2nd IBEC-ICMS Joint Symposium
2019-07-16 09:00 - 18:00 (Europe/Madrid) | Sala Dolors Aleu, Cluster II, Parc Científic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
The event is in the framework of an alliance between the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC) and the Institute for Complex Molecular Systems (ICMS), a research institute of the Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e).

As part of IBEC Strategic Plan 2018-2020, It’s planned that the similarities and complementary aspects of both IBEC and ICMS – their multidisciplinarity, active missions to connect with industry and clinicians, and strong research in nano, materials, molecular devices, supramolecular systems and regenerative medicine – may form the basis of an institutional-level alliance to share people, resources and knowledge.
The event aims to identify synergies and potential for collaboration between IBEC groups and the researchers of ICMS. It is the 2nd edition of a series of joint symposiums that started in Eindhoven on September 2018. During that symposium many natural connections initiated for the benefit of both our organizations. We therefore feel that there are excellent opportunities to further strengthen the ties between our institutes. Therefore, we are organizing a number of scientific exchanges and working on the identification of common research interests.
This second ICMS-IBEC Symposium will be a great opportunity to foster collaborations, strengthen the existing ones, and an opportunity for young researchers involved in the exchange program to present their activities in the partner organization.
If you would like to attend, please go to the symposium website and register (see link below). It is important to register so we can organize the room, poster stands and catering accordingly. It takes only 20 seconds. You can also register even if you do not bring a poster along.
Deadline for registration: 8th July 17h.
WEBSITE: https://events.ibecbarcelona.eu/ibec-icms/

SEMINAR Series in Development, Regeneration and Disease
2019-09-25 15:00 - 16:00 | Felix Serratosa, Baldiri Reixac, 10-12, Barcelona, Spain
“Engineering human pluripotent stem cells for organoid applications in regenerative medicine”
Nuria Montserrat
Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA), Barcelona, Spain.
Pluripotency for Organ Regeneration, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain.
Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina, Madrid, Spain.
ABSTRACT
The generation of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) derived organoids is one of the biggest scientific advances in regenerative medicine. Recently, we have demonstrated that lengthening the time that hPSCs are exposed to a threedimensional microenvironment in the presence of defined renal inductive signals we are able to generate kidney organoids that transcriptomically match secondtrimester human fetal kidneys. Furthermore, we have recently developed a transplantation method that utilizes the chick chorioallantoic membrane to emulate a soft in vivo microenvironment further sustaining the growth and differentiation of implanted kidney organoids, as well as providing a vascular component.
In order to promote the efficient generation of nephron-like structures we have also mimicked the stiffness of the in ovo chorioallantoic membrane microenvironment in vitro by fabricating compliant hydrogels. This approach showed that by mirroring both biochemical and mechanical cues during organoid generation we are able to boost renal commitment and nephron differentiation. We will also discuss recent findings on the application of different bioengineering strategies (i.e., including 3D biopriting and tissue engineering) for kidney organoid generation, as well as the definition of culture conditions mimicking renal disease. Furthermore, we will discuss how through the use of CRISPR/Cas9 we are able to introduce mutations related to kidney developmental diseases exploiting kidney organoid technology.

2nd EIT Health Innovation Day
2019-11-09 09:00 - 18:30 | Start UB
EIT Health Innovation Day
Innovation Days promote health innovation among university students through one-to-two-day programmes held at academic institutions around Europe. Students receive an introduction to practical health innovation tools and work in multidisciplinary teams to tackle real life health challenges posed by EIT Health projects, local organisations and private corporations. Successful teams will receive resources to develop their ideas, and students from the regions EIT Health serves will be encouraged to get involved with our network.
About this activity
Innovation Days are accessible to all undergraduate and postgraduate students with an interest in healthcare innovation. Between 28 October-10 November 2019, partners from six EIT Health Co-Location Centres and 13 RIS Hubs will host their own i-Days at 32 locations around Europe.
These events include inspirational speakers and coaches who will introduce students to practical tools in innovation, design thinking and pitching ideas. Challenges sourced from EIT Health projects, local CLCs, and other relevant organisations, will be presented to students along with some introductory information. Students form multidisciplinary teams and spend the day guided by facilitators and expert citizens in striving to create solutions to these real life healthcare challenges. Teams pitch their ideas and are judged by a panel of experts, who use standardised scoring criteria to award prizes to the best teams. Winning i-Day teams will then be invited to a Winners Event, where they meet peers from all participating i-Day universities. At this event, students will be given support and resources to further develop their ideas, and they will also receive more training in innovation methodology. The i-Days are conceived as a first step for students on the health innovation pathway. They encourage hundreds of students across European CLCs to join the EIT Health network.
Registration can be made individually or in teams. Teams should be built of multidisciplinary members, that is to say of members from different faculties and academic programs or areas of research.
Registrations will be open until November 1th.
For any doubts or further info, please contact: idaybarcelona@ub.edu

