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DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Madrid:20230915T100000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Madrid:20230915T113000
DTSTAMP:20260403T224823
CREATED:20230710T085202Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230710T085202Z
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SUMMARY:IBEC Seminar: Dr. Andy Tay
DESCRIPTION:Biomaterials for cancer study and accelerate wound healing\nDr. Andy Tay \, Assistant Professor\, Presidential Young Professor\, Department of Biomedical Engineering \nMagnetic hydrogels are materials containing magnetic microparticles which help transduce magnetic fields into mechanical forces. In the presence of a static magnet\, the stiffness of magnetic hydrogels can be altered to investigate the reversible effects of matrix softening and stiffening on cellular behaviours. Here\, I will describe how we exploit this unique feature of our material for cancer study. \nThe World Health Organization estimates that 10% of the world’s population suffers from diabetes\, and diabetic patients has a 15-25% lifetime risk of getting diabetic foot ulcers. Every 20s\, there is a lower extremity amputation worldwide. In the second half of my talk\, I will describe the use of magnetic hydrogel for mechanical stimulation of cells to synergistically accelerate diabetic wound healing. \n\nAndy Tay graduated in 2014 from NUS with a First-Class Honours in Biomedical Engineering. He later headed to the University of California\, Los Angeles for his PhD studies and graduated in 2017 as the recipient of the Harry M Showman Commencement Award. Andy next received his postdoctoral training at Stanford University before heading to Imperial College London as an 1851 Royal Commission Brunel Research Fellow. He is currently a Presidential Young Professor in NUS. \nAndy is a recipient of international awards including the Interstellar Initiative Early-Career Faculty Award\, Christopher Hewitt Outstanding Young Investigator Award\, Terasaki Young Innovator Award. He is listed as a 2019 Forbes 30 Under 30 (US/Canada\, Science)\, 2020 World Economic Forum Young Scientist\, 2020 The Straits Times ‘30 and Under’ Young Singaporeans to Watch and 2022 Top 2% Scientist in the World by Stanford University. \n 
URL:https://ibecbarcelona.eu/event/ibec-seminar-dr-andy-tay/
LOCATION:Sala Dolors Aleu\, Cluster II\, IBEC\, Baldiri i Reixac\, Barcelona
CATEGORIES:IBEC Seminar
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Madrid:20230927T120000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Madrid:20230927T130000
DTSTAMP:20260403T224823
CREATED:20230803T110925Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230803T110925Z
UID:110580-1695816000-1695819600@ibecbarcelona.eu
SUMMARY:IBEC Seminar: Mariano Vázquez
DESCRIPTION:Supercomputer-based virtual humans: the future of medicine NOW\nMariano Vázquez\, ELEM Biotech & Barcelona Supercomputing Center \nIn this talk we are going to address the potential of supercomputer-based virtual humans for the biomedical realm. Virtual Humans are computational “avatars” of a patient\, which combines data with a mathematical model which are used to predict (as opposed to measure with experiments) some quantities of interest\, under a context of use and used to support medical decisions. We will show examples of Populations of Virtual Humans used as cohorts for in-silico clinical trials to optimize drug or devise-based therapies. \nOur examples are mostly of the cardiovascular and respiratory domains.
URL:https://ibecbarcelona.eu/event/ibec-seminar-mariano-vazquez/
LOCATION:Sala Dolors Aleu\, Cluster II\, IBEC\, Baldiri i Reixac\, Barcelona
CATEGORIES:IBEC Seminar
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Madrid:20230929T100000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Madrid:20230929T113000
DTSTAMP:20260403T224823
CREATED:20230912T131744Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230912T131744Z
UID:110815-1695981600-1695987000@ibecbarcelona.eu
SUMMARY:IBEC Seminar: New technologies for accelerating drug discovery and preclinical testing
DESCRIPTION:New technologies for accelerating drug discovery and preclinical testing\nMaria Majellaro\, Chief Scientific Officer of Celtarys. \nAbi J Vazquez. Co-founder and COO of DIVERSA Technologies SL.\nBruno K Rodiño-Janeiro\, Chief Scientific Officer of BFlow. \n  \nCeltarys\, DIVERSA and BFlow belong to the Galician biotechnology ecosystem and are dedicated to provide cutting-edge technologies applied in different and complementary phases of preclinical drug screening\, accelerating the drug development process and reducing the time to market of new therapies. \nThe three companies emerge from technologies developed at public research centers and transferred to the market after participation in validation programs. The speakers will explain their experiences in the process of going from an idea in the laboratory to the final technology transfer as spin-off companies. \nCeltarys is a spin-off of the University of Santiago de Compostela\, focused on the development of innovative fluorescent tools to improve the efficiency of the drug discovery process. In addition to its fluorescent ligand portfolio\, Celtarys specializes in customized fluorescent ligands for target-based drug discovery\, utilizing its proprietary conjugation technology. This unique approach allows to quickly design and develop libraries of different tailor-made fluorescent ligands with their own linkers covering wide chemical architectures for any target of interest. \nDIVERSA is a spin-off from the Santiago de Compostela Health Research Institute (IDIS) and the Galician Health Service (SERGAS)\, devoted to drive the translation of new therapeutic molecules to the clinic through the application of patented safe-by-design lipid nanoemulsions that can efficiently improve the delivery of drugs and biomolecules (RNAs\, proteins and peptides ) to their target\, and thus efficacy. DIVERSA commercialize ready-to-use reagents\, and also provides customized services for the development of tailored and unique formulations that can accomplish all requirements for a specific molecule\, indication\, and route of administration. We also conduct comprehensive R&D activities to advance our own nanomedicines towards the clinic\, answering to current unmet clinical needs. \n  \nBFlow is a spin-off from the University of Santiago de Compostela (USC) and the Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (IDIS)\, which offers advanced Organ-on-a-chip models to improve the physiological relevance of cell cultures. BFlow products are designed to cover the urgent need to improve the data in both research laboratories and the pharmaceutical industry. Regarding the latter\, Organ-on-a-chip models will have a relevant role reducing the cost\, time and use of experimental animal models in the preclinical drug screening process\, accelerating the discovery of new drugs. \n  \nThe seminar will consist of 15 minute talks from each company with 15 minutes of questions and answers.
URL:https://ibecbarcelona.eu/event/ibec-seminar-new-technologies-for-accelerating-drug-discovery-and-preclinical-testing/
LOCATION:Sala Dolors Aleu\, Cluster II\, IBEC\, Baldiri i Reixac\, Barcelona
CATEGORIES:IBEC Seminar
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Madrid:20231002T120000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Madrid:20231002T130000
DTSTAMP:20260403T224823
CREATED:20230912T132001Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230912T132001Z
UID:110817-1696248000-1696251600@ibecbarcelona.eu
SUMMARY:IBEC Seminar: Simone Reber
DESCRIPTION:Conserved nucleocytoplasmic density homeostasis drives cellular organization across eukaryotes\nSimone Reber\, Max Planck Institut for Infection Biology\, Berlin (invited by Pere Roca-Cusachs) \nThe packing and confinement of macromolecules in the cytoplasm and nucleoplasm has profound implications for cellular biochemistry. How intracellular density distributions vary and affect cellular physiology remains largely unknown. We show that the nucleus is less dense than the cytoplasm and that living systems establish and maintain a constant density ratio between these compartments. Using label-free biophotonics and theory\, we show that nuclear density is set by a pressure balance across the nuclear envelope in vitro\, in vivo and during early development. Nuclear transport establishes a specific nuclear proteome that exerts a colloid osmotic pressure\, which\, assisted by entropic chromatin pressure\, draws water into the nucleus. Using C. elegans\, we show that while nuclear-to-cytoplasmic (N/C) volume ratios change during early development\, the N/C density ratio is robustly maintained. We propose that the maintenance of a constant N/C density ratio is the biophysical driver of one of the oldest tenets of cell biology: the N/C volume ratio. In summary\, this study reveals a previously unidentified homeostatic coupling of macromolecular densities that drives cellular organization.
