CD Terrassa Hockey has donated more than 3.000€ to the Vall d’Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO) to support research into lymphoid malignancies, a type of haematological cancer.
Founded in 1910, CD Terrassa Hockey is one of Spain’s longest-established hockey clubs and has played a pioneering role in the development of the sport. Throughout its history, it has won numerous titles in both men’s and women’s competitions, in field hockey and indoor hockey. Its sporting and social contribution has been recognised with distinctions including the Creu de Sant Jordi, the Gold Plaque of the Spanish National Sports Council and the Olympic Plaque for Sporting Merit.
In 2023, Marc Tejedor, who had served as captain of CD Terrassa Hockey for ten seasons, died from chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. Since then, the club has supported his family and friends and organises an annual charity lunch to raise funds for research into the disease.
On this occasion, his wife, Loida Lleonart, presented the funds raised to Dr Francesc Bosch, Co-Director of VHIO’s Clinical Research Area and Head of the Haematology Department at Vall d’Hebron University Hospital. During the visit, Dr Bosch explained the latest advances in the treatment of haematological diseases, as well as the main lines of research and the clinical trials currently under way.
To mark the donation, the group also visited the laboratory of VHIO’s Lymphoid Malignancies Group. During the visit, Dr Marta Crespo, the group’s Translational Research Coordinator, and PhD student Maite Ergüin explained the research project to which the funds raised will be allocated.
The group is leading a new clinical trial, within the framework of the Spanish CLL Group (GELLC), to assess the efficacy of a new immunotherapy using bispecific antibodies in patients whose chronic lymphocytic leukaemia has transformed into an aggressive lymphoma.
“With this contribution, we will study the immunological factors that will enable us to identify the patients most likely to benefit from the new therapy,” explains Dr Crespo.
RESEARCH INTO LYMPHOID MALIGNANCIES
VHIO’s Lymphoid Malignancies Group focuses on improving the management of patients with lymphoid malignancies. These diseases are heterogeneous from both a clinical and biological perspective. For patients who experience a relapse, treatment options are often limited, and the prognosis is frequently poor.
Through a combination of clinical trials, national and international collaborative studies, real-world analyses and translational studies, the group contributes to advancing more effective and personalised treatment strategies.
