About
Research in the laboratory focuses on developing nanoscale tools to study biological systems. These tools include instrumentation based on proximity probes, such as electrochemical tunnelling microscopy and spectroscopy and single molecule force spectroscopy, that we apply to investigate electron transfer in individual redox proteins, and other biophysical and biochemical interactions.
These studies are relevant to understand lipid membrane dynamics, to the development of biosensors and molecular electronics devices, and have led to the discovery of long-distance electrochemically gated electron transport between partner proteins of the respiratory and photosynthetic chains.
Another set of nanotools that we are developing is based on engineered molecular actuators that can be switched with light, such as azobenzene, which can be chemically attached to biomolecules in order to remotely control their activity (photopharmacology). They include peptide inhibitors of protein-protein interactions, small molecule enzymatic inhibitors, and photoswitchable ligands of a diversity of other proteins.
Among several applications, these compounds have enabled photoactivated chemotherapy, photocontrol of cellular signaling mediated by ion channels and G protein-coupled receptors, photocontrol of cardiac activity and locomotion, sensory restoration, and photocontrol of brain waves.
Based on these tools, we have also developed two-photon pharmacology to manipulate and study the activity of neurons and glia in intact brain tissue with pharmacological selectivity and sub-cellular three-dimensional resolution.
Staff
CURRENT STAFF
Pau Gorostiza Langa
ibecbarcelona.euALUMNI LIST
- Dr. Juan Manuel Artés. Assistant Professor at the University of Massachusetts at Lowell.
- Dr. Marisabel Bahamonde-Santos. Postdoctoral researcher at the Hospital Clínic, University of Barcelona.
- Dr. Antonio Bautista. Data scientist at the data science and analytics company Le Wagon in Bordeaux.
- Dr. Miquel Bosch. Assistant Professor at the International University of Catalonia in Barcelona.
- Dr. Amir Broomand.
- Dr. Rossella Castagna. Assistant Professor at the Latvian Institute of Organic Chemistry in Riga and in the Politecnico di Milano.
- Dr. Aida Garrido-Charles. Alexander vonHumboldt postdoctoral fellow at the University of Göttingen.
- Dr. Alexandre Gomila-Juaneda. Postdoctoral fellow at the University of Barcelona.
- Dr. Berta Gumí. Project manager at the clinical research consulting company Teamit in Barcelona.
- Dr. Mercè Izquierdo-Serra. Associate Professor at the University of Barcelona.
- Dr. Montserrat López-Martínez. Postdoctoral fellow at the Technical University of Vienna.
- Dr. Manuel López-Ortiz. Postdoctoral researcher at the University of Rostock.
- Dr. Andrés Martín-Quirós. Manager atthe technology consulting company EY in Barcelona.
- Dr. Carlo Matera. Associate Professor at the University of Milan.
- Dr. Silvia Pittolo. Marie Slodowska Curie postdoctoral fellow at the University of California in San Francisco and Max Delbrück Center in Berlin.
- Dr. Marta Pozuelo Ruiz
- Dr. Davia Prischich. Postdoctoral fellow at the Imperial College, London.
- Dr. Lorena Redondo-Morata. Researcher at the Pasteur Institute in Lille.
- Dr. Fabio Riefolo. Project manager at the clinical research consulting company Teamit in Barcelona.