URL:https://ibecbarcelona.eu/event/ibec-seminar-simone-reber/
LOCATION:Sala Dolors Aleu\, Cluster II\, IBEC\, Baldiri i Reixac\, Barcelona
CATEGORIES:IBEC Seminar
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Madrid:20231011T110000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Madrid:20231011T130000
DTSTAMP:20260403T224823
CREATED:20231004T102504Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20231004T102504Z
UID:111446-1697022000-1697029200@ibecbarcelona.eu
SUMMARY:IBEC Seminar: Jaap den Toonder
DESCRIPTION:Microfluidic technology enabling biomedical applications\nJaap den Toonder\, Microsystems Research Section\, Department of Mechanical Engineering\, and Institute for Complex Molecular Systems\, Eindhoven University of Technology.  \nCurrently\, visiting professor at IBEC\, Barcelona \nMicrofluidics is the science and technology of manipulating and analyzing fluid flow at small scales\, typically from millimeters down to micrometers. At these scales\, fluid flow is almost always laminar which enables excellent control over the flow. Microfluidic devices can be made using a range of microfabrication approaches and materials\, and these enable to integrate tailored electronic or mechanical functions. These unique properties of microfluidic technologies\, and the ongoing further development of the technology\, enable a range of new biomedical applications\, including diagnostic and monitoring devices\, medical implants\, and organ-on-chip. \nIn this lecture\, I will present recent developments within three research lines of our lab. (1) Bio-inspired microfluidics: A novel microfluidic flow generation concept inspired by nature\, which is based on magnetic nano- and micro-actuators we call “artificial cilia”; integrated in microfluidic devices\, these can be used to induce flow\, to manipulate particles\, and as actuators in cellular mechano-transduction research. (2) Microfluidic devices for health: Examples of microfluidic devices for health applications\, specifically a sweat sensing device for non-invasive semi-continuous monitoring of hospitalized patients\, and a smart eye implant to control eye pressure in glaucoma patients after surgery. (3) Organ-on-chip: A game-changing technology in which human cells are cultured in microfluidic chips simulating and predicting the response of healthy and diseased human tissues. I will focus on cancer-on-chip approaches to understand initial stages of cancer metastasis\, and on our lumen-based organ-on-chip models that are enabled by a 3D sugar printing technique we developed.
URL:https://ibecbarcelona.eu/event/ibec-seminar-jaap-den-toonder/
LOCATION:Sala Dolors Aleu\, Cluster II\, IBEC\, Baldiri i Reixac\, Barcelona
CATEGORIES:IBEC Seminar
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Madrid:20231110T100000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Madrid:20231110T120000
DTSTAMP:20260403T224823
CREATED:20231004T105307Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20231004T105307Z
UID:111448-1699610400-1699617600@ibecbarcelona.eu
SUMMARY:IBEC Seminar: Josep Puigmartí-Luis
DESCRIPTION:What can microfluidic technologies offer during self-assembly processes?\nJosep Puigmartí-Luis\, Departament de Ciència dels Materials i Química Física\, Institut de Química Teòrica i Computacional (invited by César Rodriguez-Emmenegger) \nSelf-assembly has long being used to control covalent and non-covalent interactions where molecular design has been the major driving force to achieve a desired outcome. Like in nature\, a full control over self-assembly processes could lead to rationalized structure-property correlations\, a long-time sought in chemistry\, physics and materials science. However\, the pathways followed and the mechanisms underlying the formation of supramolecular aggregates are still a major challenge for the scientific community. Accordingly\, the elucidation of nucleation and growth mechanisms will be highly required to push supramolecular chemistry to the next level\, where access to nature inspired functions will be accomplished. In this contribution\, I will present how reaction-diffusion (RD) conditions established within microfluidic devices can be used to uncover pathway complexity as well as to trigger pathway selection. Specifically\, I will show that microfluidic RD conditions provide an unprecedented kinetic control over self-assembly processes; for example\, enabling the isolation of well-defined kinetically trapped states as well as unprecedented metastable intermediates. This research provides a new tool to study and understand supramolecular chemistry\, and opens up new avenues for the engineering of advanced functional assemblies and systems. \n\nProf. Dr. Josep Puigmartí-Luis is a chemist who completed a master in Chemistry and Food Engineering at “Institut Químico de Serrià (IQS)” (2003) and did a PhD in materials science at Institut de Ciència de Materials de Barcelona (ICMAB). His work in supramolecular and flow chemistry\, has been awarded with “Premi Antoni de Martí i Franquès de Ciències Químiques”\, award from the Institut d’Estudis Catalans (2009)\, St. Jordi award from the Institut d’Estudis Catalans and the Societat Catalana de Química (2006) and an ETH fellowship in 2008. \nIn 2012\, he was appointed a Ramon Y Cajal (RyC) researcher\, but after two years as a RyC\, he decided to move back to Switzerland where in 2015 was awarded an ERC starting grant to study and control self-assembly processes of metal-organic based crystalline materials. In 2019\, he was appointed as an ICREA professor and since August 2020 his group is located at the University of Barcelona (UB).
URL:https://ibecbarcelona.eu/event/ibec-seminar-josep-puigmarti-luis/
LOCATION:Sala Dolors Aleu\, Cluster II\, IBEC\, Baldiri i Reixac\, Barcelona
CATEGORIES:IBEC Seminar
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Madrid:20231115T120000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Madrid:20231115T130000
DTSTAMP:20260403T224823
CREATED:20231108T114522Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20231108T120448Z
UID:112510-1700049600-1700053200@ibecbarcelona.eu
SUMMARY:IBEC Seminar: Martí Duocastella
DESCRIPTION:Toward the next generation of 3D optical microscopes: faster\, deeper\, and label-free\nMartí Duocastella\, Departament de Fisica Aplicada\, Universitat de Barcelona \nThree-dimensional (3D) optical microscopy is the tool of choice for characterizing the structure and dynamics of biological systems at sub-cellular resolution. However\, most microscope architectures are tailored to capture two-dimensional (2D) information from moderately thin samples labeled with fluorophores. Due to constraints posed by light scattering and the requirement for mechanical focus translation\, existing systems provide shallow penetration depth and low volumetric imaging speed\, thus falling short of unraveling biological complexity inside medium-sized organisms or even organoids. In this talk\, I will discuss our efforts to overcome these issues and achieve sub-millisecond imaging at potentially millimeter depths and without labels. Our strategy consists of focusing\, modulating\, and guiding light by exploiting the acousto-optic effect\, that is\, ultrasound-induced refractive index gradients. The unique interaction between ultrasound and light enables rapid 3D light control\, making it suitable for the development of inertia-free light sheet microscopes that lack mechanically moving parts and offer imaging rates of tens of volumes per second. It also facilitates illumination encoding in single-pixel cameras\, enabling scanless 2D imaging at 5 kHz. Interestingly\, applying ultrasonic waves in a scattering medium acts as an instantaneous waveguide embedded in the medium\, helping to redirect light toward a 7-fold deeper focus. I will discuss the advantages and pitfalls of these acousto-optic technologies and illustrate them with applications\, including imaging of spheroids and flowing samples. \n\nMartí Duocastella is a Serra Hunter full professor in the Department of Applied Physics at Universitat de Barcelona (UB) and leader of the Dynamic Optical Systems Lab. He completed his PhD in Physics at UB in 2010 and then moved to Princeton University as a postdoctoral research associate\, where he also became the vice-president of Research and Development of the startup company TAG Optics. In 2014 he joined Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia as a researcher (group leader)\, until returning to Barcelona as a faculty member in 2019. His research focuses on novel optical methods for three-dimensional (3D) light engineering\, with applications in materials science\, sensing\, and biology. He is an ERC Consolidator Grant awardee. \nIn 2012\, he was appointed a Ramon Y Cajal (RyC) researcher\, but after two years as a RyC\, he decided to move back to Switzerland where in 2015 was awarded an ERC starting grant to study and control self-assembly processes of metal-organic based crystalline materials. In 2019\, he was appointed as an ICREA professor and since August 2020 his group is located at the University of Barcelona (UB)
URL:https://ibecbarcelona.eu/event/ibec-seminar-marti-duocastella/
LOCATION:Sala Dolors Aleu\, Cluster II\, IBEC\, Baldiri i Reixac\, Barcelona
CATEGORIES:IBEC Seminar
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Madrid:20231201T120000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Madrid:20231201T130000
DTSTAMP:20260403T224823
CREATED:20231122T092220Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20231122T105201Z
UID:112738-1701432000-1701435600@ibecbarcelona.eu
SUMMARY:IBEC Seminar: Dr. Neil Lin
DESCRIPTION:Epithelial Cell Variability is Governed by Physics Principles and Has Mechanobiology Impacts\nDr. Neil Lin\,  Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Bioengineering at University of California\, Los Angeles (UCLA). \nBiological systems inherently exhibit variability\, seen in diverse cell shapes\, sizes\, and mechanical properties. Despite its prevalence\, our understanding of the role of phenotypic heterogeneity in cell biology is incomplete. This talk explores how basic physics governs cell-to-cell variability in epithelial monolayers and its impact on biological processes. The first part covers how cell shape heterogeneity influences chromatin organization during crowding. The second part demonstrates that in deformed epithelial layers\, nucleo-cytoskeleton coupling regulates intracellular strain distribution\, influencing cellular mechanoresponse and gene expression. Overall\, cell-cell variability significantly shapes tissue development and remodeling. \n\nDr. Neil Lin is an Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Bioengineering at University of California\, Los Angeles (UCLA). He obtained his Ph.D. in physics at Cornell University\, studying the microscopic mechanisms that underlie the non-Newtonian suspension flow property. From there\, he went on to do a postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard University\, studying approaches to recreate microenvironment cues for recapitulating kidney functions in vitro. He joined UCLA in 2019\, and his research is to utilize mechanobiology principles to engineer epithelial tissues. His honors include an NIH MIRA\, Prostate Cancer Foundation Young Investigator Award\, and BMES CMBE Rising Star Award.