HealthTECH World Cancer day 2020
2020-02-03 10:00 - 13:00
HealthTECH World Cancer day 2020

HealthTECH World Cancer day 2020 es un evento organizado en el marco del Día Mundial del Cáncer donde se darán a conocer las últimas innovaciones en materia de NANOMEDICINA contra el CÁNCER, con temas que van desde el diagnóstico precoz, la liberación controlada de fármacos o la radioterapia con nanopartículas.
Durante esta jornada, expertos en NANOMEDICINA de diferentes campos, expondrán los últimos adelantos y nos darán la oportunidad de descubrir el generador de progreso que la NANOMEDICINA significa para la salud como creador de nuevas oportunidades en el diagnóstico y el tratamiento del cáncer.
Iniciado en 2013 bajo el nombre de NANO WORLD CANCER DAY, este evento ha sido organizado por la Plataforma Tecnológica Europea sobre Nanomedicina (ETPN) y actualmente está respaldado por el Proyecto Europeo NOBEL (Smarter HealthTech in Europe). En España lo organiza NANOMED Spain y se realiza de manera simultánea en diferentes países de toda Europa.
Día y lugar del evento:
Lunes, 3 de febrero · 10:00 h
Sala Pau Viladiu
Hospital Duran i Reynals
Avda. de la Granvia de l’Hospitalet, 199
08908 L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona
Asistencia gratuita, necesario registrarse antes del 29 de enero en: events.ibecbarcelona.eu/hwcd2020

EMBL·IBEC Winter Conference #EIWC20
2020-02-10 08:30 - 2020-02-12 13:30 | La Pedrera
ENGINEERING MULTICELLULAR SYSTEMS
Recent breakthroughs in stem cell biology, organ-on-chip assays, 3-D bioprinting, and cell mechanobiology have revolutionized our ability to design and assemble multicellular living systems, from organoids to embryos

This conference will focus on how engineering multicellular living systems is boosting our understanding of tissue and organ function, with applications in disease modelling, drug screening, and tissue engineering.
The conference will take place in La Pedrera Auditorium, one of Gaudí’s architectural masterpieces in Barcelona from 10-12th February 2020. We expect to bring together 150 researchers including stem cell biologists, systems biologists, physicists and engineers.

3rd EIT Health Innovation Day
2020-10-31 - 2020-11-07
EIT Health Innovation Day

IBEC is participating, once more, in the organization of this year’s EIT Health Innovation Day that will be held on-line from 31st October to 7th November 2020 (Dedication per day: 30-45 min. aprox. (flexible schedule)).
Innovation Days (i-Days) promote health innovation among university students through dozens of one-to-two-day programmes held at academic institutions around Europe. Students receive an introduction to practical health innovation tools and compete in multidisciplinary teams to tackle real-life health challenges posed by EIT Health projects, local organisations and private corporations.
i-Day Barcelona will invite inspirational speakers and experts within the field of health innovation. Participants will form multidisciplinary teams to develop real and viable innovations, compete for i-Day prizes and learn practical skills in innovation. The team with the most sparkling solution will participate in the European Winners event. At the Winners event, participants will meet fellow EIT Health Innovation Day winners from universities across Europe, and will further develop their ideas with the support from experienced business developers.

The i-Day is open to undergraduate and postgraduate students.
We invite you to register here. Registrations will be open until October 26th.
The best projects of the day will be candidates for 4 prizes.
You can also see the calendar of i-Day events.

