The CEEISCAT Centre for Epidemiological Studies of Sexually Transmitted Disease and AIDS in Catalonia (CEEISCAT) is a structural service of the Catalan Institute of Oncology (ICO). It is functionally directed by the Programme for the Prevention, Control and Care for HIV, Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) and Viral Hepatitis (PCAVIHV) of the Ministry of Health of the Government of Catalonia.

Since 1995 the CEEISCAT has been responsible for the epidemiological observation (VO) and monitoring and evaluation (M&E) of HIV and STDs, it carries this out in coordination with the corresponding Subdirectors, programmes and units of the Ministry of Health. The epidemiological observation activities are carried out within the framework of the Network of Epidemiological Observation of the Commission for Epidemiological Observation, to which it belongs, along with the Deputy Director General for Observation and Emergency Response in Public Health and the Units of Epidemiological Observation (UVE). The relationship is governed by a contract between the Ministry of Health and the ICO, which is also the organization that executes the activities. Since 2018, the CEEISCAT has also been responsible for monitoring and evaluating the Elimination Plan for Hepatitis C in Catalonia, within the PCAVIHV.

The CEEISCAT also obtains competitive funding from national and international agencies and the private sector; these funds are executed and managed by the IGTP. CEEISCAT staff are located in the IGTP Muntanya Building on Campus Can Ruti and in the adjacent Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute building.

The CEEISCAT has been recognized by the Catalan Agency for Management of University and Research Grants (AGAUR) as a consolidated research group since 2006 and together with the Microbiology Service of the Germans Trias Hospital, it constitutes a Node (group 27) in the Network of Excellence in Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP). Group 27 coordinates the Programme of Biological, Behavioural and Structural Determinants for the Acquisition and Propagation of Transmissible Diseases in Vulnerable Populations (DAPET) in the Sub-Programme for Immigration and Health and the recently created one for Infections Transmissible by Organic Body Fluids (HIV/STDs/HAV/HBV/HCV/HPV) in vulnerable populations.

On the Can Ruti Campus the CEEISCAT participates in teaching activities for undergraduates of Medicine and Biological Sciences at the teaching unit of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) and it coordinates a course on Prevention and Control of HIV and STDs at the Open University of Catalonia (UOC).

See the CEEISCAT Publications here

Líneas de investigación

Main programming activities

1.   Monitoring and Evaluation of Morbidity and Mortality for HIV, STDs and viral hepatitis

1. Maintenance, analysis and diffusion of results of notified cases on the register of cases of HIV and SIDA in Catalonia (MDI).
2. Maintenance, analysis and diffusion of results of notified cases on the register of STDs of obligatory individual notification (MDI)
3. Maintenance, analysis and diffusion of results of notified cases on the register of STDs notified to the microbiological notification system in Catalonia (SNMC)
4. Analysis and diffusion of results of the register of sexually transmitted diseases in Catalonia (RITS)
5. Analysis and diffusion of results of causes of death associated with HCV, including attributable fractions
6. Analysis and diffusion of results of sources of health information to calculate the number of people with an active diagnostic of HCV and HBV for key populations
7. Analysis and diffusion of results of monitoring and evaluation of the elimination plan for the hepatitis C virus in Catalonia

2.   Monitoring of diagnostic tests for HIV, STDs and viral hepatitis

1. Monitoring of diagnostic tests for HIV, STDs and viral hepatitis and new diagnoses of the infection in people who attend to undertake voluntary screening for HIV, STDs and viral hepatitis in community centres in Catalonia (HIVDEVO)*
2. Monitoring of diagnostic tests for HIV and new diagnoses of the infection in the sentinel population in hospital laboratories and primary care in Catalonia (HIVLABCAT)
3. Monitoring and continued diagnoses and screening of HIV, STDs and viral hepatitis in primary care centres (SIDIAP)
4. Monitoring of the carrying out of the self-test for HIV in pharmacies in Catalonia

* Activity with tangible costs (personnel) which is included in final contract of 2019 with the Department of Health.

3.   Monitoring and Treatment of HIV and its effectiveness

1. Maintenance, analysis and diffusion of information collected from the longitudinal population cohort PISCIS*
2. Maintenance, analysis and diffusion of the information collected from hospital laboratories related to viral load and CD4 values

* Activity with tangible costs (personnel) which is included in final contract of 2019 with the Department of Health.

4.   Bio-behavioural monitoring of HIV, STDs and viral hepatitis and monitoring of sentinel populations

Bio-behavioural monitoring of HIV, STDs and viral hepatitis carried out in periodic transverse studies and longitudinal studies in key populations:

1. Monitoring of determinants of transmission of HIV/STDs/hepatitis in MSM (EMIS)
2. Monitoring the prevalence of HIV and STDs in women sex workers (HIVITS-TS)
3. Monitoring the prevalence of HIV and VHC in PID recruited in Damage reduction centres (REDAN)
4. Monitoring the prevalence of HIV and the incidence of STDs and viral hepatitis in trans women and male sex workers (Sexcohort)
5. Monitoring the prevalence of HIV on genital infections with Chlamydia trachomatis and other STDs in young people attended in ASSIR centres in Catalonia
6. Monitoring the prevalence of HIV in people in prisons (VIHPRESO)*
7. Monitoring the prevalence of HIV in blood donors (VIHSANG)
8. Evaluation of quality of life, habits and satisfaction with health services on people living with HIV in Catalonia (Viu Positiu)

*Activities with tangible costs (HR) included in the 2019 final agreement with the Ministry of Health of Catalonia.

