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X-WR-CALNAME:Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia
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X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia
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DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Madrid:20260203T100000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Madrid:20260203T150000
DTSTAMP:20260403T200801
CREATED:20260119T133250Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260128T132855Z
UID:131528-1770112800-1770130800@ibecbarcelona.eu
SUMMARY:Ibec Seminar. Prof. Pierangelo Gobbo
DESCRIPTION:A search for the right scientific question: can we fabricate cells and tissues from scratch?\nProf. Pierangelo Gobbo\, University of Trieste \nBottom-up synthetic biology is an emerging research field whose objectives is to design and fabricate existing biological systems from inanimate molecules\, materials\, and chemical reactions.[1] One of the key biological systems that bottom-up synthetic biology is trying to re-design and fabricate is the living cell. This research led to the concept of “protocell” and “prototissues”.[2] A protocell is a micro-compartmentalised system capable of imitating at least one of the key features of a living cell (e.g.\, enzyme catalysis\, communication based on diffusible chemical signals\, information storage etc.). A prototissue is instead a free-standing and covalently interconnected network of communicating protocell units that can display synergistic functions.[3\, 4] \nWhile thus far efforts have been placed in the development of methods to fabricate PCMs with complex 3D architectures and demonstrate their chemical communication properties\, in this contribution I will show how I used the knowledge acquired during my entire scientific journey to move beyond the state-of-the-art in bottom-up synthetic biology\, and develop the first prototissues capable of photo-mechano-chemical transduction.[5] These are prototissues capable of converting a light stimulus into complex mechanical movements that in turn can influence the biocatalysis hosted within the protocell units composing the material itself. In order to achieve this\, we have designed and assembled a covalent and thermoresponsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (P(NIPAM)) polymer network directly inside the lumen of the protocells composing the PCM\, where we also placed poly(ethylene oxide) (PEG) stabilised gold nanoparticles (AuNPs)\, amyloglucosidase (AGx)\, and glucose oxidase (GOx). By exploiting the photo-thermal effect of AuNPs and the thermoresponsive properties of the PNIPAM network in a synergistic manner\, we were able to achieve reversible light-induced contractions of the PCM. Most importantly\, the contraction caused the material to become hydrophobic. This made the contracted protocell membranes impermeable to small hydrophilic substrate molecules for enzyme catalysis\, and effectively shut off the hosted enzyme cascade. \nThe fabrication of tissue-like materials with increasingly advanced biomimetic properties will not only help us to understand the physicochemical basis of the emerging behaviours of living tissues\, but will also find important applications in tissue engineering\, pharmacokinetics\, mechanobiology\, personalised therapy\, in the development of micro-bioreactors and soft robotics. \nPierangelo Gobbo received his BSc (2008) and MSc (2010) in Chemistry at the University of Padua (Italy) and his PhD in 2016 at the University of Western Ontario (Canada). In 2016 he joined the research group of Prof. Stephen Mann\, FRS at the University of Bristol (UK) as an NSERC of Canada Postdoctoral Fellow first\, and then as an EU Marie Curie Postdoctoral Fellow. In 2019 Pierangelo started his independent research career at the School of Chemistry of the University of Bristol under a Vice-Chancellor’s Fellowship (Assistant Professorship). In October 2021 Pierangelo moved to the Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences of the University of Trieste (Italy) where he is pioneering the first strategies to use synthetic cells (or “protocells”) as foundational units to assemble free-standing tissue-like materials with complex 3D architectures and programmable bio-inspired emergent behaviours such as contractility\, phototropism\, and biochemical sensing. During his academic career Pierangelo was awarded numerous awards for excellence in research. The most recent are Italy’s Giacomo Ciamician Medal for Organic Chemistry (2021)\, UK’s EPSRC New Investigator Award (2020)\, and the Canada’s Governor General’s Gold Medal (2017). He is currently PI on an ERC Starting Grant 2021\, co-coordinator of an EIC Pathfinder Open 2022\, and the coordinator of other National research projects.
