Àngels López 
Application Deadline: 15/12/2015
Ref: VT-NM
The Pluripotent stem cells and activation of endogenous tissue programs for organ regeneration at the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC) is looking for a Veterinary Technician to work in the framework of a project focused in the study and identification of epigenetic cues guiding kidney regeneration.
Application Deadline: 30/11/2015
Ref: SP-EM
The Biomimetic systems for cell engineering group at the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC) is looking for a Senior Postdoctoral Researcher to participate in the development of the project “Engineering Complex Intestinal Epithelial Tissue Models” (ERC-Consolidator Grant). The goal of this project is to engineer intestinal epithelial tissue models that mimic physiological characteristics found in in vivo human intestinal tissue, to open up new areas of research on human intestinal diseases. To do this, we propose to develop an experimental setup that combines microfabrication techniques, tissue engineering components and recent advances in intestinal stem cell research, exploiting stem cell self-organizing characteristics. We anticipate this setup to recapitulate the 3D morphology, the spatio-chemical gradients and the dynamic microenvironment of the living tissue. We expect the new device to prove useful in understanding cell physiology, adult stem cell behavior, and organ development as well as in modelling human intestinal diseases.
IBEC group leader Samuel Sánchez was one of the experts invited to attend the Innovators Under 35 European Summit in Brussels last week, a gathering of the European winners of MIT Technology Review’s “Innovators under 35” list.Samuel gave a talk, “The Evolution of Nanorobots”, at the event, which brought together the winners of the prestigious recognition from Germany, Belgium, France, Italy and Poland as well as Spain. The summit aimed to create a strong community of those innovators recognized annually by the prestigious publication to share their knowledge and experience in fields ranging from nanotechnology and energy to software or transportation.
Application Deadline: 22/06/2016
Ref: BS-SM
The Biomimetic systems for cell engineering group at the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC) is looking for a Postdoctoral Researcher to participate in the development of the project “Engineering Complex Intestinal Epithelial Tissue Models” (ERC-Consolidator Grant). The goal of this project is to engineer intestinal epithelial tissue models that mimic physiological characteristics found in in vivo human intestinal tissue, to open up new areas of research on human intestinal diseases. To do this, we propose to develop an experimental setup that combines microfabrication techniques, tissue engineering components and recent advances in intestinal stem cell research, exploiting stem cell self-organizing characteristics. We anticipate this setup to recapitulate the 3D morphology, the spatio-chemical gradients and the dynamic microenvironment of the living tissue. We expect the new device to prove useful in understanding cell physiology, adult stem cell behavior, and organ development as well as in modelling human intestinal diseases.
Having measured the electric polarizability of DNA – a fundamental property that directly influences its biological functions – for the first time ever last year, IBEC´s Nanoscale Bioelectrical Characterization group has made a further breakthrough in the understanding of the dielectric properties of cell constituents by measuring the electric polarizability of the main components of the cell membrane – namely lipids, sterols and proteins – with a spatial resolution down to 50nm.The cell membrane plays an essential role in fundamental bioelectric phenomena. Found in places such as neurons or cardiac cells, it regulates the exchange of ions between the cell and the environment, as well as enabling the formation of electric potentials that can propagate over long distances.
A research project involving IBEC group leader and ICREA research professor Pau Gorostiza has been chosen for funding under a Call for Expressions of Interest (CEol) on Systems and Cognitive Neuroscience by the Human Brain Project (HBP) FET Flagship.The four selected projects from the total of 57 proposals submitted address ambitious cognitive and systems neuroscience questions and rely on the collaboration of researchers from different European countries. The project involving Pau, Wave Scaling Experiments and Simulations (WaveScalES), is coordinated by Pier Stanislao Paolucci at the Instituto Nazionale di Fisica in Rome and will study the neuronal networks underling sleep and wakefulness under normal conditions and in disease.
IBEC group leader Samuel Sanchez was one of the experts and professionals invited to take part in CEDE’s “Talento en Crecimiento” event at the Palacio de Exposiciones y Congresos in A Coruña at the beginning of the month.He took to the stage with some of the most influential business leaders, entrepreneurs and experts in the country, including Francisco Reynes, CEO of Abertis, Juan Urdiales, co-founder of Jobandtalent, and Maria Salamero, Director of Innovation and Knowledge at Agbar, all of which were there to give the 500 young attendees advice on career advancement, personal branding, mobility and employability.
The 100XCIENCIA “Communicating frontier science” forum took place last week in Santa Cruz de La Palma. IBEC Director Josep Samitier was one of the twenty directors that presented their Severo Ochoa Centres of Excellence to the assembled science communicators and journalists, including the New York Times’ Kenneth Chang. The three-day unprecedented event also included round tables during which the directors, journalists and other professionals including European Commission representatives could discuss topics such as science policy, science in the media, and the impact of outreach activities.
Collaborators at the UAB and IBEC have found a mycobacterium that is more effective in treating superficial bladder cancer and does not cause infections, unlike those used up to now. Mycobacteria are the only bacteria used in cancer treatment. The administration of the bacterium Mycobacterium bovis (BCG) is the current treatment for superficial bladder cancer, and is inserted directly into the bladder through a catheter. BCG prevents new tumours from appearing, but despite its efficacy it has many adverse side effects, the most serious being BCG infections that need to be treated with antituberculous drugs.
New IBEC junior group leader Lorenzo Albertazzi is profiled in El Mundo’s “Personajes Únicos” section this week.