- Dr. Ricardo Zamora Brito
Undergraduates, master students, and other researchers
- Luca Agnetta, Visiting Researcher
- Adam Ali Dahbi Skali, Masters Student
- Maria Elena Antinori, Masters Student
- Esther Argüelles Marcos, Research Assistant
- Blai Barberà Bertrans, Undergraduate Student
- Felipe Caballero Briones, Postdoctoral Researcher
- Eric Calatayud Gómez, Undergraduate Student
- Pablo Calvé Pérez, Masters Student
- Francesco Calzaferri, Masters Student
- Maria Cambra Pellejà, Undergraduate Student
- Àlex Carreté Bello, Masters Student
- Maria Casademont Cavero, Undergraduate Student
- Laura Casas Ferrer, Masters Student
- Pere Català Quilis, Undergraduate Student
- Alejandro Cebrián Ortiz, Undergraduate Student
- Àlvar Claparols Carrasco, Masters Student
- Adrián Crespo Villanueva, Masters Student
- Fernanda Da Silva Andrade, PhD Student
- Nadim Darwish, Postdoctoral Researcher
- Paula de Saralegui Cabot, Undergraduate Student
- Genís Del Pino Vives, Undergraduate Student
- Ismael Díez Pérez, Visiting Researcher
- Beatriu Domingo Tafalla, Masters Student
- Judit Donada Oliu, Masters Student
- Joël Donkeng Dazie, Visiting Researcher
- Jose Antonio Durán Mota, Masters Student
- Gustavo Echeveste, Masters Student
- Safae El Jellouli Bota, Undergraduate Student
- Victòria Englert González, High School / Voc. Training
- Míriam Ferrer Huerta, Masters Student
- Mattia Ferrero, Undergraduate Student
- Marta Forcella, Masters Student
- Coral Fustero Torre, Undergraduate Student
- Ignasi Garcia Ibañez, undergraduate
- Lídia García Guillamón, Undergraduate Student
- Hubert Gerwe, Visiting Researcher
- Irene Giménez Gonzalez, High School / Voc. Training
- Arnaud Giraudet, Undergraduate Student
- Alfredo Maria Gravagnuolo
- Iñigo Hierro Rivero, Masters Student
- Javier Hoyo Pérez, PhD Student
- Mariana Köber, Visiting Researcher
- Alvaro Lahiguera
- Michela Libergoli, Masters Student
- Lia Lima , Undergraduate Student
- Aaron Mañas Marin, Undergraduate Student
- Santiago Martin Solans
- Alejandro Martín Rodríguez, PhD Student
- Xavier Martínez Soler, Undergraduate Student
- Marta Masó Martínez, Masters Student
- Sònia Matencio Lloberas, Masters Student
- Debora Mazzetti, Masters Student
- Mireia Novell Cardona, Undergraduate Student
- Claudia Orabona Masters Student
- Sthefany Ortiz Tescari, Undergraduate Student
- Alissa Jayne Owen, Undergraduate Student (erasmus)
- Andras-Robert Pal Polgar, Undergraduate Student
- Anna Palacios Padrós, PhD Student
- Jaume Palou Fusté, Senior Researcher
- Claudio Papotto, Masters Student
- Laia Pasquina Lemonche, Masters Student
- Marina Pedrola Teixell, Undergraduate Student
- Sara Peña Gutiérrez, Undergraduate Student
- Deborah Pirovano, Masters Student
- Santiago Pons Allés, Masters Student
- Judit Prat Trunas, Undergraduate Student
- Beatrice Preda, Masters Student
- Guillermo Prol Castelo, Undergraduate Student
- Josecarlo Alejandro Quintanilla Ibarra, Undergraduate Student
- Cristian Ramos Guerra, Undergraduate Student
- Sara Redondi, Masters Student
- Ivan Rimmaudo
- Cristina Rivero Martí, Undergraduate Student
- Silvia Roda, Masters Student
- Karin Rustler, Masters Student
- Ewa Rzad, Undergraduate Student (erasmus)
- Júlia Sanz Farnós, Undergraduate Student
- Veronica Sarasso, Postgraduate Student
- Christian Seca, Undergraduate Student
- Silvia Sodric Hidalgo, Masters Student