Bioengineering and MedTtech against cancer
2020-11-24 09:00 - 2020-11-25 18:20
Bioengineering & MedTtech against cancer

To meet the challenges in healthcare of the 21st century, it is important to combined bioengineering and MedTech to develop biological system analyze and treatment to treat specifically cancer cells and protect the rest of the patient’s body by limiting side effects. To accomplish this, we need to promote an innovation model where scientists, engineers and doctors works together.
It’s in this optic that the digital oncology short course will take place the 24th and 25th of November 2020. This short course is part of ToHealth program, an EIT Health activity. The course is organized by Medicen Paris and the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), with the collaboration of Biocat, “la Caixa” Foundation and Meditecnologia, under the framework of B·Debate.
A 2 days workshop reviewing different bioengineering and medtech technologies (liquid biopsies, targeted drug delivery, tumor on chip, mechanobiology and Car-T therapies…) which can significantly contribute to meet the challenges that the increasing prevalence of cancer poses on society and healthcare systems and what would be the difficulties that must be solved before these technologies are a reality in daily clinical practice. And also, a transversal session to discuss barriers and opportunities for the translation of these technologies to the clinical practice.

Location: Online Event

We invite you to register at https://event.meetmaps.com/bioengineeringandmedtech/en/landing

Nanodía Mundial Contra el Cáncer
2021-02-04 11:00 - 14:00
El Nanodía Mundial Contra el Cáncer es un evento organizado en el marco del Día Mundial contra el Cáncer donde se darán a conocer las últimas innovaciones en materia de NANOMEDICINA contra el CÁNCER, con temas que van desde el diagnóstico precoz, la liberación controlada de fármacos o la radioterapia con nanopartículas.
Un año más, expertos en NANOMEDICINA de diferentes campos -investigadores, empresarios, médicos oncólogos, pacientes, etc.-, expondrán los últimos avances y nos darán la oportunidad de descubrir el generador de progreso que la NANOMEDICINA significa para la salud como creador de nuevas oportunidades en el diagnóstico y el tratamiento del cáncer y como podemos contribuir en la misión Europea contra el cáncer.
Iniciado bajo el nombre de NANO WORLD CANCER DAY, NANOMED Spain organiza la sexta edición, este año de manera virtual con la colaboración del Institut Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP).
Inscripciones: http://nanomedspain.net/jornada_ndcc/

Nano Rare Diseases Day 2021
2021-02-24 11:30 - 13:30
Nano Rare Diseases Day es un evento organizado en el marco del Día Mundial de las Enfermedades Minoritarias donde se darán a conocer las últimas innovaciones en materia de Nanomedicina para el tratamiento y diagnóstico de dichas enfermedades, con temas que van desde el diagnóstico precoz, la liberación controlada de fármacos o el desarrollo de nuevas terapia
Durante esta jornada, expertos en Nanomedicina de diferentes campos -investigación, empresa, práctica clínica, autoridades sanitarias, pacientes, etc.-, expondrán los últimos avances y nos darán la oportunidad de descubrir el generador de progreso que la Nanomedicina significa para la salud como creador de nuevas oportunidades en el diagnóstico y el tratamiento de las enfermedades minoritarias.
Más información e inscripciones aquí

M-CELS Workshop Barcelona Satellite
2021-06-04 14:30 - 18:00
EMBL and IBEC aim to contribute to the discussion on challenges and opportunities in the expanding field of Multi-cellular engineered living systems (M-CELS).
We have organized a satellite session to the M-CELS Workshop 2021 organized by the Center for Emergent Behaviors of Integrated Cellular Systems. The session aims also to be an appetizer to the 2nd EMBL-IBEC Winter Conference on Engineering Multicellular Systems to be held on 9-11th February 2022 in Barcelona.

Multi-cellular engineered living systems are purpose-driven living systems with multiple interacting living components. They are engineered for specific goals or functions but take emergence into account during the design process, allowing the final system to emerge through natural and non-natural biological processes. M-CELS research is intended to provide a fundamental engineering understanding that enables a quantitative approach bridging between single cells and organs or organisms. The field is still developing, so M-CELS as a field of research is still rapidly expanding
Registration here

4th IBEC-ICMS Joint Symposium
2021-10-26 10:00 - 13:00
The event is in the framework of an alliance between the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC) and the Institute for Complex Molecular Systems (ICMS), a research institute of the Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e).