URL:https://ibecbarcelona.eu/event/ibec-seminar-prof-pierangelo-gobbo/
LOCATION:Baobab room\, Floor 11\, Tower 1
CATEGORIES:IBEC Seminar
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Madrid:20260216T113000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Madrid:20260216T123000
DTSTAMP:20260403T200801
CREATED:20260128T102059Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260128T102059Z
UID:131754-1771241400-1771245000@ibecbarcelona.eu
SUMMARY:Ibec Seminar. Monika E. Dolega
DESCRIPTION:Nucleolar mechano-adaptation and its role in epithelial homeostasis\nMonika E. Dolega\, Institute for Advanced Biosciences IAB\, INSERM U1209\, CNRS UMR5309\, University Grenoble-Alpes\, Grenoble\, France \n  \nEpithelial tissues experience constant mechanical stimuli tied to normal physiological functions\, but how they maintain homeostasis under such dynamic conditions remains unclear. Our previous RNAseq study on in-plane compressed epithelial monolayers revealed altered transcripts of ribosomal proteins essential for ribosome biogenesis in nucleoli—membrane-less\, sub-nuclear biocondensates that challenge classical mechanotransduction concepts. Although few studies confirm nucleolar sensitivity to external cues\, detailed mechanisms are lacking. Using advanced microscopy\, omics\, and biophysical approaches\, we uncover a new mechanism of nucleolar mechano-adaptation. Mechanical confinement over minutes reorganizes nucleolar structure and downregulates pre-rRNA transcription. Central to this process is the nucleolar protein Nucleolin\, which translocates to perform two roles: it leaves the rDNA promoter region to down-regulate ribosome biogenesis and participates in DNA repair at damage sites caused by compression. This study introduces the nucleolus as a mechano-sensitive organelle\, advancing mechanobiology and cancer research by revealing a new potential therapeutic target
URL:https://ibecbarcelona.eu/event/ibec-seminar-monika-e-dolega/
LOCATION:Baobab room\, Floor 11\, Tower 1
CATEGORIES:IBEC Seminar
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Madrid:20260227T090000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Madrid:20260227T130000
DTSTAMP:20260403T200801
CREATED:20260128T091847Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260204T141924Z
UID:131741-1772182800-1772197200@ibecbarcelona.eu
SUMMARY:Thematic Network. NET-CNS Workshop 3: Overcoming Therapeutic Barriers in CNS
DESCRIPTION:This third workshop will focus on overcoming therapeutic barriers in CNS disorders\, with particular emphasis on delivery strategies\, biological interfaces\, and translational challenges. \nSchedule \n09:00 – Registration\n09:20 – Welcome from Network Coordinator\n09:30 – IBEC speaker: Daniel Gonzalez-Carter\, Molecular Bionics group Group. “Exploiting the physiology of the BBB to target therapies to the brain.”Daniel Gonzalez-Carter\, IBEC Molecular Bionics Group\,\n10:00 – Invited speaker: Cristina Fornaguera\, NanoTherapies Lab\, Institut Químic de Sarrià (IQS)\, Universitat Ramon Llull (URL). “From Bench to Brain: Polymeric Nanoparticles for Controlled Brain Delivery”\n10:40 – Coffee Break and Networking\n11:10 – Invited speaker: Meritxell Teixidó\, Gate2Brain. “Gate2Brain blood-brain barrier shuttle peptides: From discovery to applications and going beyond small molecules”\n11:50 – Invited speaker: Eloi Montañez\, IDIBELL Department of Physiological Sciences .Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences\, University of Barcelona. “Linking TDP-43 to Vascular Degeneration and Neuroinflammation”\n12:30 – IBEC speaker: Anna Lagunas\, IBEC Nanobioengineering Group\, “A BBB-on-a-chip (BBB-oC) with integrated micro-TEER to evaluate brain drug delivery”\n13:00 – End of the Workshop \nTo register\, click here.