URL:https://ibecbarcelona.eu/event/ibec-seminar-dr-neil-lin/
LOCATION:Sala Dolors Aleu\, Cluster II\, IBEC\, Baldiri i Reixac\, Barcelona
CATEGORIES:IBEC Seminar
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Madrid:20231215T140000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Madrid:20231215T150000
DTSTAMP:20260403T224823
CREATED:20231211T113708Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20231211T113913Z
UID:113211-1702648800-1702652400@ibecbarcelona.eu
SUMMARY:IBEC Seminar: Pavan Kumar Bosukonda
DESCRIPTION:Smart artificial microcompartments: motility and communication\nPavan Kumar Bosukonda\, Assistant Professor at the Department of Chemistry\, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee \n  \nNature is a continuous source of inspiration for the design of smart and intelligent materials. In particular\, cells which are the building blocks of life display a complex symphony of various chemical/physical processes which make “life” possible and give it the characteristics which enable life to flourish and sustain. The topology of control systems in place within living cells offer many lessons in design of smart artificial microcompartments or microbots. In this talk\, I will be discussing examples of microcompartments which are capable of smart adaptive motility\, self-assembly and chemical-mediated communication with each other. We use simple buoyancy forces to regulate movement of our microcapsules and use antagonistic control to design relatively complex autonomous behavior by employing stratified chemical environments. The motile microcapsules can turn on/off chemical reactions and carry out logistics of molecular cargo. Also\, I will discuss how we can use the combination of a stimuli responsive hydrogel and stratified environments to design a chemo-mechanical oscillator.  Another focus will be our results on multiphase coacervates and how they formulate a pathway for self-assembly of microdroplets into clusters or tissue-like structures and trigger chemical communication between them. \n\nBrief Bio: Dr. Pavan Kumar Bosukonda is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Chemistry\, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee. He carried out his doctoral studies at Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR)\, Bangalore\, in the field of porous materials wherein his specific interest was to use supramolecular strategies for pore engineering in mesoporous silica. After completing his Ph.D. in 2015\, he moved to the University of Bristol\, UK\, to work with Prof. Stephen Mann as a Marie-Sklodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellow in the field of protocells. His current research interests are focused on developing strategies to fabricate motile microcompartments\, study of multiphase dynamics in liquid-liquid phase separation and designing strategies for regulating chemical communication between microcompartments.
URL:https://ibecbarcelona.eu/event/ibec-seminar-pavan-kumar-bosukonda/
LOCATION:Sala Olivera\, Tower I\, Floor 11
CATEGORIES:IBEC Seminar
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Madrid:20231219T100000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Madrid:20231219T110000
DTSTAMP:20260403T224823
CREATED:20231212T123816Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20231215T121923Z
UID:113273-1702980000-1702983600@ibecbarcelona.eu
SUMMARY:IBEC Seminar: Prof. Aitor Aguirre
DESCRIPTION:Reverse engineering human heart  development with pluripotent stem cells\nProf. Aitor Aguirre\, Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering (IQ) and the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Michigan State University  \nDuring development\, an exquisitely orchestrated series of biological processes lay down the map for the entirety of our bodies and carry it out to perfection. However\, occasional errors occur (due to mutations\, environmental factors\, and other causes) and lead to congenital defects\, the most common birth defect in humans affecting 1% of all newborns. Certain conditions such as obesity\, diabetes\, infections or drug use can increase this risk much further.\nTo tackle CHDs\, we are reverse engineering human heart development on a dish with the use of pluripotent stem cells\, creating heart organoids or synthetic mini-hearts. By recapitulating  aspects of heart development in vitro\, under fully controlled conditions\, we can dissect gene networks and morphological changes that give rise to specific parts of the heart to understand and prevent CHD\, such as single ventricle defects. Furthermore\, we can also use these mini-hearts as models to study the exposure to environmental conditions and other factors that are very poorly known. \n\nDr. Aguirre obtained his B.S. in Biology and M.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of the Basque Country and his Ph.D. in Material Science at the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC). For his postdoctoral training Dr. Aguirre joined The Salk Institute under the supervision of J.C. Izpisua-Belmonte\, where he explored in vivo reprogramming applied to cardiac regeneration\, making significant contributions to non-coding RNA biology in human cardiac development (Cell Stem Cell\, 2014; Circulation\, 2015). Dr. Aguirre became Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of California\, San Diego in 2017 and joined the Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering (IQ) and the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Michigan State University one year later. He became associate professor in 2023 and is currently the Chief of IQ’s Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Division and the Director of MSU’s Stem Cell Core Facility. Dr. Aguirre has extensive experience in cardiac development\, cardiovascular disease\, tissue engineering and -omic approaches. Dr. Aguirre has received numerous awards and nominations including the Hispanic Center of Excellence award at the University of California\, a career development NHLBI K01 award and frequently serves in grant review panels for the NIH and European Commission\, among others.
URL:https://ibecbarcelona.eu/event/ibec-seminar-prof-aitor-aguirre/
LOCATION:Sala Dolors Aleu\, Cluster II\, IBEC\, Baldiri i Reixac\, Barcelona
CATEGORIES:IBEC Seminar
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Madrid:20240119T100000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Madrid:20240119T110000
DTSTAMP:20260403T224823
CREATED:20240104T082933Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240104T083058Z
UID:113766-1705658400-1705662000@ibecbarcelona.eu
SUMMARY:IBEC Seminar: Al Jord
DESCRIPTION:Mechanisms of Organelle Remodeling for Cellular Function\nAl Jord\, Group leader of Mechanisc of organelle remodeling group\, Centre for Genomic Regulation\, Barcelona \nTo function\, organisms rely on vital organs which\, in turn\, rely on specialized cells. At the subcellular scale\, cell specialization is notably driven by robust mechanisms of organelle remodeling. Thus\, discovering these mechanisms is key for the fundamental understanding of organisms in health and disease\, as well as for improved organ engineering. In this seminar\, I will discuss my research on organelle remodeling in somatic and female germ cells. I will first show how multiciliated cells – critical for nervous\, respiratory and reproductive organs – repurpose conserved mechanisms of cell division to remodel organelles for motile ciliogenesis. I will then talk about how oocytes deploy a biophysical mechanism\, based on cytoplasmic force tuning\, to mechanically remodel nuclear RNA-processing organelles for reproductive success. I will conclude with some future research plans\, blending my past and present interests into an interdisciplinary project that will venture into unexplored grounds of nuclear organelle mechano-regulation in somatic cells to deepen our understanding of organ development and homeostasis. \n\nKey relevant publications : \n  \nAl Jord\, A. et al. Centriole amplification by mother and daughter centrioles differs in multiciliated cells. Nature 516\, 104–107 (2014). \n  \nAl Jord\, A. et al. Calibrated mitotic oscillator drives motile ciliogenesis. Science 358\, 803–806 (2017). \n  \nAl Jord\, A. et al. Cytoplasmic forces functionally reorganize nuclear condensates in oocytes. Nat. Commun. 13:5070\, 1–19 (2022).