The event aims to identify synergies and potential for collaboration between IBEC groups and the researchers of ICMS. It is the 4th edition of a series of joint symposiums that started in Eindhoven on September 2018. During that symposium many natural connections initiated for the benefit of both our organizations. We therefore feel that there are excellent opportunities to further strengthen the ties between our institutes. Therefore, we are organizing a number of scientific exchanges and working on the identification of common research interests.
This fourth ICMS-IBEC Symposium will be a great opportunity to foster collaborations, strengthen the existing ones, and an opportunity for young researchers involved in the exchange program to present their activities in the partner organization.
The event will be held online using the Teams app. You can register here

Nanodía mundial contra el cáncer – 2022
2022-02-04 10:00 - 13:00
El Nanodía Mundial Contra el Cáncer es un evento organizado en el marco del Día Mundial contra el Cáncer donde se darán a conocer las últimas innovaciones en materia de NANOMEDICINA contra el CÁNCER, con temas que van desde el diagnóstico precoz, la liberación controlada de fármacos o la radioterapia con nanopartículas.

Un año más, expertos en NANOMEDICINA de diferentes campos -investigadores, empresarios, médicos oncólogos, pacientes, etc.-, expondrán los últimos avances y nos darán la oportunidad de descubrir el generador de progreso que la NANOMEDICINA significa para la salud como creador de nuevas oportunidades en el diagnóstico y el tratamiento del cáncer y como podemos contribuir en la misión Europea contra el cáncer.

Iniciado bajo el nombre de NANO WORLD CANCER DAY, NANOMED Spain organiza la edición de este año de manera virtual con la colaboración del VHIR (Vall d’Hebron Instituto de Investigación) y el VHIO (Vall d’Hebron Instituto de Oncología).

Más información y registro aquí.

Nano Rare Diseases Day 2022
2022-02-28 00:00 - 13:00
Nano Rare Diseases Day es un evento organizado en el marco del Día Mundial de las Enfermedades Minoritarias donde se darán a conocer las últimas innovaciones en materia de Nanomedicina con temas que van desde el diagnóstico precoz, la liberación controlada de fármacos o el desarrollo de nuevas terapias.

Durante esta jornada, expertos en Nanomedicina de diferentes campos -investigación, empresa, práctica clínica, autoridades sanitarias, pacientes, etc.-, expondrán los últimos avances y nos darán la oportunidad de descubrir el generador de progreso que la Nanomedicina significa para la salud como creador de nuevas oportunidades en el diagnóstico y el tratamiento de las enfermedades minoritarias.

Registro a la jornada online, aquí

ICMS-IBEC Joint Online Symposium
2022-03-23 14:00 - 17:00
This is the 6th symposium that the two institutions are celebrating together. This Mini-Symposium will take place online, using the Teams app, on 23 March from 14.00 – 17.00.

Speaker
Title

14.00
Chair: Jan van Hest (ICMS)
Samuel Sánchez (IBEC)
Opening and welcome

Successful joint ventures

14.05
Shidong Song and Richard Post (IBEC & ICMS)
Partnership between:
Group lead IBEC: Samuel Sánchez
Group lead ICMS: Remco van der Hofstad and Jan van Hest
Engineering transient dynamics of artificial cells by stochastic distribution of enzymes

14.30
Sertan Sukas (IBEC & ICMS)
Partnership between:
Group lead IBEC: Josep Samitier (IBEC)
Group lead ICMS: Vito Conte, Jaap den Toonder and Regina Luttge
Advanced flow control and quantification of forces for mechanobiology studies

14.55
Tania Patiño Padial (IBEC→ICMS)
Tania was a member of the group of Samuel Sánchez at IBEC and is now a member of the group of Jan van Hest at ICMS
Bioengineering life-like nanosystems for biomedical applications

15.20
Break

Flash talks Exchange program

15.30
Robert Dassen (ICMS→IBEC)
Partnership between:
Group leads IBEC: Veronika Magdanz and Samuel Sánchez
Group lead ICMS: Hans Wyss
3D printing of organ models for in vitro testing of microrobots

15.38
Lisa van Slagmaat (ICMS→IBEC)
Partnership between:
Group lead IBEC: Josep Samitier
Group lead ICMS: Jaap den Toonder
Microfluidic herringbone device with self-assembled antibody monolayer for CTC separation

