Sarah Moreira 
The Pedagogical Innovation Council of Barcelona has renewed the IBEC Educational Quality Seal, which was first awarded in 2016. This recognition acknowledges the institute’s commitment to promoting continuous improvement by ensuring the pedagogical quality of its scientific education proposals.
A research team led by IBEC and Hospital del Mar has conducted a study to analyze cough sounds recorded by smartphones in patients with COVID-19. The results reveal cough characteristics that could offer a quick, easy, and cost-effective method for identifying the severity of the disease in patients, whether at home or in any healthcare setting. This work also paves the way for utilizing this model in the ongoing monitoring of patients with persistent COVID-19 and other respiratory pathologies.
IBEC researcher Javier Ramón Azcón has been awarded an “ERC Proof of Concept Grant.” This prestigious funding is granted by the European Research Council to explore the commercial and societal potential of research projects conducted in European institutions. Ramón’s project, Uniink, is centered on the treatment of Type 1 diabetes using cell therapy and 3D bioprinting.
A study led by the Institute of Bioengineering of Catalonia demonstrates that laminin, a protein present in breast tissues, prevents the effects of stiffening, protecting cells against tumor growth. While the mechanism has been demonstrated in vitro, persuasive indications suggest its potential applicability in vivo, as observed in patient samples.
Samuel Sánchez has successfully secured an “ERC Proof of Concept” grant, provided by the European Research Council (ERC), to explore the application of his nanorobots in the treatment of mucus-secreting tumors. This prestigious grant enables researchers to assess the feasibility and potential for knowledge transfer of their research projects.
Bioaction is an EU-funded project, in which IBEC is involved, that aims to revolutionize the approach to implant-associated infections. By harnessing hydrogels and smart nanomaterials, Bioaction will transform bacterial biofilms into bio-factories for tissue regeneration, offering a novel alternative to traditional antibiotic therapies. The project is driven by a multidisciplinary team of experts and strives to improve patient outcomes while addressing the global challenge of antimicrobial resistance.
The Spanish Nanomedicine Platform, NANOMED Spain, has renewed the “Support for Technological and Innovation Platforms” granted by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation for the period 2023-2024. Coordinated by IBEC since its foundation in 2005, the platform brings together companies, academia, and administration in a collaborative space with the goal of expediting the translation of nanomedicine from research to the clinic and the market.
It is an initiative that aims to help incorporate an inclusive view into science education activities. For this project, IBEC has collaborated with various professionals in the field of diversity and inclusion to design multiple ways of accessing information (visual, written, sensory, etc.). Now, the materials and tools developed are available to the scientific and educational community.
IBEC researchers uncover how mechanical forces disrupt the circadian clock in cells, the mechanism governing daily physiological changes. The finding may help to better understand aging and specific diseases, like certain types of cancer, characterized by impaired circadian regulation. Living organisms possess an internal biological cycle known as the circadian clock, enabling them to adapt … Read more
IBEC’s new BioImaging Facility will host equipment to carry out 3 different imaging techniques. Its objective is to serve projects in various fields and strengthen IBEC’s scientific and technical infrastructure. In addition, it will be open to the entire scientific community. This month the first equipment, a state-of-the-art nuclear magnetic resonance scanner, has come into … Read more