URL:https://ibecbarcelona.eu/event/thematic-network-net-cns-workshop-3-overcoming-therapeutic-barriers-in-cns/
LOCATION:Baobab room\, Floor 11\, Tower 1
CATEGORIES:IBEC Seminar
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Madrid:20260408T150000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Madrid:20260408T160000
DTSTAMP:20260403T200801
CREATED:20260331T123720Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260331T123720Z
UID:133054-1775660400-1775664000@ibecbarcelona.eu
SUMMARY:Ibec Seminar. M. Carolina Florian
DESCRIPTION:Targeting RhoA mechanoactivity rejuvenates aged hematopoietic stem cells  \nM. Carolina Florian\, Stem Cell Aging Group\, Regenerative Medicine Program\, The Bellvitge Institute for Biomedical Research (IDIBELL)\, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat\, Barcelona\, Spain. \nProgram for advancing the Clinical Translation of Regenerative Medicine of Catalonia\, P-CMR[C]\, Barcelona\, Spain\nThe Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA)\, Barcelona\, Spain\nMechanical alterations contribute to the decreased regenerative capacity of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) upon aging. RhoA is a key regulator of mechanosignaling\, but its role in mechanotransduction in stem cell aging remains unclear. Recently we have demonstrated that RhoA is activated by increasing nuclear envelope (NE) tension by cell confinement and by osmotic shock. Interestingly\, our data show that aged HSCs experience physiologically higher intrinsic NE tension and RhoA activation. We show that pharmacological inhibition of RhoA activity lowers NE tension in aged HSCs. Feature image analysis of HSC nuclei reveals that an aged dependent chromatin remodeling is responsible of higher NE tension levels upon aging. Moreover\, our data show that RhoA inhibition restores youthful levels of the heterochromatin marker H3K9me2 in aged HSCs and decreases chromatin accessibility and transcription at retrotransposons. Finally\, we demonstrated that RhoA inhibition in aged HSCs upregulates Klf4 expression and transcriptional activity\, improving aged HSC regenerative capacity and lympho-myeloid skewing in vivo. Together\, our data outline an intrinsic RhoA-dependent mechanosignaling axis in HSCs\, which can be pharmacologically targeted to restore aged stem cell function.
URL:https://ibecbarcelona.eu/event/ibec-seminar-m-carolina-florian/
LOCATION:Baobab room\, Floor 11\, Tower 1
CATEGORIES:IBEC Seminar
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Madrid:20260410T090000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Madrid:20260410T160000
DTSTAMP:20260403T200801
CREATED:20260128T092058Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260318T115649Z
UID:131745-1775811600-1775836800@ibecbarcelona.eu
SUMMARY:Thematic Network. NET-CNS Workshop 4: Innovations in CNS Modeling:Cutting-edge In Vitro Systems​
DESCRIPTION:Join us for the fourth NET-CNS Workshop on April 10th! \nThis fourth NET-CNS workshop will focus on innovative experimental platforms and technologies to model central nervous system (CNS) processes and diseases. Particular emphasis will be placed on advanced in vitro systems\, translational research tools\, and emerging technologies that enable more physiologically relevant models for studying CNS biology and developing therapeutic strategies. \nThe event will bring together experts from academia\, clinical research institutions\, and industry to discuss new approaches for understanding CNS function and pathology and for advancing biomedical innovation in neuroscience. \nSpeakers \n\nTeresa Botta Orfila – Head of the HCB-IDIBAPS Biobank (Barcelona). She leads initiatives in human biobanking\, biological sample management\, and translational infrastructures supporting biomedical research\, precision medicine\, and clinical studies.