15.46
Floor Ummels (ICMS→IBEC)
Partnership between:
Group lead IBEC: Giuseppe Battaglia
Group lead ICMS: Willem Mulder
Crossing the blood-brain barrier

15.54
Lisa Pomp (ICMS→IBEC)
Partnership between:
Group leads IBEC: José Antonio Del Río and Karen Wells
Group lead ICMS: Vito Conte
Establishment of an in vitro blood-brain barrier model on transwells for transendothelial transport studies

16.04
Stan van Wetten (ICMS→IBEC)
Partnership between:
Group lead IBEC: Sílvia Pujals
Group lead ICMS: Arthur de Jong
Correlating Light and Electron Microscopy for PLGA-PEG nanoparticle charactization

16.12
Laura van de Koppel (ICMS→IBEC)
Partnership between:
Group leads IBEC: Elisabeth Engel and Bárbara Blanco
Group lead ICMS: Patricia Dankers
Engineering a 3D model of lymphoma using a hydrogel for precise screening of therapeutics

16.20
Break

16.35
Roger Riera Brillas (IBEC & ICMS)
Roger was a member of the group of Lorenzo Albertazzi at IBEC and is now a member of the group of Lorenzo Albertazzi at ICMS
Live-cell uPAINT imaging of receptors

17.00
Closing remarks

ICMS-IBEC Joint Online Symposium
2022-03-23 14:00 - 17:00
This is the 6th symposium that the two institutions are celebrating together. This Mini-Symposium will take place online, using the Teams app, on 23 March from 14.00 – 17.00.

SpeakerTitle14.00Chair: Jan van Hest (ICMS) Samuel Sánchez (IBEC)Opening and welcomeSuccessful joint ventures 14.05Shidong Song and Richard Post (IBEC & ICMS)Partnership between:Group lead IBEC: Samuel SánchezGroup lead ICMS: Remco van der Hofstad and Jan van HestEngineering transient dynamics of artificial cells by stochastic distribution of enzymes14.30Sertan Sukas (IBEC & ICMS)Partnership between:Group lead IBEC: Josep Samitier (IBEC)Group lead ICMS: Vito Conte, Jaap den Toonder and Regina LuttgeAdvanced flow control and quantification of forces for mechanobiology studies14.55Tania Patiño Padial (IBEC→ICMS)Tania was a member of the group of Samuel Sánchez at IBEC and is now a member of the group of Jan van Hest at ICMSBioengineering life-like nanosystems for biomedical applications15.20Break Flash talks Exchange program 15.30Robert Dassen (ICMS→IBEC)Partnership between:Group leads IBEC: Veronika Magdanz and Samuel SánchezGroup lead ICMS: Hans Wyss3D printing of organ models for in vitro testing of microrobots15.38Lisa van Slagmaat (ICMS→IBEC)Partnership between:Group lead IBEC: Josep SamitierGroup lead ICMS: Jaap den ToonderMicrofluidic herringbone device with self-assembled antibody monolayer for CTC separation15.46Floor Ummels (ICMS→IBEC)Partnership between:Group lead IBEC: Giuseppe BattagliaGroup lead ICMS: Willem MulderCrossing the blood-brain barrier15.54Lisa Pomp (ICMS→IBEC)Partnership between:Group leads IBEC: José Antonio Del Río and Karen WellsGroup lead ICMS: Vito ConteEstablishment of an in vitro blood-brain barrier model on transwells for transendothelial transport studies16.04Stan van Wetten (ICMS→IBEC)Partnership between:Group lead IBEC: Sílvia PujalsGroup lead ICMS: Arthur de JongCorrelating Light and Electron Microscopy for PLGA-PEG nanoparticle charactization16.12Laura van de Koppel (ICMS→IBEC)Partnership between:Group leads IBEC: Elisabeth Engel and Bárbara BlancoGroup lead ICMS: Patricia DankersEngineering a 3D model of lymphoma using a hydrogel for precise screening of therapeutics16.20Break 16.35Roger Riera Brillas (IBEC & ICMS)Roger was a member of the group of Lorenzo Albertazzi at IBEC and is now a member of the group of Lorenzo Albertazzi at ICMS Live-cell uPAINT imaging of receptors17.00Closing remarks

