Institucional

Introducing a drug into the human body that remains inactive inside it and only acts when, where and how we tell it to will be possible within a few years, with the application of photopharmacology, an emerging branch of science that uses light to control the activity of medication. The world's leading researchers and experts in this field will meet at the second international photopharmacology symposium in Vic on 1 and 2 November.

The Fundación Scientia, the University of Vic-Central University of Catalonia and the company Girbau have reached an agreement to organise the FIRST Tech Challenge programme for the next three years, to promote scientific and technological vocations among young people aged between 16 and 20 years old. This year, the qualifying tournament will be held at the American School of Barcelona (Esplugues de Llobregat) on 5 and 6 April, and will host around 16 teams from Spain and other European countries. The tournament will be held at UVic for the next two years.

The University of Vic - Central University of Catalonia (UVic-UCC) officially inaugurated the 2018-2019 academic year this afternoon, with a ceremony in the Aula Magna of the UVic Campus. The inauguration ceremony was chaired by the rector of the University, Joan Masnou, and those attending included the Secretary for Universities and Research, Francesc Xavier Grau, and the president of the FUBalmes and mayor of Vic, Anna Erra.

The Beta Technology Centre at the University of Vic - Central University of Catalonia (UVic-UCC) is part of a ten-member international consortium which has obtained an Innovative Training Network (ITN). This is a Marie Sklodowska-Curie Action, which is part of the H2020 programme, and it aims to train new generations of creative and innovative researchers in an international network of public and private centres.

On a day such as this one, the university leadership team wish to declare:

The eighth R+D+I ICT Health and Social seminars ended on Friday at midday. On Thursday and Friday, they brought together more than 400 people in Vic to discuss the role of digital therapies in improving people's health and quality of life. Over two days, the El Sucre Building became a forum for debate and discussion on the latest breakthroughs in these therapies, and their role as substitutes or complements to traditional drugs, treatments and educational instruments.

All the research groups at the UVic-UCC have obtained recognition from the Government of Catalonia in the last call of the SGR (Research Groups Support), which has just announced the final decision for its results. This is the first time the University has achieved recognition for one hundred percent of its groups. In total, there are 30 groups, of which 26 are at the UVic, 3 are at the UManresa and 1 is at the BAU University Design Centre. Fifteen of these have been accredited as consolidated groups, 13 as emerging groups and 2 as pre-consolidated groups.

Recording the daily life of Alzheimer's patients in the initial stages of the disease and so that they can view the images later, to help them remember; using mobile applications to diagnose dyslexia and facilitate the learning of children affected by this difficulty; prescribing augmented reality treatments as a resource for overcoming phobias, such as the fear of snakes, flying or open spaces. These are just three examples of digital therapies, or in other words, how technology is being used to improve the health and quality of life of individuals and the community.

Researchers from the Chair of Palliative Care at the University of Vic - Central University of Catalonia (UVic-UCC) have published an article in the Journal of Palliative Care about the ethical challenges of the early identification of advanced chronic patients with palliative care needs.

A project was carried out in Manresa in the summer of 2010 to implement teledermatology as an alternative to traditional dermatology. Due to the plan's success, it was applied in the Bages region shortly afterwards in 2011, and in the Berguedà region in 2012.