A project by the Neurodevelopmental Disorders research group of the Girona Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBGI) and the Healthcare Assistance Institute (IAS), in collaboration with Granés Fundació, has been recognized by the AMPANS Foundation. The project, currently underway, studies the combination of Immersive Virtual Reality and cognitive-behavioral therapy to reduce social anxiety in individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder and intellectual disability. The study was awarded the second Research and Innovation Prize on intellectual disability and neurodevelopmental disorders by the AMPANS Foundation, which was presented on Tuesday in Manresa.
The project began a year ago with an initial pilot phase, which laid the groundwork for future research that will also examine changes in brain connectivity. The project is led by Dr. Susanna Esteba-Castillo, head of the Neurodevelopmental Disorders research group at IDIBGI and neuropsychologist at the IAS Mental Health and Addictions Network, who emphasizes: “Immersive Virtual Reality technology is particularly useful in contexts that require a personalized approach.” Also part of the study are pre-doctoral researcher Melissa Samaniego, second Granés Fundació Grant recipient, and psychiatrists Aida Palacín and Laura Vergés.
Granés Fundació’s collaboration has been key to the development of this research, both through the incorporation of researcher Melissa Samaniego into the IDIBGI research group thanks to the Second Granés Fundació Grant, which was formalized in 2023 with the aim of investigating the efficacy of ERVI technology in patients with ASD. As well as by providing the immersive virtual reality space, ERVI – Granés Fundació, at IAS, specifically at the Intellectual Disability Service of the Martí i Julià Hospital Park in Salt, where the study is being conducted.
“One of Granés Fundació’s lines of work is research and investigation with the aim of generating new knowledge, in this case giving voice and importance to research to reduce social anxiety in individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder,” says Laura Masferrer, Manager of Granés Fundació.