Open BIST Seminar: Dr. Wiktor Szymanski
2022-04-27 00:00 - 13:00 | IBEC, floor 11, Tower I, Baldiri Reixac 4-8, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
Molecular basis for the use of light in medicine
Wiktor Szymanski, Medical Imaging Center, University Medical Center Groningen
Light is a unique control element in chemistry and biology, because it can be safely delivered with very high precision to modulate processes in space and time. In this educational lecture, aimed at Master students but hopefully of interest to all academics, I will discuss the main processes that a molecule can undergo once it has been promoted to the excited state under light irradiation. Using the Jablonski diagram as the starting point, I will outline how these processes are or could be used in the clinic for diagnostics (optical and optoacoustic imaging) and therapy (photodynamic therapy and photopharmacology).

Wiktor Szymanski received his PhD degree from The Warsaw University of Technology, Poland, in 2008, working under the supervision of Prof. Ryszard Ostaszewski. He spent two years working on the use of biotransformations in organic chemistry with Prof. Ben L. Feringa and Prof. Dick B. Janssen at the University of Groningen. Since 2010 he has been working on the construction of photoactive protein- peptide- and DNA-bioconjugates and photopharmacology in the Feringa Labs. In 2014, he joined the Medical Imaging Center, University Medical Center Groningen, where he was appointed in 2015 as tenure track assistant professor and in 2019 as associate professor (adjunct hoogleraar).

Open BIST Seminar: Dr. Wiktor Szymanski
2022-04-27 12:00 - 13:00 | IBEC, floor 11, tower i

EMBL-IBEC Winter Conference Engineering Multicellular Systems
2022-06-17 08:30 - 2022-06-19 14:00 | Barcelona Biomedical Research Park (PRBB), Dr. Aiguader 88 , Barcelona, 08003
EMBL and IBEC aim to contribute to the discussion on challenges and opportunities in the expanding field of engineered multicellular systems

Recent breakthroughs in stem cell biology, organ-on-chip assays, 3-D bioprinting, and cell mechanobiology have revolutionized our ability to design and assemble multicellular living systems, from organoids to embryos.
This biennial series of will focus on how engineering multicellular living systems is boosting our understanding of tissue and organ function, with applications in disease modelling, drug screening, and tissue engineering.
The 2nd edition conference will take place in PRBB Auditorium (Barcelona Biomedical Research Park), in Barcelona from 9-11th February 2022. We expect to bring together 150 researchers including stem cell biologists, systems biologists, physicists and engineers.
IMPORTANT DEADLINES

Abstract submission deadline: 15/11/2021
Notification of acceptance: 30/11/2021
Early registration: 30/12/2021
Late registration: 30/01/2022
Abstract submission here
Registration here
#EIWC22

IBEC-IFIBYNE joint seminar
2022-09-08 10:00 - 13:00 | Sala Baobab, C/Baldiri Reixac 10-12, Barcelona, 08028, Spain
10:00Institutional WelcomeJosep SamitierIBEC10:10Presentation by IFIBYNE directorAdali PecciIFIBYNE10:30Training-on-a-Chip: a multi-organ device to study the effect of muscle exercise on insulin secretion in vitroJavier RamónIBEC10:50Coffee Break11:20Genomic regulation in pancreatic beta cell development and regenerationSantiago RodríguezIFIBYNE11:40TBDRomén RodríguezIBEC12:00Closing

The seminar will be held at Tower I, 11th floor Baobab room, at 10:00am.

IBEC-IRB joint seminar
2022-09-14 15:00 - 17:00 | Aula Félix Sarratosa, PCB
Aberrant phase separation is a widespread killing mechanism of bioactive peptides in health and diseas

Steven Boeynaems, Assistant Professor at Baylor College of Medicine and Investigator at the Texas Children’s Hospital

Cationic repeat peptides are increasingly implicated in the pathophysiology of age-related neurodegenerative disease. These peptides are highly toxic in all tested disease models, and seem to perturb an ever-expanding list of cellular pathways. This observation begs the question whether this target promiscuity is (1) relevant to disease and (2) how it is encoded in such simple sequences. A first clue came from the observation that these cationic repeat peptides have the tendency to drive protein condensation. Given their charge, these peptides are exquisitely sensitive to the presence of nucleic acids. By studying their target space as a function of RNA concentration using mass spec, we uncover a hidden hierarchy in their target preference that relates to subcellular differences in RNA abundance.

