Sarah Moreira 
An IBEC-led study describes the development of an innovative method to control the formation of crypt-like structures and villi in the intestine using a contact protein printing technique. This model will make it possible to study in detail key processes such as cell regeneration or changes associated with diseases such as cancer and chronic inflammatory disorders.
IBEC researcher Eduard Torrents has been awarded the ICREA Academia distinction by the Catalan Institute for Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA). The head of IBEC’s Bacterial Infections: Antimicrobial Therapies group received the award in the Life and Health Sciences category.
IBEC is one of four Catalan research centres collaborating with the Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona (CCCB) on the ‘Radical Science’ project. This cultural project, which will be launched on 20 January 2025, aims to explore how scientific research is changing the world today. Renowned researchers and artists invite us to reflect on scientific advances in biotechnology, quantum physics and the exploration of the universe.
A study led by the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC) and the CIBER’s Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN) describes a method that mimics the physiological response to smell. The system makes it possible to discriminate between odours with very similar characteristics based on the binding interaction with the receptor, which causes a change in the capacitive response of the receptor. The application of this methodology opens the door to the development of highly selective olfactory biosensors.
Critical bone defects resulting from trauma, tumor resection, or congenital conditions present significant challenges in medical treatment due to high rates of graft failure caused by inadequate blood supply. To address this issue, researchers at the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia have developed novel 3D printed scaffolds made from polylactic acid and calcium phosphate. These innovative scaffolds promote blood vessel formation, ensuring better healing and regeneration of bone tissue.
This spin-off from the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia has developed a non-invasive technology that analyses the metabolism of human embryos to select the most suitable ones for implantation. This innovation promises to significantly reduce the time and number of treatment cycles required for in vitro fertilisation. The success of LUMIRIS’ technology has led to a new round of investment of €1.5 million, bringing the total to €6 million since the company was founded in 2023.
The Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities has recently published the results of Spain’s participation in the EU’s Horizon Europe R&D&I Framework Programme, in which IBEC stands out as the fifth research institution in the country with the highest return.
The Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia and the Sant Joan de Déu Barcelona Children’s Hospital have held a joint conference to strengthen collaboration in bioengineering and translational medicine. The event, held this morning at the IBEC, highlighted innovative projects, presented a joint PhD programme and encouraged the exchange of ideas between researchers from both institutions.
For the seventh consecutive year, IBEC, with the support of the Catalunya La Pedrera Foundation, has successfully run its ‘Mad for Bioengineering’ course. Aimed at first-year students interested in STEM careers, the programme offers a unique immersion into the world of bioengineering, tackling health problems from a multidisciplinary perspective. The closing ceremony, attended by the students and their families, focused on the presentation of the final projects and the awarding of diplomas.
IBEC’s Principal Investigator César Rodriguez-Emmenegger has been awarded an ERC Consolidator Grant. This prestigious European funding supports scientists in the consolidation phase of their research teams, allowing them to pursue innovative scientific ideas. The €2 million over five years will allow Rodriguez-Emmenegger and his team to develop Phagocytic Synthetic Cells (PSCs) to fight antibiotic-resistant pathogens.