URL:https://ibecbarcelona.eu/event/ibec-seminar-al-jord/
LOCATION:Sala Dolors Aleu\, Cluster II\, IBEC\, Baldiri i Reixac\, Barcelona
CATEGORIES:IBEC Seminar
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Madrid:20240131T120000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Madrid:20240131T130000
DTSTAMP:20260403T224823
CREATED:20231220T093851Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240117T143436Z
UID:113528-1706702400-1706706000@ibecbarcelona.eu
SUMMARY:IBEC Seminar: Marc Suarez Calvet
DESCRIPTION:Blood biomarkers for Alzheimer’s disease: advancing diagnosis and patient care\nMarc Suárez-Calvet\, Barcelonabeta Brain Research Center\, Fundació Pasqual Maragall\, Servei de Neurologia\, Hospital del Mar. \n  \nIn recent years\, one of the most significant breakthroughs in Alzheimer’s disease research has been the emergence of blood biomarkers that offer accurate detection of AD. Our research group has successfully demonstrated the utility of these blood biomarkers not only in patients presenting with cognitive impairement but also in individuals at the preclinical stage of Alzheimer’s. Moving forward\, our focus lies in establishing the routine application of these biomarkers in clinical settings\, with a keen eye on assessing their positive impact on patient outcomes. Furthermore\, our ongoing efforts are dedicated to the exploration of novel blood biomarkers that can furnish valuable insights into the prognosis of Alzheimer’s patients.
URL:https://ibecbarcelona.eu/event/ibec-seminar-marc-suarez-calvet/
LOCATION:Sala Dolors Aleu\, Cluster II\, IBEC\, Baldiri i Reixac\, Barcelona
CATEGORIES:IBEC Seminar
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Madrid:20240221T120000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Madrid:20240221T133000
DTSTAMP:20260403T224823
CREATED:20240116T121948Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240116T121948Z
UID:114154-1708516800-1708522200@ibecbarcelona.eu
SUMMARY:IBEC Seminar: Ernesto Mejías
DESCRIPTION:Vaccinia in & as next-gen oncolytic virotherapy: exploiting the synergy between oncolysis and chemotherapy\nDr Ernesto Mejías Pérez Ramón y Cajal researcher Instituto Maimonides de Investigación Biomédica de Córdoba (IMIBIC)\, Universidad de Córdoba. Dpto. de Biología Celular\, Fisiología e Inmunología \nIn the fight against cancer\, conventional treatments fall short of healthcare expectations. Oncolytic virotherapy is a versatile and robust alternative. With exceptional immunogenic features\, Vaccinia virus (VACV) is a standout oncolytic vector whose anti-tumor ability is usually enhanced by gene deletions for better safety and heterologous genes insertions for improved cytotoxicity. Yet\, VACV’s translation to effective anti-tumor treatments suffers from major shortcomings that warrant immediate solutions\, among those the limited efficacy as a standalone treatment need to be overcome. \nTo tackle this challenge head-on\, my laboratory is focused on developing next-generation synergistic therapeutic strategies towards strengthening the anti-tumor effects of the oncolytic virotherapy based on Vaccinia virus by boosting the infection efficacy and triggering a strong chemosensitization upon nucleoside analog treatment. This approach builds on the unique multifaceted role that SAMHD1 has at the interface oncolysis:chemotherapy.
URL:https://ibecbarcelona.eu/event/ibec-seminar-ernesto-mejias/
LOCATION:Sala Dolors Aleu\, Cluster II\, IBEC\, Baldiri i Reixac\, Barcelona
CATEGORIES:IBEC Seminar
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Madrid:20240308T100000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Madrid:20240308T110000
DTSTAMP:20260403T224823
CREATED:20240222T115452Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240222T115452Z
UID:115629-1709892000-1709895600@ibecbarcelona.eu
SUMMARY:IBEC Seminar: Agathe Chaigne
DESCRIPTION:Molecular and mechanical regulation of abscission in stem cells\nAgathe Chaigne\, PhD.\, Group leader. Cell Biology\, Neurobiology and Biophysics department\, Utrecht University\, The Netherlands \nAbscission is the last step of cell division leading to the complete separation of the two sister cells and consists in the cutting of a cytoplasmic bridge. Abscission is mediated by the membrane remodelling machinery ESCRT which also triggers the severing of a thick bundle of microtubules that needs to be cleared prior to abscission. Here\, we use mouse embryonic stem cells\, which transition from slow to fast abscission during exit from naïve pluripotency to investigate the molecular mechanism for abscission dynamics. We identify a feedback loop between the activity of Aurora B\, mechanics\, and microtubule stability as a main regulator of abscission speed.  
URL:https://ibecbarcelona.eu/event/ibec-seminar-agathe-chaigne/
LOCATION:Sala Dolors Aleu\, Cluster II\, IBEC\, Baldiri i Reixac\, Barcelona
CATEGORIES:IBEC Seminar
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Madrid:20240322T120000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Madrid:20240322T130000
DTSTAMP:20260403T224823
CREATED:20240319T141525Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240319T141525Z
UID:116181-1711108800-1711112400@ibecbarcelona.eu
SUMMARY:IBEC Seminar: Emilio Parisini
DESCRIPTION:Engineering enzymes for biomedical and biotechnological applications\nEmilio Parisini\, Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis (Riga\, Latvia)\, University of Bologna (Italy) \nEnzyme engineering has the potential to improve the activity\, the stability and the substrate recognition of enzymes. As such\, it paves the way for the design of novel enzymes with improved performances for a wide range of applications. This rational approach can accelerate the production and the use of biocatalysts in different biotechnological sectors\, thus in turn allowing the improvement of chemical processes through the application of green chemistry concepts.  In this talk\, two examples from our current research will be discussed: \nFructosyl Peptide Oxidases (FPOX) are deglycating enzymes that find application as key enzymatic components in diabetes monitoring devices. Indeed\, their use with blood samples can provide a measurement of the concentration of glycated hemoglobin and glycated albumin\, two well-known diabetes markers. However\, the FPOX currently employed in enzymatic assays cannot directly detect whole glycated proteins\, making it necessary to perform a preliminary proteolytic treatment of the target protein to generate small glycated peptides that can act as viable substrates for the enzyme. This is a costly and time consuming step. The rapidly growing demand for cheap\, efficient and rapid diabetes monitoring tests could be met by developing enzymatic assays for glycated hemoglobin and albumin that do not require a preliminary digestion of the proteins. In our lab\, we used an in silico protein engineering approach to enhance the overall thermal stability of the enzyme and widen it active site to improve its catalytic activity toward large substrates. \nThe fast and uncontrolled accumulation of plastic waste in the environment has long begun to impact on the natural ecosystems and to pose an existential threat to all forms of life on our planet. Advanced technical solutions to the plastic waste management problem are therefore in urgent demand. To this end\, enzymatic approaches to plastic degradation hold great promises as novel and more efficient enzymes are constantly being developed. Leaf-branch Compost Cutinase (LCC)\, a naturally occurring PETase\, has been reported to outperform all other known PET-degrading enzymes and to present a melting temperature (Tm) of 84.7°C. This enzyme has been noticeably engineered in 2020\, leading to the so-called ICCG variant (Tm = 94.0°C)\, the current gold standard. In our lab\, we engineered a LCC that features significantly enhanced PETase activity and thermal stability relative to the gold standard ICCG.
URL:https://ibecbarcelona.eu/event/ibec-seminar-emilio-parisini/
LOCATION:Sala Dolors Aleu\, Cluster II\, IBEC\, Baldiri i Reixac\, Barcelona
CATEGORIES:IBEC Seminar
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Madrid:20240412T100000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Madrid:20240412T110000
DTSTAMP:20260403T224823
CREATED:20240229T104756Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240229T104756Z
UID:115723-1712916000-1712919600@ibecbarcelona.eu
SUMMARY:IBEC Seminar: Kevin Braeckmans
DESCRIPTION:Delivering effector molecules in cells in vitro and ex vivo by photoporation.\nKevin Braeckmans\, Biophotonics Research Group\, Lab. General Biochemistry and Physical Pharmacy\, Ghent University\, Belgium \nDelivery of bioactive compounds\, such as proteins and nucleic acids\, into cells in vitro or ex vivo is a generic requirement for many applications in the life sciences\, such as for the engineering of therapeutic cells. Physical delivery methods are attractive in this context as they are well-controlled\, and can accommodate a broad variety of effector molecules and cell types. Photoporation is such a recently developed physical delivery technology which combines laser stimulation with photothermal nanoparticles. Localized thermal effects upon laser irradiation can create pores in the cell membrane\, allowing the influx of external molecules in cells. Importantly\, photoporation is very gentle to cells\, resulting in excellent cell viability and preservation of a cell’s phenotype and functionality. In this presentation I will give an overview of the most notable work that we performed on photoporation as a next-generation transfection technology in the past decade. \n\nKevin Braeckmans first studied physics before doing his doctoral studies in pharmaceutical sciences at Ghent University in Belgium. From early on he was passionate about developing biophotonics technologies for drug delivery and diagnostics. In 2008 he was appointed professor at Ghent University as the group leader of the Bio-Photonics Research Group. In 2015 he received a prestigious ERC Consolidator Grant and became full professor in 2018. His research presently focuses on studying biological barriers to nanomedicines by advanced microscopy techniques\, and combining light with nanoparticles to enable light-triggered drug delivery and related therapeutic applications. He is a co-author of >250 publications\, Clarivate Highly Cited Author in 2022 and 2023\, and co-inventor of 17 patent applications. Presently he is a co-founder and CSO/CTO of the spin-off company Trince.