To test whether these insights from disease translate to biology, we used this framework to develop a machine learning algorithm that allowed us to predict protein behavior form sequence. Compellingly, we uncover that bioactive peptides such as antimicrobial peptides produced by our own cells, but also venom peptides derived from spiders, scorpions and rattle snakes, phenocopy the molecular behavior of these disease-related cationic peptides. In all, we find that such peptides exert toxicity by upsetting the electrostatic balance of a cell, hitting myriad pathways at once. We name this process polycation poisoning and find that it has independently evolved again and again across the entire tree of life as a killing strategy of bioactive peptides. Based on these findings we are now exploring toxin-antitoxin systems as innovative therapeutic strategies to protect neurons against cationic repeat peptide toxicity.

Hosts: Benedetta Bolognesi and Xavier Salvatella

Place: Felix Serratosa Hall, PCB

IRB Research Node/IBEC Joint Seminar: Jolanda van Leeuwen
2023-01-18 12:00 - 14:00 | Auditori Antoni Caparrós, PCB, Tower D, c/Baldiri Reixac 4-8, Barcelona, Spain
Date: Wednesday 18 January 2023, 12:00h
Place: Audiorium Room, PCB
Speaker: Jolanda van Leeuwen, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
Title: Systematic analysis of genetic suppression interactions
Host: Patrick Aloy (IRB) & Benedetta Bolognesi (IBEC)
Abstract:
Recent genome sequencing efforts have identified people that are healthy despite carrying mutations that have been directly associated with severe early-onset Mendelian diseases. These resilient individuals may carry secondary mutations elsewhere in the genome that can compensate for the deleterious effect of the disease-associated mutation, a phenomenon referred to as genetic suppression. Identification of the protective mutations could highlight strategies for therapeutic intervention, but we currently lack the expertise to identify the suppressor mutations among the millions of variants scattered across the genomes of resilient individuals.
I will discuss how we use systematic genetic suppression interaction screens in the budding yeast and cultured human cells to dissect gene function and pathway connectivity, and to define conserved properties of genetic suppression that we can use to predict suppression interactions between genomic variants across species.

IRB Research Node/IBEC Joint Seminar: Nunilo Cremades
2023-01-19 09:30 - 11:30 | Sala Félix Serratosa – PCB, c/ Baldiri i reixac 10-12, Barcelona, Spain, 08028, Spain
Date: Thursday 19 January 2023, 9:30h
Place: Felix Serratosa Hall, PCB
Speaker: Nunilo Cremades, PhD – Associate Professor at Dept. Biochemistry and Molecular and Cellular Biology and Group Leader at Institute for Biocomputation and Physics of Complex Systems (BIFI), University of Zaragoza, Spain
Title: Liquid-liquid phase separation and co-aggregation of neurodegenerative disease-related alpha-synuclein and Tau proteins
Host: Xavier Salvatella (IRB) & Benedetta Bolognesi (IBEC)
Abstract:
Spatial segregation in the cell can be achieved through the formation of protein-rich liquid-like dense bodies, termed biomolecular condensates or liquid droplets, through a process known as liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS). Emerging evidence supports the hypothesis that aberrant protein-driven LLPS and the transition of the liquid droplets to solid-like structures might be a relevant cellular pathway leading to the formation of amyloid, toxic aggregates that are often a hallmark of relevant neurodegenerative diseases. A number of experimental studies have highlighted the flexible, typically disordered and ‘multivalent’ nature of the constituent proteins in these liquid-like condensates, although less is known about the particular molecular determinants governing the growth and maturation of these condensates into more solid-like states. While the LLPS process of Tau, the protein that is generally associated with Alzheimer´s disease, has been recently clarified, that of alpha-synuclein (αS), the protein linked to Parkinson´s disease, remains obscure. In this talk, I will show our recent findings that demonstrate that αS actively phase-separates into liquid condensates by electrostatic complex coacervation with positively charged polypeptides such as Tau. By combining a set of advanced biophysical techniques, we have been able to characterize αS/Tau LLPS and identified key factors leading to the co-aggregation of both proteins inside the coacervates. The mechanism of co-aggregation between αS and Tau that we have identified could be the basis for the in vivo formation of αS/Tau hetero-aggregates observed in the brains of patients suffering from synucleinopathies.

