurysms of the Middle Cerebral Artery: Microsurgical Advances and Outcomes’

Dr Ana Rodríguez-Hernández – University of Valladolid.

  • ‘Hydrocephalus in Aneurysmal SAH: Prediction of Shunt Dependence and New Risk Factors’

Dr Roser Garcia-Armengol – Autonomous University of Barcelona.

 

► Participation in clinical trials and translational research

The service's research includes both clinical and basic studies, placing us in a mixed model of translational research. We are particularly involved in:

  • Regular participation in international clinical trials in vascular neurosurgery, neuro-oncology, functional neurosurgery and neurotrauma.
  • Close collaboration with research groups in biomarkers, advanced neuroimaging, hydrocephalus, neurodegenerative diseases and cerebrovascular diseases.
  • Participation in European and international consortia and networks in neurosurgery (for example, EANS and established collaborations with world-renowned centres).

 

► Collaborations and acknowledgements

The Neurosurgery Service actively collaborates with:

  • Centre for Genetic Medicine and Neurocutaneous Diseases (CSUR–Phakomatoses)

Significant involvement in advanced genetic diagnostic projects.

  • IGTP research groups, particularly in:

Neuroinflammation and secondary damage.

Biomarkers in HSA and TBI.

Microbiota and neurological diseases.

  • Multidisciplinary hospital units, such as Neurocritical Care, Interventional Neuroradiology, Neurology and Neuro-oncology.

In addition, the service has been awarded:

  • Germans Trias Talents Grants
  • Trias Sapiens Fellowship

These accolades have enabled the launch of new research lines and the consolidation of high-impact projects.

 

► Scientific output

The Neurosurgery Service maintains a strong scientific output. Its international publications in high-impact journals cover fields such as:

  • Subarachnoid haemorrhage and hydrocephalus
  • Vascular microsurgery
  • Interventional neuroradiology
  • Neuro-oncology and brain tumours
  • Movement disorders and functional surgery
  • TBI and secondary brain injury
  • Biomarkers in neurocritical care

Members of the department regularly publish in journals such as Acta Neurochirurgica, Journal of Neurosurgery, World Neurosurgery, Neurosurgical Focus, Clinical Neurology and Neurosurgery, Frontiers in Neuroscience, among many others.

 

Presentation:

The Neurosurgery Service at the Germans Trias i Pujol University Hospital is part of the Clinical Directorate of Neurosciences.

This service is a well-established centre of excellence in tertiary medicine, combining a high-volume clinical service with a clear focus on innovation, research and teaching. With over 1,000 surgical procedures performed annually, the service addresses all complex neurosurgical conditions with a multidisciplinary and personalised approach.

Our team is composed of highly qualified neurosurgeons, with a balanced structure that combines experience and innovation. Organised as a cohesive unit, we foster individual responsibility and teamwork to provide the highest quality of care.

In addition to clinical practice, the department develops leading lines of work in areas such as skull base surgery and deep brain stimulation (DBS), acting as a centre of reference and for the dissemination of knowledge to other institutions. Parallel to this, we drive translational research projects and actively participate in multicentre studies, collaborating with national and international bodies.

Education is also a fundamental pillar: we contribute to the continuing professional development of healthcare professionals through accredited courses, seminars and academic activities, whilst integrating the latest surgical and digital technologies into routine clinical practice.

Our commitment to excellence in patient care and continuous improvement positions us as an innovative service, with a forward-looking vision dedicated to medical progress and patient well-being.

 

Featured service news: 

Tipus Servei: 9

Correu: neurociencies.germanstrias@gencat.cat

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Pre-graduate teaching

The Service of Neurosurgery actively participates in the university education of future doctors through the Teaching Unit of the Can Ruti Campus of the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB).

The service collaborates in the theoretical and practical teaching of the Medicine degree, providing specialised clinical training in neurosurgery, both through hospital rotations and seminar activities and sessions integrated with other neurological and surgical specialities.

 

Postgraduate teaching

The Service of Neurosurgery provides postgraduate training through the Neurosurgery MIR Programme, accepting one resident per year.

The department has been training neurosurgery specialists continuously since 2003, establishing a solid and recognised teaching track record.

Residents have access to training in:

  • Functional neurosurgery and stereotaxy
  • Vascular neurosurgery
  • Complex spine and spinal surgery
  • Neuro-oncology
  • Emergency neurosurgery and traumatic brain injury
  • Minimally invasive procedures
  • Image-guided surgery, neuronavigation and augmented reality

They also participate in multidisciplinary sessions, supplementary rotations and research activities linked to the service and the Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP).

 

Information for residents 

  • 1 accredited place per year.
  • Check the Teaching Guide.
  • High participation in national and international congresses.
  • Access to competitive research lines and the opportunity to undertake doctoral thesis work.
  • Remarkable employment rate after residency, both at the same centre and in national and international reference hospitals.
  • Intensive surgical training from the first year, with progressive supervision and participation in high-complexity procedures.
  • On-call duties integrated into the Neurosurgery team, with continuous support from consultants and opportunities for emergency surgery training.
  • Find out what our residents think about the Neurosurgery service of the Germans Trias.

 

Continuous training

The Neurosurgery Service holds weekly continuing education sessions for both its own staff and other hospital specialists.

It also organises specialised courses for professionals from other centres, focusing on:

  • Surgical approaches to the spine
  • Surgery for Parkinson's disease and other movement disorders
  • Updates in functional neurosurgery and translational medicine
  • Emerging technologies: neuronavigation, augmented reality and minimally invasive surgery

These activities allow the department to maintain a constant level of up-to-date knowledge, strengthen collaboration with other hospitals and position it as a centre of excellence for neurosurgical education in Catalonia.