5.   Construction of Indicators

1. HIV services cascade
2. VHC services cascade
3. Construction of indicators 2016-2020 Health Programme
4. Construction of indicators 2016-2020 Action Plan
5. Construction of indicators Health Programme Report
6. Construction of indicators for the Declaration of Dublin
7. Construction of indicators for the resources centre (AQuAS)

Methodological support, communication of information, applied research and teaching                                                                                                                                      

1.  Methodological support, communication of information

1. Provide responses to petitions from institutional organizations and NGOs and provide support in monitoring and evaluating impact of directed interventions in key populations.
2. Create and/or participate in networks of/in interdisciplinary groups for pilot preventive interventions aimed at key populations
3. Pilot studies for preventive strategies and use of new technologies
4. Preparation, analysis and diffusion of data and information to city councils and the media
5. Prepare the annual report for the centre
6. Monitor and document the implementation of the LOPD and RGPD in information systems and projects at the centre.

2.   Applied Research

Lead and participate in national and international research projects concerning HIV, STDs and viral hepatitis in collaboration with the Microbiology Service of the University Germans Trias Hospital (HGT, IGTP)

List of Projects below

Teaching

Teaching and training is an important part of CEEISCAT Activities.

Projects

Joint Action INTEGRATE: Moving towards integrating prevention, testing and linkage to care strategies across HIV, viral hepatitis, TB and STIs in Europe (INTEGRATE)Titol

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Principlal Investigator:  Dorthe Raben (CHIP, Copenhaguen, Dinamarca)                                                                                  
Start Date: 01/08/2017
End Date: 31/08/2020

Eficàcia d'una intervenció de formació i la implementació d'una alerta electrònica a la història clínica informatitzada per a millorar el diagnòstic precoç del VIH i altres infeccions de transmissió sexual a Atenció Primària: Un assaig clínic aleatoritzat (PERIS)

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Principlal Investigator: Cristina Agustí (CEEISCAT) - Jesús Almeda (IDIAP Jordi Gol)                                                                                  
Start Date: 27/03/2017
End Date: 31/12/2019

Efectividad de la oferta online de auto recogida de muestra para VIH dirigida a hombres que tienen sexo con hombres usuarios de páginas y apps móviles de contactos gay (TESTATE)

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Principlal Investigator: Cristina Agustí                                                                                      
Start Date: 01/01/2018
End Date: 31/12/2020

Behavioural Survey for HIV/AIDS and associated infections and a survey tailored training for community based health workers to facilitate access and improve the quality of prevention, diagnosis of HIV/AIDS, STI and viral hepatitits and health care services for men who have sex with men (ESTICOM)

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Principlal Investigators: Cinta Folch, Jordi Casabona, (CEEISCAT)                                                                                 
Start Date: 29/07/2016
End Date: 28/07/2019

Impact of care attrition and aging in the HIV infected population of Catalonia and Balearic Islands: A population based cohort study (La Marató)

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Principlal Investigators: Jordi Casabona, Juliana Reyes                                                                                  
Start Date: 01/01/2019
End Date: 31/12/2021

Determinantes y necesidades de la salud sexual en una cohorte multicéntrica de mujeres transgénero y hombres que ejercen el trabajo sexual en Barcelona (SEXCOHORT)

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Principlal Investigator: Jordi Casabonaí                                                                                      
Start Date: 01/01/2019
End Date: 31/12/2021

COBATEST network

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Principlal Investigator: Jordi Casabona                                                                                            
Start Date: 01/01/2018
End Date: 31/12/2021

Utility evaluation of Point-of-Care Tests in Non-Clinical Settings for the Screening of HIV and Syphilis in Men Who Have Sex with Men (POCT WHO)

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Principlal Investigators: Juliana Reyes Urueña, Laura Fernàndez (CEEISCAT) - Igor Toskin (OMS, Geènve)                                                                                
Start Date: 01/06/2017
End Date: 30/06/2019

Molecular epidemiology study of HCV reinfection in the Catalan Penitentiary System

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Principlal Investigator: Elisa Martró (Servei de Microbiologia HUGTIP, IGTP)                                                                                        
Start Date: 01/01/2019
End Date: 31/12/2020

Pilot hepatitis C micro-elimination strategy in Pakistani immigrants in Catalonia through the implementation of a community intervention

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Principlal Investigator: Elisa Martró (Servei de Microbiologia HUGTIP, IGTP)                                                                                        
Start Date: 01/01/2019
End Date: 31/12/2020

 Efecte del context socio-econòmic en la distribució de nous diagnòstics de VIH a Catalunya: Distribució espai-temporal amb ring maps

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Principlal Investigator: Cristina Agustí                                                                                      
Start Date: 01/01/2018
End Date: 31/12/20119