URL:https://ibecbarcelona.eu/event/ibec-seminar-kevin-braeckmans/
LOCATION:Sala Dolors Aleu\, Cluster II\, IBEC\, Baldiri i Reixac\, Barcelona
CATEGORIES:IBEC Seminar
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Madrid:20240503T100000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Madrid:20240503T110000
DTSTAMP:20260403T224823
CREATED:20240429T130247Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240430T135545Z
UID:117333-1714730400-1714734000@ibecbarcelona.eu
SUMMARY:IBEC Seminar: Ovijit Chaudhuri
DESCRIPTION:Cell migration and morphogenesis in viscoelastic matrices\nOvijit Chaudhuri\, University of Standford \nThe extracellular matrix (ECM) is a complex assembly of structural proteins that provides physical support and biochemical signaling to cells in tissues. Over the last two decades\, studies have revealed the important role that ECM elasticity plays in regulating a variety of biological processes in cells\, including stem cell differentiation and cancer progression. However\, tissues and ECM are often viscoelastic\, displaying stress relaxation over time in response to a deformation\, and viscoplastic\, exhibiting irreversible deformations in response to mechanical stress.  In this talk\, I will discuss our recent findings on how matrix viscoelasticity regulates various biological processes\, including collective invasion by cancer cells\, morphogenesis of pluripotent stem cells\, and monocyte migration.
URL:https://ibecbarcelona.eu/event/ibec-seminar-ovijit-chaudhuri/
LOCATION:Sala Dolors Aleu\, Cluster II\, IBEC\, Baldiri i Reixac\, Barcelona
CATEGORIES:IBEC Seminar
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Madrid:20240507T124500
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Madrid:20240507T133000
DTSTAMP:20260403T224823
CREATED:20240409T125915Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240415T140034Z
UID:116840-1715085900-1715088600@ibecbarcelona.eu
SUMMARY:IBEC Seminar: Aurora Hernandez-Machado
DESCRIPTION:Biomicrofluidic analysis of hematological diseases by means of mathematical biomechanical models and statistical analysis: Cells and hydrogels in microchannels and microrheometers\nAurora Hernandez-Machado\, Departament de Fisica de la Materia Condensada\, Universitat de Barcelona \nWe have developed microfluidic devices for precise characterization of hematological diseases. By means of one drop of blood and mathematical models based on biomechanics\, we analyze the properties of cells and microrheological properties such as the viscosity of blood. We will present a microrheometer to determine in a fast\, chip and sensitive way the viscosity of a drop of blood. Experimental results of malaria infected red blood cells in microchannels with endothelial slits and hydrogels with organ-on-a-chip will be discussed. Sprouting is a fundamental cellular behavior that plays an essential role in vascular development and angiogenesis. Due to its relevance to many aspects of human health\, the ability to accurately reproduce cell sprouting is of broad and multidisciplinary interest. We will present microfluidic experiments and compare with theoretical models in which endothelial cells chemotactically migrate into a fibrin-based porous hydrogel which mimics the extracellular matrix. By means of statistical analysis we improve the diagnosis of the hematological diseases. We predict if a sample of blood corresponds to healthy blood or to blood with a hematological disease. We have obtained different performance for the different methods\, some of them with very good results and an accuracy of 94%.
URL:https://ibecbarcelona.eu/event/ibec-seminar-aurora-hernandez-machado/
LOCATION:Sala Dolors Aleu\, Cluster II\, IBEC\, Baldiri i Reixac\, Barcelona
CATEGORIES:IBEC Seminar
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Madrid:20240509T120000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Madrid:20240509T130000
DTSTAMP:20260403T224823
CREATED:20240426T080635Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240429T132435Z
UID:117301-1715256000-1715259600@ibecbarcelona.eu
SUMMARY:IBEC Seminar: Nicolò Accanto
DESCRIPTION:2P-BRAINSCOPY: pushing the boundaries of two-photon microscopy to study large neuronal networks in behaving mice.\nNicolò Accanto\, Inserm researcher at the in Insitut de la Vision (IDV)\, in the group of Valentina Emiliani\, Paris  \nIn the past 15 years\, the synergy of two-photon (2P) microscopy and optogenetics has transformed neuroscience\, enabling high-resolution imaging and precise photostimulation of neuronal activity. Today\, understanding how neuronal networks in the brain interact to generate perception\, memory and behaviour\, or in other words\, deciphering the neuronal code\, requires to push the limits of 2P microscopy. \nThis involves studying the brain of freely moving animals engaged in natural tasks and accessing thousands of neurons on a very fast (100 ms) timescale\, across large (> 5 mm) brain regions\, while keeping individual neuron (5 µm) spatial resolutions. \n  \nIn this presentation I will outline our recent endeavours towards these goals. I will first show how 2P holographic photostimulation based on spatial light modulators is capable to precisely target individual neurons within a large volume [1]. I will then describe how we can use minimally invasive GRIN lenses to access deeper brain regions [2]\, below the scattering limit. Finally\, I will detail our most advanced technique: a novel fiber-based miniaturized microscope to image and photostimulate neuronal activity in freely moving mice [3\,4]. In the last part of the talk\, I will present future directions for further developments and applications in neuroscience. \n  \nReferences \n[1] Accanto\, N. et al. Multiplexed temporally focused light shaping for high-resolution multi-cell targeting. Optica 5\, 1478 (2018). \n[2] Accanto\, N. et al. Multiplexed temporally focused light shaping through a gradient index lens for precise in-depth optogenetic photostimulation. Sci. Rep. 9\, 7603 (2019). \n[3] Accanto\, N. et al. A flexible two-photon fiberscope for fast activity imaging and precise optogenetic photostimulation of neurons in freely moving mice. Neuron 111\, 176-189.e6 (2023). \n[4] Lorca-Cámara\, Antonio\, Blot\, Francois & Accanto\, N. Recent advances in light patterned optogenetic photostimulation in freely moving mice. Neurophotonics In press\, 11\, S11508 (2024).
