What do we do?

What does RIAPAd do? Main objectives of our network

At RIAPAd we work with a clear mission: to improve the health and well-being of people affected by addictions and that of their families. To this end, we have organized ourselves into six major objectives that guide our research and actions:

Addiction Prevention and Preparedness

PI: José Benito Quintana

One of the pillars of RIAPAd is to anticipate. We want to detect as soon as possible the new substances that reach our streets and changes in consumption habits.

To do this, we analyse samples such as wastewater or syringe waste, and also cases of poisoning from hospital emergencies. This information allows us to know which drugs are currently being used in Spain.

In addition, we study in depth the new psychoactive substances that appear on the market: what effects they have, how they act on the body, and what risks they imply. We also work with adolescents, designing prevention strategies to reduce the onset of consumption from an early age. On the other hand, using animal models, we investigate what factors increase vulnerability to developing an addiction, such as stress, genetics or diet.

🔬 WP1 – Early detection of new substances

This work package will develop and implement tools that allow new trends in drug use to be detected early. The aim is to identify the appearance of new or dangerous substances as soon as possible in order to act in time.

⚠️ WP2 – Assessment of new threats

Here the properties and risks of new emerging drugs will be studied in depth. Their effects and toxicity will be analysed to better understand what we are facing and to be able to design more effective control and prevention strategies.

🧠 WP3 – Prevention of consumption and promotion of health

This group will be responsible for reviewing and improving existing prevention strategies. It will also design and implement new measures to reduce the risk of addictions, especially among young people and vulnerable populations.

👶 WP4 – Long-term vulnerability

This package will assess how early exposure to drugs or stress influences the development of addictive behaviours or mental disorders in adulthood. It will help to better understand the factors that increase vulnerability across the lifespan.

Research groups:

Institut de Recerca Hospital del Mar

RD24/0003/0001

PI: Marta Torrens

Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria y Biomédica de Alicante

RD24/0003/0002

PI: Salud García

Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (UNED)

RD24/0003/0003

PI: Emilio Ambrosio

Universitat de València

RD24/0003/0004

PI: Marta Rodríguez

Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Islas Baleares

RD24/0003/0007

PI: Julia Garcia

Universidad CEU San Pablo

RD24/0003/0011

PI: Gonzalo Herradón

Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Santiago de Compostela

RD24/0003/0016

PI: Javier Costas

Institut de Recerca Hospital del Mar

RD24/0003/0018

PI: Rafael Maldonado

Universidad de Santiago de Compostela

RD24/0003/0020

PI: Jose Benito Quintana

Hospital Universitario de Canarias

RD24/0003/0026

PI: Guillermo Burillo

Monitoring the evolution of addictive disorders

PI: Daniel Fuster

Addictions are complex diseases that change over time. That’s why we want to understand how they evolve and how they affect the physical and mental health of those who suffer from them. We look for biological signals (biomarkers) that help better diagnose and personalize treatments. We also study the medical complications associated with chronic consumption, and we collect data from patients, especially those who start treatment for the first time, to better understand their evolution. All this information will help us to improve health care and design more effective treatments.

🧬 WP5 – Discovery of biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis

This work package seeks to identify biological signals (biomarkers) that help diagnose and predict the evolution of substance use disorders. To this end, blood and stool samples from both animals and patients will be analyzed, studying DNA, RNA and gut microbiota, with special attention to the differences between men and women.

🔄 WP6 – Applying basic research to clinical practice

The aim is to transfer the advances obtained in animal studies to the clinical environment, to improve the diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of addictions and related mental disorders. Animal models will be developed, possible molecular targets will be studied, genetic factors and biomarkers will be validated, and assessment tools will be standardized to be applied to people with addictions.

🍷 WP7 – Clinical Study of People with Alcohol Use Disorder

This group will collect and analyse clinical data and biological samples from patients with alcohol use disorder. The aim is to better understand how this disease evolves, what medical complications appear and what the prognosis is for patients who start treatment for the first time. All this will be done through a large joint study between several centres (multicentre cohort).

🩺 WP8 – Health Impact of Addiction Complications

This package will generate scientific evidence, both in humans and animal models, on the medical and psychiatric complications associated with substance use. It will also study how these complications evolve over time and negatively affect both individual health and public health in general.