- Karolina Szczesna, Undergraduate Student
- Maria del Carmen Torres Martín-Mora, Masters Student
- Iro Tsintzou, Masters Student
- Simone Vitiello, PhD Student
- Pamina Winkler, Visiting Researcher
- Daniel Wutz, PhD Student
Projects
| INTERNATIONAL PROJECTS | FINANCER | PI |
|---|---|---|
| DEEPER · Deep Brain Photonic Tools for Cell-type specific targeting of Neural diseases (2021-2025) | European Commission, ICT | Pau Gorostiza |
| Human Brain Project Specific Grant Agreement 3 (2020-2023) | European Commission, FET FLAGSHIPS | Pau Gorostiza |
| NATIONAL PROJECTS | FINANCER | PI |
|---|---|---|
| DEEP RED · Neuromodulación de las vías inhibitorias mediante fotofarmacología activada por luz roja e infrarroja (2020-2023) | MINECO, Retos investigación: Proyectos I+D | Pau Gorostiza |
| PRIVATELY FUNDED PROJECTS | FINANCER | PI |
|---|---|---|
| Drug4Sight · Light-regulated drugs to restore sight (2019-2022) | Obra Social La Caixa | Pau Gorostiza |
| FINISHED PROJECTS | FINANCER | PI |
|---|---|---|
| DECA CECH · Cluster Emergente del Cerebro Humano (2019-2021) | RIS3CAT – Tecnologies Emergents | Pau Gorostiza |
| SGR Grups de recerca consolidats (2017-2020) | AGAUR / SGR | Pau Gorostiza |
| Q-SPET · Quantum-controlled Single Protein Electron Transport (2019-2020) | BIST Ignite Program | Pau Gorostiza |
| Human Brain Project Specific Grant Agreement 2 (2018-2020) | European Commission, FET FLAGSHIPS | Pau Gorostiza |
| FOCUS Single Molecule Activation and Computing | ICT | Pau Gorostiza |
| THERALIGHT Therapeutic Applications of Light-Regulated Drugs | ERC-PoC | Pau Gorostiza |
| Single-BioET Single-molecule junction capabilities to map the electron pathways in redox bio-molecular architectures (2012-2016) | MARIE CURIE – RG | Ismael Díez |
| Optogenetic pacemaking to rewire neural circuits | La Marató TV3 | Pau Gorostiza |
| OPTOPHARMACOLOGY Aplicaciones terapéuticas de la optofarmacología | MINECO (CTQ2013-43892-R) | Pau Gorostiza |
| Milk fat globule membrane and periphera proteins: lipid-protein interactions (2016-2017) | Fausto Sanz | INRA |
| WaveScalES Human Brain Project Specific Grant Agreement 1 (2016-2018) | European Commission, FET FLAGSHIPS | Pau Gorostiza |
| OPTOFRAX Optopharmacological brain mapping of autism mouse (2015-2017) | MARIE CURIE – IF | Miquel Bosch |
| NANOPROSTHETICS Prótesis moleculares para restablecer la visión basadas en fotoconmutadores covalentes dirigidos (2016-2019) | MINECO, Retos investigación: Proyectos I+D | Pau Gorostiza |
| MODULIGHTOR Moduladores fotoconmutables sintéticos para manipular remotamente proteínas endógenas: fotocontrol in vivo de canales iónicos pentaméricos (2015-2018) | MINECO Nacional /Acciones de Programación Conjunta Internacional | Pau Gorostiza |
| nanoET-leukemia Nanoconductance of electron transfer proteins of the respiratory chain. Direct measurement at the single molecular level and therapeutic regulation in cancer stem cells (2015-2018) | MINECO, Proyectos RETOS 2015 / CIBER | Marina Giannotti / Anna Lagunas |
| Inhibición fotoselectiva de interacciones proteína-proteína para el estudio de redes interactómicas y el desarrollo de nuevas terapias (2015-2018) | Pau Gorostiza | Fundación Ramon Areces |
| Fotoconmutadores covalentes para el control remoto de receptores endógenos (2017-2019) | Pau Gorostiza | Convocatoria de Ayudas a la Investigación FUNDALUCE |