URL:https://ibecbarcelona.eu/event/ibec-seminar-nicolo-accanto/
LOCATION:Sala Dolors Aleu\, Cluster II\, IBEC\, Baldiri i Reixac\, Barcelona
CATEGORIES:IBEC Seminar
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Madrid:20240514T150000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Madrid:20240514T170000
DTSTAMP:20260403T224823
CREATED:20240509T120306Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240509T120306Z
UID:117486-1715698800-1715706000@ibecbarcelona.eu
SUMMARY:Seminar “The Canadian health research following COVID-19 pandemic – artificial intelligence (AI)\, generative systems\, quantum computing and beyond"
DESCRIPTION:We are glad to invite you to this seminar organized by IBEC where Marek W. Radomski\, Vice-Dean Research College of Medicine\, University of Saskatchewan\, Saskatoon\, Canada will talk about the Canadian health research following COVID-19 pandemic\, the next Tuesday 14th of May at 15h at the Faculty of Medicine Clinic (UB). \nMarek W. Radomski\,\nVice-Dean of Investigation College of Medicine\, University of Saskatchwan\, Saskatoon\, Canada and President of The Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada\, Vice-Deans Research Committee.   \nHe has developed his research career in Poland\, the United Kingdom and Ireland (both in a pharmaceutical company and at Trinity College in Dublin)\, at the University of Houston and in Canada (in two universities) \nThe Canadian health research following COVID-19 pandemic – artificial intelligence (AI)\, generative systems\, quantum computing and beyond. \nThe COVID-19 pandemic claimed millions of lives worldwide and greatly disrupted societal fabric across the globe. \nDespite amazing achievements of vaccine research and development many areas of health research have been adversely affected by limitations caused by pandemic. \nHowever\, AI\, generative systems and quantum computing are examples of a postpandemic research acceleration with substantial health research and service potentials. \nThe presentation will focus on these challenges and opportunities through the lens of the College of Medicine University of Saskatchewan and of the Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada. \n  \n\n\n\n  \n\n\n\n\n14/05/2024 · 15h\n\n\n\nAula Manuel Corachan  (5th floor) · UB Faculty of Medicine Clinic (Carrer de Casanova\, 143\, Eixample\, 08036 Barcelona)\n\n\n\nIBEC\n\n\n\nNo registration needed
URL:https://ibecbarcelona.eu/event/seminar-the-canadian-health-research-following-covid-19-pandemic-artificial-intelligence-ai-generative-systems-quantum-computing-and-beyond/
LOCATION:Aula Manuel Corachan  (5th floor) · UB Faculty of Medicine Clinic (Carrer de Casanova\, 143\, Eixample\, 08036 Barcelona)
CATEGORIES:IBEC Seminar
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Madrid:20240517T100000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Madrid:20240517T110000
DTSTAMP:20260403T224823
CREATED:20240408T072307Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240410T115407Z
UID:116794-1715940000-1715943600@ibecbarcelona.eu
SUMMARY:IBEC Seminar: Erika Ferrari
DESCRIPTION:Beating Organs-on-Chip: leveraging on motion to mimic human organ physiological/diseased states in vitro\nErika Ferrari\, Commercial Science Leader\, BiomimX Srl \nBeating Organs-on-Chip are in vitro miniaturized models developed within the uBeat® platform\, which integrates microfluidics\, 3D human cell culture and controlled mechanical stimulation to recapitulate\,\nwith unprecedented precision and predictability\, clinically relevant models reflective of human pathophysiology and complex diseases. Every tissue in the body is subject motion and this motion can be mimicked within the uBeat® platformplatforms\, which provides 3D microtissues with controlled mechanical stimulation (e.g.\, stretching or compression) resulting in more reliable\, responsive\, and predictive in vitro model models to investigate new therapies. BiomimX lead model is uHeart Visone\, Tox Sciences\, 2023; +4 additional cardiac publications )\, a functional beating heart on a chip for cardiotoxicity and safety testing. uHeart was recently qualified with 12 drugs as a predictor of functional cardiotoxicity\, showing 83.3% sensitivity\, 100% specificity\, a nd 91.6% accuracy. BiomimX pipeline consists of predictive physiological and pathological models\, engineered solely through mechanical stimulation\, without the need for introducing exogenous compounds (e.g.\, cytokines) into the cell culture chamber. uKnee the first in vitro model of human osteoarthritis; Occhetta\, Nature Biomed Eng\, 2019 ) has successfully supported a recent IND application. Other key models include uScar cardiac fibrosis; Visone\, Adv Healthcare Mat\, 202 2023)\, uGut a barrier model of the intestinal epithelium & endothelium; Ballerini\, Nature Biomed Eng\, under review )\, uLung and uLiver Heart a multiorgan platform used to study the off-target cardiotoxicity of liver-metabolized drugs; Ferrari\, Adv Mat Tech\, 2023 ).
URL:https://ibecbarcelona.eu/event/ibec-seminar-erika-ferrari/
LOCATION:Sala Dolors Aleu\, Cluster II\, IBEC\, Baldiri i Reixac\, Barcelona
CATEGORIES:IBEC Seminar
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Madrid:20240524T100000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Madrid:20240524T110000
DTSTAMP:20260403T224823
CREATED:20240507T151701Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240513T084437Z
UID:117479-1716544800-1716548400@ibecbarcelona.eu
SUMMARY:IBEC Seminar: Sergi Garcia-Manyes
DESCRIPTION:Single molecule insights into cellular mechanotransduction\nSergi Garcia-Manyes\, Single Molecule Mechanobiology laboratory\, The Francis Crick Institute and King’s College London \n  \nCellular mechanostransduction relies on the conversion of mechanical cues into chemical signals\, which propagate from the focal adhesion hub through the cytoskeleton to ultimately reach the nucleus through the Nuclear Pore Complex (NPC)\, and switch on specific force-dependent transcriptional programmes. However\, how cellular mechanotransduction is regulated by the nanomechanical properties of the underpinning force-bearing proteins remains largely unknown. Here we first used a newly developed single-molecule magnetic tweezers combined with UV-light to demonstrate that oxidation of a previously cryptic methionine in the talin mechanosensor impairs vinculin binding. When translating the single-molecule findings into the cellular context\, we found a loss in talin/vinculin co-localisation at focal adhesions of NIH3T3 mouse fibroblasts when exposed to µM concentrations of H2O2 and a decrease in the nuclear localisation of the YAP transcription factor (TF). In this vein\, how the nuclear shuttling of mechanosensitive TFs is regulated by their mechanical properties remains also unclear.  By using a combination of single-molecule mechanics and single-cell optogenetics\, we discovered that proteins with locally soft regions in the vicinity of the nuclear-localization sequence exhibit higher nuclear-import rates. Inspired by these findings\, we designed a short and easy-to-express unstructured peptide tag that accelerates the nuclear-import rate of stiff protein cargos. Altogether\, our cross-scale experiments provide a single molecule perspective onto cellular mechanotransduction. \n  \n 
URL:https://ibecbarcelona.eu/event/ibec-seminar-sergi-garcia-manyes/
LOCATION:Sala Dolors Aleu\, Cluster II\, IBEC\, Baldiri i Reixac\, Barcelona
CATEGORIES:IBEC Seminar
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Madrid:20240531T100000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Madrid:20240531T120000
DTSTAMP:20260403T224823
CREATED:20240517T085223Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240517T085303Z
UID:117772-1717149600-1717156800@ibecbarcelona.eu
SUMMARY:IBEC Seminar: Wenting Zhao
DESCRIPTION:Engineering the Nanoscale Membrane Topography in Cells\nWenting Zhao\, School of Chemistry\, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology\, Nanyang Technological University\, Singapore and Institute for Digital Molecular Analytics and Science (IDMxS)\, Singapore  \nAbstract. \nCell membranes serve as a central platform to host a variety of proteins essential for cellular activities such as cell signaling\, morphogenesis\, and membrane trafficking. At the same time\, the membranes also undergo drastic morphological changes in a number of essential processes\, such as endocytosis\, intracellular trafficking\, and cytokinesis\, etc. An intriguing yet challenging question to answer is whether and how the shapes of the membrane impact the dynamics of membrane proteins or the periphery proteins interacting with the membrane. However\, membrane shape changes often happen at sub-micro to the nanoscale\, which is approaching the limit of conventional microscopy imaging resolution and difficult to examine quantitatively. In this work\, we will introduce our efforts in employing vertically aligned nanostructures to generate defined membrane topography in live cells and in vitro. We will discuss our findings on the membrane curvature-guided accumulation of membrane proteins\, including oncogenic Ras proteins and viral proteins\, as well as the membrane-associated protein condensation. In addition to plasma membrane\, we also explore the nanoscale topography guidance on nuclear membrane and its implication in differentiating malignant cancer cells. We envision more new insights would be revealed by bridging advanced nanotechnology to nanoscale dynamics at cell surfaces. \n\nShort Bio \nDr. Wenting Zhao is currently an assistant professor in the School of Chemistry\, Chemical Engineering\, and Biotechnology at Nanyang Technological University\, Singapore. She received her Ph.D. degree in Bioengineering at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology\, and completed her postdoc training at Stanford University. Her research group aims to reveal the nanoscale interplay between membrane morphology and protein assembly using advance nanofabrication and nanomaterials. Specific focuses of her studies are on the nanoscale topography-guided protein clustering and complex assembly\, and their impacts on disease progression\, such as cancer progression\, viral replication\, and immune activation. \nGroup website: www.wtzhaolab.com.
