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Àngels López

A new therapeutic target that could slow the progression of Parkinson’s disease

Researchers at IBEC have identified a potential way to slow down the neurodegenerative progression of Parkinson’s disease.

They focused their work on the cellular prion protein (PrPc), a specialized molecule located in the membranes of neurons that’s involved in a number of functions such as cell cycle control and neurotransmission.

Conference marks Rare Disease Day 2017

Today, the tenth international Rare Disease Day, IBEC is taking part in an event at the Hospital Sant Joan de Déu.

Organised by the Federación Española de Enfermedades Raras (FEDER), the Federació Catalana de Malalties Minoritàries (FECAMM) and the Plataforma de Malalties Minoritàries, and supported by GENCAT, CatSalut and the Parlament de Catalunya, the open conference will emphasize the importance of research in tackling rare diseases.

Josep Samitier will take part in a round table at the conference, during which he will present bioengineering applied to rare diseases.

MECHANO-CONTROL’s kick-off meeting held at IBEC

On Friday last week MECHANO-CONTROL, the largest European project ever coordinated at IBEC, held its kick-off meeting at the institute.

Pere Roca-Cusachs’ project, which is funded by H2020’s FET Proactive programme, will focus on understanding and controlling how cells transmit and detect mechanical forces, with the aim of coming up with new therapeutic and diagnostic approaches for cancer and other diseases.

How tumor cells hijack healthy cells to promote metastasis

In a study published today in Nature Cell Biology and supported by Obra Social “la Caixa”, researchers at IBEC have identified an interaction between two proteins that enables cancerous cells to use the physical forces of healthy cells to start tumor metastasis.

Metastasis, responsible for the majority of deaths in patients with cancer, is the process by which cancer cells separate from the original tumor to form new tumors in other organs or tissues of the body.

International Day of Women and Girls in Science

Saturday 11th February is the UN’s International Day of Women and Girls in Science, a chance for everyone to take a stand against gender inequality in research.

According to a study conducted in 14 countries, the probability for female students of graduating with a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree and PhD in science-related field are 18%, 8% and 2% respectively, while the percentages of male students are 37%, 18% and 6% (UN).

At IBEC in 2016, female PhD students (38) outnumbered male (29), as did technicians (17 female and 11 male), but in other positions they lag behind.

An optogenetic tool that directs cellular contractility using light

Researchers at IBEC have controlled the contractility of a group of epithelial cells using an optogenetic switch activated by light.

The study, published in Nature Communications, explains how this novel technique allows for rapid, local and reversible changes in the forces exerted by cells, as well as tissue contraction.

80-strong audience at Nano World Cancer Day 2017

Today the IBEC-managed Spanish Nanotechnology Platform, NanoMed Spain, co-hosted the fourth edition of Nano World Cancer Day 2017, a global initiative organized as part of World Cancer Day.

It’s the second year running that the platform has hosted the conference, which took place at Vall d’Hebron Instituto de Oncología (VHIO) and was opened by Josep Tabernero, Director of VHIO, and IBEC/NanoMed Spain’s Josep Samitier, who also gave a talk.