Dermatology in Vall d'Hebron has three main areas of action:

• Paediatric dermatology: we are a reference centre for two large groups of paediatric diseases with dermatological symptoms, which are vascular lesions and genodermatosis. The most common vascular lesions are haemangiomas for children, followed by vascular malformations; to treat them, the Department offers techniques such as sclerotherapy, embolisation and surgery. For genodermatosis or hereditary skin diseases, dermatology professionals work side by side with neurologists and geneticists in order to offer patients the best treatment alternatives.
• Skin cancer: Vall d'Hebron is the leading centre in terms of number of clinical trials for advanced melanoma treatment. The Melanoma Biomedical Research Group at the Vall d'Hebron Research Institute studies animal models to improve early detection and targeted therapy. In the treatment of melanoma, specialists in dermatology, oncology, pathological anatomy and plastic surgery are all involved.
• Transplant patients: the Department carries out follow-up of patients who have undergone solid organ transplants. At Vall d'Hebron, more than 350 transplants of solid organs are carried out every year, and immunosuppressive treatments can cause several dermatological complications. The objective of the Dermatology Department is to adjust the immunosuppression so that the treatment is less aggressive, and to identify guidelines for primary and secondary prevention of cutaneous tumours.

The Department also has specialised clinics for psoriasis, cutaneous lymphomas, ampular epidermolysis, oral mucosal diseases and immuno-allergic dermatosis. We also offer diagnosis, treatment and prevention of sexually transmitted diseases.

Since its creation, our Department has enjoyed significant quantitative and qualitative growth in the areas of patient care, teaching and research. Cancer is an increasingly common illness; we offer high-quality care linked to clinical and translational research, applying the knowledge of basic research to the prevention and treatment of clinical cases. This means we can see patients from outside our catchment area who can participate in clinical trials. We are a reference centre in all areas of clinical oncology.

These diseases are complex to diagnose and treat, making a multidisciplinary approach essential. That is why our Department works to incorporate a range of professional techniques and contributions to tackle all aspects of care and integrate them into the care process. This means we can improve the care process and ensure quality. Examples of this are our genetic counselling and high-risk illness prevention clinics.

In accordance with the analysis and forecasts included in the latest version of the Catalan Health Plan and the Oncology Master Plan, we must bring forward priority actions in the field of oncological disease in Catalonia. Vall d'Hebron University Hospital is especially equipped to offer a comprehensive Oncology Care Plan, with different services all working in coordination. This is possible thanks to our specialised departments such as Medical Oncology, Radiation Oncology, Clinical Haematology, surgical specialties, medical specialties, Pathological Anatomy, Image Diagnostics and Primary Care. Our professional expertise and ability to work in collaboration are the key to fulfilling this mission.

This is why care for people suffering from oncology is structured into processes in place for all operations, with appropriate timing based on a holistic vision of the care process. At our Department, we incorporate everything these patients need in terms of prevention, diagnosis, treatment and follow-up.

We base this oncological care on three central pillars: our staff, equipment and clinical research. On the one hand, we guarantee the excellence of our staff through internal training programmes in the field of hospital care, as well as establishing collaboration and training exchanges with other renowned, prestigious centres. On the other hand, we offer the latest equipment and carry out clinical, translational and basic research.

We are working to incorporate primary care into the network of oncology treatment at the Hospital, as we believe holistic care in oncology requires incorporation and coordination of all the different healthcare areas involved in treating patients.

As mentioned previously, research is one of the key pillars of our Department, and we are present at the most prestigious international forums where future research and oncological care are discussed. We participate in Cancer Core Europe, the largest cancer platform in Europe, where our Department is one of just seven European departments present.

We have a biomedical research centre made up of scientists and doctors who work together to link basic science with clinical research: the Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO). Our main purpose is to promote and develop excellence in research into oncological diseases.

The VHIO also works to increase our contribution to the development of new therapies that improve the treatment of cancer. Its goals also include modelling scientific practices in the clinic for the benefit of oncology patients, excellence in scientific research in the fields of basic, translational and clinical research, and scientific cooperation between national and international cancer research institutions. By promoting all activities related to cancer research, we contribute to improving the quality of life of our patients.