URL:https://ibecbarcelona.eu/event/ibec-seminar-wenting-zhao/
LOCATION:Sala Dolors Aleu\, Cluster II\, IBEC\, Baldiri i Reixac\, Barcelona
CATEGORIES:IBEC Seminar
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Madrid:20240605T160000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Madrid:20240605T170000
DTSTAMP:20260403T224823
CREATED:20240522T090926Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240527T134609Z
UID:117890-1717603200-1717606800@ibecbarcelona.eu
SUMMARY:IBEC Seminar: Irene Lázaro
DESCRIPTION:Enhanced regeneration through in vivo cell reprogramming: lessons from the first decade of research and a success story in the mouse heart\nIrene de Lázaro\, PhD1\,2\,3 \n1 Department of Biomedical Engineering\, NYU Tandon School of Engineering\, New York University \n2 Cardiovascular Research Center\, NYU School of Medicine and NYU Langone Health \n3 Harvard John A Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences\, Harvard University \n  \nOur lab designs and deploys bioengineering strategies – including gene therapies and nanomedicines – to reprogram cell identity\, differentiation and/or cellular responses in living organisms with the ultimate goal of helping tissues regenerate better. In this seminar\, I will share the lessons learned after the first decade of in vivo cellular reprogramming research. Moreover\, I will present our most recent data that demonstrates that on and off expression of stemness-related transcription factors induces partial reprogramming of cardiac myocytes to a rejuvenated state. In an age-dependent mouse model of heart failure\, reprogramming the biological age of cardiac myocytes to a youthful state resulted in significant improvement of cardiac function. \n 
URL:https://ibecbarcelona.eu/event/ibec-seminar-irene-lazaro/
LOCATION:Sala Dolors Aleu\, Cluster II\, IBEC\, Baldiri i Reixac\, Barcelona
CATEGORIES:IBEC Seminar
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Madrid:20240612T100000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Madrid:20240612T113000
DTSTAMP:20260403T224823
CREATED:20240422T080133Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240513T092457Z
UID:117198-1718186400-1718191800@ibecbarcelona.eu
SUMMARY:IBEC Seminar: Jan Lammerding
DESCRIPTION:Nuclear mechanobiology – from striated muscle disease to ultrarapid cellular mechanosensing\nJan Lammerding\, PhD\, Weill Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology & Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering\, Cornell University\, Ithaca\, NY\, USA \nAbstract. The nucleus is the characteristic feature of eukaryotic cells and houses the genomic information of the cell. The Lammerding laboratory is investigating how physical forces acting on the nucleus can challenge the integrity of the nucleus\, alter its structure\, and cause genomic\, transcriptomic\, and other functional changes. In this seminar\, I will discuss our findings that highlight the importance of the nuclear envelope proteins lamins A/C in mediating nuclear stability and mechanotransduction in mechanically stressed cells and tissues\, and how lamin mutations result in reduced nuclear stability and increased nuclear damage in striated muscle cells\, which may explain the muscle-specific defects in many diseases caused by lamin mutations (laminopathies). Our data demonstrate that reducing cytoskeletal forces on the fragile lamin A/C mutant nuclei by disrupting the Linker of Nucleoskeleton and Cytoskeleton (LINC) complex is sufficient to reduce nuclear damage in striated muscle tissue and to improve cardiac function and survival in multiple mouse models of lamin A/C related striated muscle disease. Furthermore\, by combining cyclic strain application with precision nuclear run-on sequencing (PRO-seq)\, a novel transcriptome sequencing technique that\, unlike traditional RNA sequencing\, enriches for nascent RNA transcripts and simultaneously provides a base-pair resolution map of active RNA polymerases\, and Omni-ATAC\, an improved chromatin accessibility assay\, we recently established an experimental pipeline to detect rapid\, genome-wide changes in chromatin organization and transcription in response to cyclic mechanical strain. Our studies indicate that cyclic strain application results in the transcription of numerous mechanoresponsive genes within less than 2 minutes\, which is faster than the expected time for typical mechanoresponsive cytoplasmic signaling pathways to reach the nucleus\, and that the mechanoresponsive genes are already poised for gene transcription. These findings point to an exciting\, previously unrecognized role of the nucleus in regulating the activation of mechanoresponsive genes.
URL:https://ibecbarcelona.eu/event/ibec-seminar-jan-lammerding/
LOCATION:Sala Dolors Aleu\, Cluster II\, IBEC\, Baldiri i Reixac\, Barcelona
CATEGORIES:IBEC Seminar
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Madrid:20240705T100000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Madrid:20240705T120000
DTSTAMP:20260403T224823
CREATED:20240618T140841Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240618T140841Z
UID:118701-1720173600-1720180800@ibecbarcelona.eu
SUMMARY:IBEC Seminar: Shahid Uddin
DESCRIPTION:Developability assessment of biologics and formulation of novel molecules\nShahid Uddin\, PhD\, MBA\, Senior Director of Drug Product\, Formulation & Stability within the CMC department at Immunocore\, UK \nIt’s vital to ensure appropriate assessment of molecules at the early research phase is carried out to risk mitigate movement into the development phase. This ensures the best risk of success with minimal usage of resources and finances. This presentation will highlight the procedures for assessing developability and also showcases the challenges associated with administering low-concentration biologics.
URL:https://ibecbarcelona.eu/event/ibec-seminar-shahid-uddin/
LOCATION:IBEC\, floor 11\, Tower I\, Baldiri Reixac 4-8\, 08028 Barcelona\, Spain
CATEGORIES:IBEC Seminar
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Madrid:20240717T150000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Madrid:20240717T150000
DTSTAMP:20260403T224823
CREATED:20240620T104046Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240712T061459Z
UID:118724-1721228400-1721228400@ibecbarcelona.eu
SUMMARY:IBEC Seminar: Sabina Quader
DESCRIPTION:Nanomedicine to Tackle Unmet Medical Needs in CNS Disorders\nSabina Quader\, Innovation Center of NanoMedicine (iCONM)\, Kawasaki Institute of Industrial Promotion\, Kawasaki\, Kanagawa 210-0821 Japan \nThe brain is undoubtedly the body’s most essential and intricate organ\, and brain disorders are closely tied to this intricacy. Categorized as “CNS diseases\,” a wide range of brain-related conditions – including Alzheimer’s\, dementia\, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis\, stroke\, brain tumors\, and more – present daunting challenges. Regrettably\, many of these diseases currently lack adequate treatment\, underscoring the urgent need for innovative and multidimensional efforts to combat these persistent problems. In this regard\, nanomedicine shows tremendous potential for diagnosing and treating many life-threatening diseases\, including cardiovascular and genetic disorders\, CNS diseases\, and cancers1. The field of nanomedicine is constantly revolutionizing healthcare with innovative approaches to tackling severe health issues. However\, it is also crucial to actively translate these novel approaches more effectively. In our laboratory at the Innovation Center of NanoMedicine (iCONM)\, we aim to effectively bridge innovation and translation. Our nanomedicine platform is based on polymeric micelles that are constructed from poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(amino acids) (PEG-PAA) copolymers and have already demonstrated significant promise through their clinical translation potential2. The PEG-PAA copolymers are highly biocompatible and have the unique ability to engineer versatile\, dynamic covalent chemistry-based approaches to link the cargo with the carriers; this feature ultimately improves spatiotemporal control over drug release kinetics\, which is one of the critical properties of drug-loaded nanocarriers\, along with size and surface properties. In this presentation\, optimal design features of nanomedicine will be discussed\, focusing on treating CNS diseases\, mainly brain cancers3\,4. An overview of our Japan-Spain international collaborative research focused on drug delivery to hypothalamic neurons for tackling obesity will also be presented5. \nReferences– \n\nQuader and K. Kataoka*\, Mol Ther\, 25 (2017) 1501.\nCabral\, K. Miyata\, K. Osada\, K. Kataoka*\, Chem. Rev.\, 118 (2018) 6844.\nKinoh\, S. Quader\, H. Shibasaki\, X. Liu\, A. Maity\, T. Yamasoba\, H. Cabral*\, K. Kataoka*\,ACS Nano\, 14 (2020) 10127.\nQuader*\, X. Liu\, K. Toh\, Y.-L. Su\, A. R. Maity\, A. Tao\, W. K. D. Paraiso\, Y. Mochida\, H. Kinoh\, H. Cabral\, K. Kataoka*\, Biomaterials\, 267 (2021)120463.\nJ Garcia-Chica\, WK D Paraiso\, S Zagmutt\, A Fosch\, A Reguera\, X Ariza\, S Alzina\, L Sanchez-Garcia\, S Fukushima\, K Toh\, N Casals\, D Serra\, L Herrero\, J Garcia\, K Kataoka\, X Ariza\, S Quader*\, R Rodriguez-Rodriguez*\, Nanomedicine targeting brain lipid metabolism as a feasible approach for controlling the energy balance\,  Sci. 11 (2023) 2336-2346\n\n\nDr. Quader did her Ph.D. in Synthetic Organic Chemistry from Griffith University\, Brisbane\, Australia 2007. Following her Ph.D.\, she started working as a Research Chemist at Research Directions Pty Ltd\, Brisbane\, Australia. In 2010\, she joined Professor Kazunori Kataoka’s world-renowned biomaterial research laboratory at the Materials Engineering Department of Tokyo University with a Japanese government -funded prestigious JSPS postdoctoral fellowship. After completing two years of JSPS fellowship\, she continued her work at the same laboratory for another two years as Project Researcher. Since 2015\, she has been an integral part of the Innovation Center of NanoMedicine (iCONM)\, Kawasaki\, Japan\, as a Senior Research Scientist and\, as of 2023\, as a Deputy Principal Research Scientist. Dr. Quader’s area of expertise lies in developing stimuli-sensitive nanomaterials tailored for targeted drug delivery to address challenging diseases. Dr. Quader is currently a principal investigator in multiple projects and overseeing international research activities at iCONM as Chief Coordinator of Global Partnership. One of her international collaborative research endeavors\, “COnCorD\,” was one of the three bilateral projects awarded by the Spanish State Agency for Research (AEI) and the Japanese Medical Research Agency (AMED) as a result of an invitation for joint project proposals from early-stage researchers in Japan and Spain in the “Nanomedicine” research area.