Workshop on scientific illustration
2023-05-06 10:30 - 12:30 | Sala Dolors Aleu, Cluster II, IBEC, Baldiri i Reixac, Barcelona
On May 6th, Roser Cussó, the artist in residence at IBEC, will be offering a scientific illustration workshop designed for participants of all ages (starting from 7 years old).
This is an open session available to everyone, where you will have the chance to explore the creative process that Roser followed during her project “Laboratori de Paisatges Humans”.
During this workshop, you will learn how to take an artistic approach to scientific concepts, as well as discover various techniques and materials that can help you create your own scientific illustrations.
As there are limited spots available, make sure to sign up for this unique session on Saturday, May 6th from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm at the Baobab meeting room (Torre I, planta 11, PCB).
Feel free to come with your family and friends!
REGISTER
LABORATORI D’IL·LUSTRACIÓ CIENTÍFICA
El pròxim 6 de maig, Roser Cussó, l’artista en residència a l’IBEC, ens oferirà un taller d’il·lustració científica adaptat per a totes les edats (a partir de 7 anys).
Es tracta d’una sessió oberta a tothom a on tindràs l’oportunitat d’aprendre el procés creatiu que va seguir Roser durant el seu projecte “Laboratori de Paisatges Humans”.
Aquest taller et permetrà posar una mirada artística a conceptes científics, aprendre diferents tècniques de representació i treballar amb diversos materials que et serviran per crear la teva pròpia obra.
Amb places limitades, no et perdis l’oportunitat d’inscriure’t en aquesta sessió única el dissabte 6 de maig d’10:30 a 12:30 h a la sala Baobab (Torre I, planta 11, PCB)
Vine amb familiars i amics! T’esperem!

ICMS-IBEC Symposium
2024-03-14 09:00 - 17:00 | Online
Dear all,

It is our pleasure to invite you to the ICMS-IBEC symposium on 14 March from 13.00 – 17.00 (Ceres 0.31, coffee starts at 12.45). Colleagues from both IBEC and ICMS will pitch their research domains with the intent to get better acquainted with each other’s science. We have fostered a successful collaboration for more than 4 years and we hope that this event will stimulate additional bottom-up connections between researchers from both organizations.
You can find the full programme here.
You can join the symposium online (no need to register), by using this link.

BMBC meeting
2024-04-12 15:00 - 17:00 | PRBB (Parc de Recerca Biomèdica de Barcelona), Marie Curie Room (PRBB inner square)
Please mark your calendars! The next BMBC meeting will be held on Friday 12th of April 2024, from 3-6pm at PRBB, Marie Curie Room.

For this edition we will have an external speaker, Michael Healy from Queensland University, Australia. Michael is a postdoc in the group of Brett Collins, and he has recently published the structure of the whole Commander complex, involved in endosomal recycling to the plasma membrane (Healy et al., Cell, 2023). We’re sure his talk will be highly interesting for the whole community and we strongly count on your participation.
We further thank Albert Pol who invited Michael and Oriol Gallego who is hosting him at PRBB for the help in coordinating Michael’s talk with our BMBC event.

Here is a preliminary program

15h – 15h45 Michael Healy (Brett Collins group, Queensland University)
Unravelling the Molecular Architecture of the Commander Complex.
15h45 – 16h15 Jessica Angulo-Capel (Felix Campelo lab, ICFO)
Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Protein Export at the Golgi Apparatus Resolved by Single Particle Tracking
16h15-16h45 —– Coffee Break ——
16h45-17h15 Albert Herms (Albert Pol group, IDIBAPS-UB)
Epithelioids: Self-sustaining 3D epithelial cultures to study long-term cellular processes
17h15-17h45 Laura Ferigle (Raúl Estévez group, IDIBELL-UB)
Insights into MLC pathophysiology by biochemical and structural studies

More details will follow soon. Feel free to visit our website and advertise it to your colleague, they can read the program there and subscribe to the googlegroup.
BMBC | bmbc (felixcampelo.wixsite.com)

Looking forward to see many of you there!
