Infectious diseases are the most frequent pathology in childhood. Our group is focused in the study of paediatric infections with special attention to those associated to viruses.
The acute respiratory infections (ARIs) of lower respiratory tract are the most frequent infectious diseases in humans and these suppose at least 4 million of deaths yearly in the world. A high proportion of these infections are related with viral aetiology and particularly in children. In our country, the viral ARIs are one of the most frequent causes of hospitalization in children less than 2 years old. Using the metagenomics and applying an adapted method designed and developed for ARIs study, we will have achieve an increased knowledge of viral infections in hospitalized children of all ages, as well as in outpatients. Metagenomics could allow recognizing new viruses and also permits a deeper knowledge of traditional respiratory virus groups. Any new technological tool and its application to respiratory infection will mean an improvement in the diagnosis and monitoring of these types of infections and their immediate use is specified for resolving alerts in public health associated with respiratory viral infections is like the case of MERS-CoV, avian flu, or other influenza pandemics. . The pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 and the COVID-19 disease in childhood has occupied a large part of the research of our group since its appearance We are also interested in the study of the immunological response of the infants to the viral infections, and the mechanisms that allow develop recurrent wheezing, or asthma (the most frequent chronic disease in children).
Emerging viral infections have also an important role in the pathology in childhood. Recently picornaviruses, mainly human parechovirus and enterovirus are causing outbreaks and several neurological infections, morbidity and mortality. They were associated with a wide range of pathologies, from febrile syndrome to respiratory, neurological or systemic diseases. In newborns, these infections can be severe, even fatal.  Surveillance of these polio-like diseases is a public health concern and it is one of our group objectives. 
Finally, to study viral infections in high risk group of children (newborn, chronic lung diseases, immunodefiencies, oncologic patients…) is also a priority in our group.