URL:https://ibecbarcelona.eu/event/ibec-seminar-sabina-quader/
LOCATION:Sala Dolors Aleu\, Cluster II\, IBEC\, Baldiri i Reixac\, Barcelona
CATEGORIES:IBEC Seminar
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DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Madrid:20240719T100000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Madrid:20240719T110000
DTSTAMP:20260403T224823
CREATED:20240604T101628Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240604T101628Z
UID:118268-1721383200-1721386800@ibecbarcelona.eu
SUMMARY:IBEC Seminar: Carlos Moreno Yruela
DESCRIPTION:Semi-synthetic nucleosomes to stabilize and image enzyme-chromatin interactions\nCarlos Moreno Yruela\, Researcher in Chemical Biology\, EPFL\, Switzerland \nChromatin structure regulates gene expression and is tightly controlled by histone post-translational modifications. SIRT7 is a histone lysine deacylase found to maintain oncogenic gene expression profiles supporting tumor growth and \nmetastasis. Interestingly\, the activity of SIRT7 is fully dependent on binding to nucleosomes within chromatin. This feature has limited the development of inhibitors and chemical probes to further dissect its role in cancer progression. Here\, we develop nucleosome-based tools for structural characterization and high-throughput screening. Thanks to 2- and 3-fragment native chemical ligation methods\, we introduced synthetic peptides into the structure of histone H3\, to install either mechanism-based thiourea crosslinkers or fluorescence quenchers at the positions of known SIRT7 substrates. First\, mechanism-based crosslinking nucleosomes allowed us to stabilize the interaction of SIRT7 with its nucleosome substrates and obtain structures by cryoEM. The different complexes revealed a multivalent and non-canonical nucleosome binding mechanism\, and specific residues responsible for targeting different substrates within the nucleosome. Second\, nucleosomes with acyllysine fluorescence quenchers and a neighboring fluorophore proved to be SIRT7-activated fluorogenic substrates and will be used for high-throughput screening and single-molecule biophysical characterization. All in all\, we developed a strategy to stabilize enzyme-chromatin interactions for detailed structural studies\, as well as a platform for the development of translatable SIRT7-targeting cancer therapeutics. \n\nCarlos studied Chemistry at the University of Zaragoza and obtained his M.Sc. in Drug Discovery from the University of Surrey (UK). He obtained his Ph.D. in Chemical Biology from the University of Copenhagen in 2019\, on the development of assays and chemical probes for histone deacetylases in the laboratory of Prof. Christian Adam Olsen. He stayed 3 more years in Copenhagen as postdoctoral fellow\, working on the newly found lactyl-lysine modification of histones. In 2022\, Carlos moved to EPFL Lausanne (Switzerland) thanks to a postdoctoral grant from the Independent Danish Research Council\, where he uses protein semi-synthesis to generate complex in vitro systems for translatable biophysical studies and anticancer drug development. Carlos is now an independent postdoctoral fellow of the Swiss National Science Foundation.
URL:https://ibecbarcelona.eu/event/ibec-seminar-carlos-moreno-yruela/
LOCATION:Sala Dolors Aleu\, Cluster II\, IBEC\, Baldiri i Reixac\, Barcelona
CATEGORIES:IBEC Seminar
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DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Madrid:20240913T140000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Madrid:20240913T163000
DTSTAMP:20260403T224823
CREATED:20240909T074915Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240909T074915Z
UID:120320-1726236000-1726245000@ibecbarcelona.eu
SUMMARY:IBEC Seminar: Prof Marcelle Machluf
DESCRIPTION:Harnessing the power of stem cell therapy in an off-the-shelf nano-delivery platform for treating brain disorders\nProf Marcelle Machluf\, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Engineering\, Technion\, Haifa\, Israel \nMesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have gained the most attention in cell therapy\, owing to their ability to traverse physiological barriers\, and target different sites of inflammation including neurological deseases and primary and metastatic tumors\, while exhibiting relative allogeneic safety. However\, once transplanted\, MSCs undergo changes that alter their targeting capabilities and increase their immunogenicity\, only permitting them to exert a short hit-and-run effect. We hypothesised that overcoming these challenges can be realised by combining the safety and inflamatory targeting capabilities of MSCs in an inanimate platform that can withstand limiting host influences. The foundations for this combination are laid by a novel class of nano-vesicles (200 nm)\, termed nano-ghosts (NGs)\, equipped with the membrane proteins of MSCs and can be engineered to express additional exogenous ones. The developed -cGMP compliant- technology for the production of NGs from the whole MSC membranes\, allow us to load them with a diverse payloads and/or engineer them to express ligands that can combat brain tumors and neuroinflamatory deseas such as MS.  Their abundance of natural targeting mechanisms allows the NGs\, injected i.v.\, to bypass the BBB and penetrate the entire tumor bulk or inflamatory site\, and rapidly deploy their payload directly into the targeted cells leading to unprecedented tumor growth inhibition and increased animals’ survival in intracranial glioma model. Surprising data also demonstrate that the NGs by themselves can modulate inflammation via cell-cell interaction and significaly reduce MS symtomes in EAE mice without any payload\, paving the way for their use in other neuroinflamatory deseas such as Alzhimer and Parkinson. Thus\, our results\, so far\, clearly demonstrate the translational potential of NGs\, both as targeted delivery platform as well as a novel immunomodulatory biologic  for brain diseass. \n 
URL:https://ibecbarcelona.eu/event/ibec-seminar-prof-marcelle-machluf/
LOCATION:Sala Dolors Aleu\, Cluster II\, IBEC\, Baldiri i Reixac\, Barcelona
CATEGORIES:IBEC Seminar
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DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Madrid:20240918T120000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Madrid:20240918T130000
DTSTAMP:20260403T224823
CREATED:20240620T104256Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240719T064603Z
UID:118726-1726660800-1726664400@ibecbarcelona.eu
SUMMARY:IBEC Seminar: Maria João Amorim
DESCRIPTION:Advances in understanding and manipulating influenza A virus liquid inclusions\nMaria João Amorim\, PhD\, Group Leader\, Cell Biology of Viral Infection Lab\, Católica Biomedical Research Centre\, Universidade Católica Portuguesa\, and Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência\, Portugal \nMany viruses form biomolecular condensates de novo as part of their replication programmes. Influenza A virus is an important human pathogen that has the genome divided into eight different RNA segments. Interestingly\, each infectious particle contains no more than eight RNA segments and one of each type. Here\, we show that during infection influenza forms liquid condensates named viral inclusions where the eight RNA segments accumulate. Viral inclusions are formed with a single RNA type\, suggesting that these structures are formed before the genomic complex assembles and raises the hypothesis that these are specialized sites for the formation of influenza epidemic and pandemic genomic complexes. We will exchange views on why being liquid could constitute an interesting framework for understanding how influenza genomic complex forms. After\, we will expose advances on how viral inclusions are formed and provide proof of the concept that condensate hardening blocks viral infection in cellula and in vivo. Since native or engineered transitions affect condensate behavior\, phase transitions may offer novel antiviral opportunities for influenza\, as well as for many other viruses that utilize biomolecular condensates during their lifecycle. Finally\, we will show that our efforts to reconstitute in vitro influenza A virus inclusions give rise to a network of interactions built specifically during infection but\, despite being dynamic\, are not liquid but rather a gel-like state. We debate several hypothesis on why we have been unable for far to attain a liquid like character.
URL:https://ibecbarcelona.eu/event/ibec-seminar-maria-joao-amorim/
LOCATION:Sala Dolors Aleu\, Cluster II\, IBEC\, Baldiri i Reixac\, Barcelona
CATEGORIES:IBEC Seminar
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