Publications
Equipment
- iMic molecular imaging system
- Electrochemical scanning tunnelling microscope (STM) for molecular imaging
- Asylum Research Molecular Force Probe
- Multimode SPM Nanoscope III (SCT-UB)
- Autolab potentiostat
- Patch clamp setup with Heka EPC10 amplifier
- Molecular Imaging Electrochemical STM
Collaborations
- Prof. Amadeu Llebaria
Institut de Química Avançada de Catalunya (IQAC-CSIC) - Prof. Ernest Giralt
Dept. de Química Orgànica, Universitat de Barcelona - Prof. Miquel Àngel Pericàs
Institut Català d’Investigació Química (ICIQ), Tarragona - Dr. Piotr Bregestovski
Institut de Neurobiologie de la Mediterraneé (INMED), Marseille - Dr. Mireia Oliva
Dept. de Farmàcia i Tecnologia Farmacèutica, Universitat de Barcelona - Dr. Artur Llobet
Dept. Patología y Terapéutica Experimental, Universitat de Barcelona - Dr. Joan Torrent
Escola Universitària d’Òptica i Optometria de Terrassa, Spain - Prof. Dirk Trauner
Chemistry Dept., UC Berkeley, USA - Prof. Carles Solsona
Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics Dept, UB - Prof. Francisco Ciruela
ICREA / Universitat de Barcelona, Spain - Prof. Jesús Giraldo & Dr. Jordi Hernando
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain - Niek van Hulst, Michael Krieg, Pablo Loza
Institut de Ciències Fotòniques (ICFO) - Carme Rovira
ICREA, Universitat de Barcelona - Pedro de la Villa
Universidad de Alcalá de Henares - Eduardo Fernández
Universitat Miguel Hernández - Burkhard König
Regensburg University - Michael Decker
Regensburg University - Elisabet Romero
Institut Català d’Investigació Química (ICIQ), Tarragona - Ismael Díez-Pérez
King’s College London - Andrea Barberis
Italian Institute of Technology - Roberta Croce
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam - Gertrudis Perea
Instituto Cajal - Irene Díaz-Moreno, Miguel Ángel de la Rosa, Antonio Díaz-Quintana
Instituto de Investigaciones Químicas, Universidad de Sevilla - Joan Torrent
Escola Universitària d’Òptica i Optometria de Terrassa, Spain - Jordi Hernando, Ramon Alibés, Félix Busque, Josep Maria Lluch
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain
News
L’IBEC i el VHIR celebren una jornada de col·laboració per fomentar les sinergies
La 1a Jornada Col·laborativa Translacional entre el Vall d’Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR) i l’Institut de Bioenginyeria de Catalunya (IBEC), celebrada el 21 de novembre, ha estat una oportunitat per conèixer els projectes i les línies de recerca d’ambdues institucions i promoure la interacció entre els professionals.
L’IBEC i el Banc de Sang i Teixits enforteixen llaços amb una jornada de col·laboració translacional
L’IBEC i el Banc de Sang i Teixits han celebrat una jornada per explorar noves col·laboracions en bioenginyeria i medicina translacional. La trobada, celebrada ahir a l’IBEC, va destacar projectes innovadors, va presentar un programa de doctorat conjunt i va reforçar la connexió entre recerca biomèdica i aplicacions clíniques.
Investiguen la separació de càrregues en el fotosistema de les plantes mitjançant espectroscòpia 2D ultraràpida
Un equip de recerca liderat per l’IBEC i l’ICFO ha desenvolupat i validat una nova tècnica d’espectroscòpia d’electrons fotoelectroquímica per investigar la dinàmica de separació de càrregues, un pas crucial de la fotosíntesi, en complexos fotosintètics.
