Prevention, follow-up and management of post-ICU sequelae based on digital health tools

Research project description

A PhD position is available at the Institut de Recerca i Innovació Parc Taulí (I3PT) under the supervision of Sol Fernández Gonzalo (cognition and mental health ICU researcher) and Guillem Navarra Ventura (psychiatry / technology transfer researcher).

Medical advances have increased the survival rates in Intensive Care Units (ICUs), but have highlighted some consequences after the critical illness. ICU survivors may present cognitive (e.g. memory and attention problems), emotional (e.g. anxiety, depression or post-traumatic stress), and/or physical difficulties (e.g. fatigue, pain) known as the Post Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS). Mental health and cognitive problems may also appear in the patients’ relative ones. In both, patients and families, PICS has a direct impact on their ability to perform day-to-day activities and on their quality of life. However, the follow-up of the PICS is scarce and limited on the public health systems, in particular the emotional and cognitive sequelae, hindering the early detection of candidates for rehabilitation. During the last years, our group has explored different strategies for prevention, follow-up and management of the PICS-related sequelae, considering the implementation of e-mental health tools as an optimal solution.

The objectives of this prospective randomized multicenter project are: 1) To study the impact of a digital health follow-up on the functionality and quality of life of the ICU survivors; 2) to investigate the role of demographic (age, sex, etc), clinical (comorbidity, invasive mechanical ventilation, level of cognitive reserve, etc) and biological factors (i.e. transcriptomic signatures) in the development of the PICS sequelae; 3) To evaluate the impact of digital e-mental health tools implementation in patient’s emotional and cognitive status.

The estimated duration of the project is 3 years and the PhD will participate in all phases of the study i) data collection during the ICU, ii) e-mental health tools implementation, iii) data collection about clinical and neuropsychological outcomes including functionality and quality of life, iv) data analysis, v) communication and dissemination of results. The successful candidate will be enrolled in the Clinical and Health  Psychology doctoral programme  at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) in the framework of the TOUCH project. TOUCH (“Towards the next generatiOn of excellent yoUng doctoral researchers on mental health by developing an intersectoral & transdisciplinary approaCH”) is a new excellent doctoral programme co-funded by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie (MSCA) Actions of the European Commission and led by the UAB for the recruitment and training of 24 doctoral candidates in the field of mental health and wellbeing.

Academic background / Skills

The candidates must fulfil the following eligibility criteria from the EC: Mobility rule: candidates must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Spain for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately preceding the deadline for the programme call. Experience rule: researchers must be doctoral candidates at the date of recruitment, that is not already in possession of a doctoral degree at the deadline of the open calls. Researchers who have successfully defended their doctoral thesis but have not yet formally awarded the doctoral degree will not be considered eligible. Candidates must hold a degree that allows admission to the official doctoral programme at UAB.

The pre-doctoral research associate role for the PICS-DH project requires a degree in psychology or a related field, preferably with neuropsychology expertise and foundational knowledge in mental health, along with interest in biostatistics and data science.

Strong analytical, research, and communication skills (English and Spanish) are valued for effective collaboration and data analysis in this role.

Knowledge and handling of statistical tools and databases.

Proactive, rigorous and meticulous person, with ability to adapt, initiative, organizational and problem-solving skills and ability to work both in a team and individually.

Open to work with professionals from different fields (physicians, nurses, biomedical researchers and engineers).

Research group/s description

The Translational Research Group in Physiopathology of the Critically Ill Patient, is an I3PT and CIBERES multidisciplinary research team focuses on the acute phase of the critical illness and its follow-up beyond ICU. Last 5 years indicators: H-index: 19; Accumulated citation: 1227; 130 publications with national and international partnerships. Lines: Characterization, management, and prevention of Post-Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS); Respiratory physiopathology; Capture and processing of biomedical signals, AI applied to physiological signals.

The e-MN-PEMN is an I3PT group in the neurosciences area. It is allied to the Institut de Neurociències (INc) – UAB through a CIBERSAM group and the UM-Neurociència Traslacional. Indicators: H-index: 21; Accumulated citations: 2230. 138 publications in Q1 journals, (38 in D1). Lines:  Epidemiology and prevention of depression and suicidal behaviors; e-Mental Health and prevention and therapeutic evaluation of stroke and other diseases with cognitive impairment.