\nVíctor Borrell – Research Professor at the Instituto de Neurociencias (CSIC-UMH)\, Alicante. His research focuses on brain development and evolution\, particularly the cellular and molecular mechanisms that control neuronal migration\, cortical expansion\, and the formation of neural circuits.\nRosa Monge – Scientist at Beonchip (Zaragoza)\, a biotechnology company developing organ-on-chip technologies. Her work focuses on microphysiological systems and organ-on-chip platforms that enable the creation of advanced in vitro models for drug discovery and biomedical research.\nMaria Bernabeu – Group Leader at EMBL Barcelona. Her research integrates computational and experimental approaches to study tissue architecture and cellular organization\, using quantitative biology and advanced imaging to understand multicellular systems in health and disease.\nSandra Acosta – Professor at the University of Barcelona (UB) and researcher at Hospital Sant Joan de Déu and the Pasqual Maragall Foundation. Her research focuses on neurodegeneration and Alzheimer’s disease\, particularly on early pathological mechanisms\, neuroinflammation\, and translational strategies to identify biomarkers and therapeutic targets.\n\nProgramme \n09:30 – Registration \n09:50 – Welcome from Network Coordinator \n10:00 – IBEC Speaker: Jorge Oliver de la Cruz – Cellular and Molecular Mechanobiologygroup\, IBEC. “Mechanical cues regulate Tau axonal localization through microtubule stabilization” \n10:40 – Invited Speaker: Teresa Botta Orfila – Head of HCB-IDIBAPS Biobank\, Barcelona. “Biobanks as essential hubs for research”. \n11:20 – Coffee Break and Networking \n11:50 – Invited Speaker: Víctor Borrell – Instituto de Neurociencias (CSIC-UMH)\, Alicante. “Evolution of neural stem cells and lineages in the cerebral cortex of amniotes” \n12:30 – Industry Speaker: Rosa Monge – Beonchip\, Zaragoza. \n13:15 – Lunch Break \n14:15 – Invited Speaker: Maria Bernabeu – EMBL Barcelona. “Building and breaking barriers: bioengineered 3D brain microvascular models for malaria research” \n15:00 – Invited Speaker: Sandra Acosta – University of Barcelona\, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu & Pasqual Maragall Foundation\, Barcelona. “Modeling Neurological Disease Progression in vitro: The Promise and Pitfalls of Brain Organoids in Alzheimer’s and COVID-19” \n15:45 – End of the Workshop \nTo register click here.
URL:https://ibecbarcelona.eu/event/thematic-network-net-cns-workshop-4-innovations-in-cns-modelingcutting-edge-in-vitro-systems/
LOCATION:Baobab room\, Floor 11\, Tower 1
CATEGORIES:IBEC Seminar
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Madrid:20260415T120000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Madrid:20260415T130000
DTSTAMP:20260403T200801
CREATED:20260320T075958Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260320T080207Z
UID:132904-1776254400-1776258000@ibecbarcelona.eu
SUMMARY:Ibec Seminar: Dr. Federico Fenaroli
DESCRIPTION:Developing Nanomedicines Using the Zebrafish Embryo\nDr. Federico Fenaroli\,  University of Stavanger\, Norwey \nOur research focuses on the development of nanomedicines to combat bacterial infections and cancer. We investigate the dynamic in vivo interactions between nanoparticles\, immune cells\, and pathogenic bacteria or cancer cells. Thanks to their natural transparency\, zebrafish embryos enable high-resolution imaging and real-time tracking of nanoparticles within a living organism. This model provides valuable insights into therapeutic behavior\, biodistribution\, and host–pathogen interactions\, supporting the rational design of nanomedicines.