Medicaments activats per llum per tractar el dolor neuropàtic
Un equip de recerca dirigit per l’Institut de Bioenginyeria de Catalunya (IBEC) ha desenvolupat derivats de la carbamazepina, un medicament antiepilèptic, per tractar el dolor neuropàtic. Aquests compostos, que mostren efectes analgèsics en activar-los per llum, poden inhibir els senyals nerviosos de manera localitzada i sota demanda. Els tractaments fotofarmacològics ofereixen una acció precisa en el lloc d’aplicació, reduint així els efectes adversos a escala sistèmica.
Implants amb nanopartícules luminescents per tractar el dolor i l’epilèpsia
L’IBEC coordinarà el projecte PHOTOTHERAPORT que es desenvoluparà amb el finançament del programa Pathfinder Open del Consell d’Innovació Europeu. El projecte se centra en el desenvolupament d’implants luminescents i fàrmacs activats amb llum per a innovadores teràpies de neuromodulació. Phototheraport serà un consorci internacional de 8 institucions i rebrà 3 milions d’euros en 3 anys per a l’estudi preclínic d’aquests implants.
Aconsegueixen induir l’activació cerebral amb fàrmacs controlats per llum infraroja
Un estudi pioner liderat per l’IBEC en col·laboració amb l’ICFO ha revelat un mètode per controlar l’activitat cerebral en organismes vius mitjançant l’ús de fàrmacss activats per llum infraroja. Aquesta tècnica d’ avantguarda activa un receptor específic de neurotransmissors utilitzant llum que pot penetrar profundament en els teixits i ofereix una precisió farmacològica i espaciotemporal sense igual en tres dimensions. Aquestes troballes obren noves fronteres per a la recerca en neurobiologia i el desenvolupament de teràpies de neuromodulació no invasives basades en la llum.
Primeres mentories clíniques pels doctorands de l’IBEC a hospitals de Barcelona
El Programa d’immersió clínica per a estudiants de doctorat és una iniciativa del Programa d’Emprenedoria de l’IBEC i el Col·legi de Metges de Barcelona (CoMB). El seu objectiu és connectar … Read more
Postdoc2/ at the nanoprobes and nanoswitches Research Group
Postdoctoral / Deadline September 23th
Postdoc/ at the nanoprobes and nanoswitches Research Group
Postdoctoral / Deadline 23th September 2022
IBEC contributes to multi-disciplinary efforts to understand the brain and improve neurological healthcare
The Group of Pau Gorostiza at IBEC participates in the “Emerging Cluster of the Human Brain! (CECH) RIS3CAT Initiative, in which research institutes and industry work together to achieve an integrative and multi-level understanding of the human brain.
Jobs
We are happy to receive CVs and enquiries from talented individuals. Prospective students and staff are encouraged to contact us to discuss possibilities. Please feel free to suggest new projects, areas of research or new ideas. You can visit the jobs page to find currents job openings in all IBEC groups or administration positions.
Senior Researcher at the nanoprobes and nanoswitches group
Ref: SR-PG // Deadline: 11/12/2024
Postdoctoral researcher at the nanoprobes and nanoswitches group
Ref: PR_PG // Deadline: 08/12/2024
Postdoctoral researcher at the Nanoprobes and nanoswitches research group
Ref: PD-PG // Deadline: 13/11/2024
Research Assistant at the nanoprobes and nanoswitches research group (RA3_PG)
Ref : RA3_PG // Deadline: 27/06/2024
Research Assistant at the nanoprobes and nanoswitches research group (RA2_PG)
Ref: RA2_PG // Deadline 27/06/2024
Research Assistant at the Nanoprobes & Nanoswitches Research Group (RA1_PG)
Ref: RA1_PG // Deadline 23/06/2024
PhD at the nanoprobes and nanoswitches research group
Ref: Phd_PG // Deadline 31/12/2023
Postdoctoral Researcher at the Nanoprobes & Nanoswitches Research Group (PD_PG)
Ref: PD_PG // Deadline: 27/11/2023
Predoctoral researcher at the Nanoprobes and Nanoswitches Research Group
Ref: FPI_PG/ Deadline: 18/12/2023