URL:https://ibecbarcelona.eu/event/ibec-seminar-dr-federico-fenaroli/
LOCATION:Baobab room\, Floor 11\, Tower 1
CATEGORIES:IBEC Seminar
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Madrid:20260417T110000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Madrid:20260417T110000
DTSTAMP:20260403T200801
CREATED:20250915T091947Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250915T124500Z
UID:128356-1776423600-1776423600@ibecbarcelona.eu
SUMMARY:Ibec Seminar. Prof. Kara Spiller
DESCRIPTION:Engineering Macrophages with Biomaterials for Regenerative Medicine\nKara L. Spiller\, PhD\, URBN Professor of Biomedical Innovation\, School of Biomedical Engineering\, Science\, and Health Systems\, Drexel University\, Philadelphia\, PA\, USA \nThe inflammatory response\, orchestrated primarily by macrophages\, plays a major role in the body’s response to injury\, disease\, or implantation of a biomaterial. When macrophages function normally\, they are a powerful force that promote tissue repair and regeneration\, but when their behavior goes awry\, healing is impaired. Our goal is to understand the mechanisms by which the inflammatory response orchestrates successful tissue regeneration and to develop novel biomaterial strategies that apply these principles to situations in which tissue regeneration is impaired. In particular\, we study macrophages in inflammation\, phagocytosis\, cellular recruitment\, vascularization\, cell proliferation\, tissue deposition\, or remodeling\, and we design biomaterials that leverage these findings for improved biomaterials design\, enhanced macrophage cell therapy\, and personalized medicine. Current projects in the lab are directed towards treatment of pulmonary fibrosis and chronic wound healing through biomaterial-enabled macrophage cell therapies. \nDr. Kara Spiller is the URBN Endowed Professor of Biomedical Innovation in Drexel University’s School of Biomedical Engineering\, Science\, and Health Systems. Her research focuses on the role of immune cells in tissue repair and regeneration and the design of immunomodulatory biomaterials. Her research is funded by the NIH\, the NSF\, private foundations\, and industry. Her awards include a Fulbright fellowship\, the NSF CAREER award\, and the United States Dept. of State ASPIRE prize. She has published more than 85 publications in biomaterials and immune engineering\, and has 18 issued or pending patents. She is the founding director of the Immune Modulation & Engineering Symposium series in Philadelphia\, which is the only annually recurring meeting dedicated to convergent research in translational immunology and engineering. She serves on the board of numerous journals and is a frequent NIH study section member.
URL:https://ibecbarcelona.eu/event/ibec-seminar-prof-kara-spiller/
LOCATION:Baobab room\, Floor 11\, Tower 1
CATEGORIES:IBEC Seminar
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Madrid:20260513T140000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Madrid:20260513T150000
DTSTAMP:20260403T200801
CREATED:20260320T101141Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260320T101141Z
UID:132912-1778680800-1778684400@ibecbarcelona.eu
SUMMARY:Ibec Seminar:  Dr Pascale Quilichini
DESCRIPTION:Neuronal infra-slow rhythm in the thalamic nucleus reuniens orchestrate hippocampo-prefrontal information flow during sleep\nDr Pascale Quilichini\, Institut de Neurosciences des Systèmes\, INSERM\, Aix-Marseille University \nThe consolidation of episodic memory during sleep relies on coordinated interactions between the hippocampus (HPC) and the prefrontal cortex (PFC)\, although these regions lack direct reciprocal connections. The thalamic nucleus reuniens (NR)\, which is bidirectionally connected to both structures\, is therefore a strong candidate for mediating this dialogue. Using simultaneous silicon-probes recordings from the HPC\, NR\, and PFC in freely sleeping rats\, we identified a previously undescribed infra-slow rhythm (ISR) in NR neuronal activity predominantly during non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep.\nHPC and PFC neurons were differentially entrained to distinct phases of this rhythm. Consistently\, hippocampal sharp-wave ripples (SWRs) and prefrontal spindles occurred also preferentially during slightly different ISR phases. Coupled SWR–spindle events peaked at the onset of the ON phase.\nFurthermore\, this coupling was stronger during NREM epochs dominated by ISR compared to those without ISR\, and\, most importantly\, was significantly enhanced during ISR-dominated NREM sleep following spatial learning.\nTogether\, these findings reveal a novel infra-slow population dynamic in the NR that may temporally coordinate hippocampo–prefrontal interactions during sleep\, positioning this nucleus as a key hub in this network supporting memory consolidation.
URL:https://ibecbarcelona.eu/event/ibec-seminar-dr-pascale-quilichini/
LOCATION:Baobab room\, Floor 11\, Tower 1
CATEGORIES:IBEC Seminar
END:VEVENT
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