Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia

IBEC Seminar: Aranzazu Villasante
2017-03-29 12:00 - 13:00 (Europe/Madrid)
Cancer Engineering: Strategies to Engineer Predictable Tumor Models
Dr. Aranzazu Villasante, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York
Although many drugs show promise in monolayer or in animal models systems, most fail to translate in humans and this is because they lack of ability to replicate the human microenvironment in patients. In response to these limitations, I have generated a set of predictable tissue-engineered (TE) models of cancer by using different strategies. Today, I am going to focus on some of these approaches to engineer pediatric tumors in vitro. Firstly, I will show a TE model of Ewing’s sarcoma (ES) within its bone niche. This particular strategy is based on engineered human bone by introducing osteoclasts in co-culture with osteoblasts in the 3-dimensional bone niche. This model mimics bone remodeling and recapitulates some of the features observed in the osteolytic process in cancer and also, the effects of the therapeutic reagent Zoledronic acid observed in patients. The second strategy consists in designing biomaterials with the same tumor composition to mimic the biological and mechanical properties of tumors from patients. I have developed 3D porous collagen 1-hyaluronic acid scaffolds (Col1-HA scaffolds) for studies of tumor derivedexosomes, which are known to be initiators of pre-metastatic niche formation in certain sites. Interestingly, I found high levels of a critical mediator of ES growth and metastasis (EZH2) in exosomes isolated from both patients and TE model of ES. Alternatively, we cultured TE models based on Col1-HA scaffolds into a mechanical loading bioreactor for better mimicking biomechanical forces in ES. We found that biomechanical stimuli modulate osteolytic-related proteins (i.e. RUNX2) and sensitivity to anticancer drugs, such as Sorafenib. I will also explain the use of perfusion bioreactors and cell sheet engineering to develop a novel model of Neuroblastoma (NB) to study the effect of consolidative drugs, such as Isotretinoin, on tumor vasculature and stem-like cells. Here, I will show the existence of sub-populations of NB cells with different levels of stemness properties; these levels are related to the capacity of stem-like cells to transdifferentiate and also, to chemoresistance and relapse. Finally, the take-home message of my talk will be that TE models can bridge the gap between 2D in vitro cultures and in vivo animal models in a predictive, inexpensive and low timeconsuming fashion for successfully understand cancer biology and improve cancer treatments.

PhD Discussions Sessions: Aida Garrido and Marina Uroz
2017-03-31 10:00 - 23:00
Optical control of endogenous receptors and cellular excitability using targeted covalent photoswitches
Aida Garrido, Nanoprobes and nanoswitches group
Light-regulated drugs allow remotely photoswitching biological activity and enable plausible therapies based on small molecules. However, only freely diffusible photochromic ligands have been shown to work directly in endogenous receptors and methods for covalent attachment depend on genetic manipulation. Here we introduce a chemical strategy to covalently conjugate and photoswitch the activity of endogenous proteins and demonstrate its application to the kainate receptor channel GluK1. The approach is based on photoswitchable ligands containing a short-lived, highly reactive anchoring group that is targeted at the protein of interest by ligand affinity. These targeted covalent photoswitches (TCPs) constitute a new class of light-regulated drugs and act as prosthetic molecules that photocontrol the activity of GluK1-expressing neurons, and restore photoresponses in degenerated retina. The modularity of TCPs enables the application to different ligands and opens the way to new therapeutic opportunities.

Traction forces at the cytokinetic ring regulate cell division and polyploidy in the migrating zebrafish epicardium
Marina Uroz, Integrative Cell and Tissue Dynamics group
Epithelial repair and regeneration are driven by collective cell migration and division. Both cellular functions involve tightly controlled mechanical events. Mechanics of collective cell migration is increasingly well understood, but physical forces associated with cell division in cohesive epithelia have escaped experimental observation. Using the zebrafish epicardium as a model system, we show that cells dividing in a migrating epithelium exert large cell-extracellular matrix (ECM) forces during cytokinesis. These forces point towards the midbody and are exerted through paxillin-rich focal adhesions that connect the cytokinetic ring to the underlying extracellular matrix. Large forces at these adhesions are associated with failure of cytokinesis and polyploidy, indicating that abnormal cell-matrix adhesion at the cleavage furrow impedes the latest stages of abscission. Mechanical interaction between the cytokinetic ring and the ECM thus provide a new mechanism for the regulation of cell division and polyploidy.

II Festival de la Nanociencia (10alamenos9)
2017-04-25 - 2017-04-26, 2017-04-25 00:00 - 2017-04-26 23:59
IBEC is an organiser of this year’s Festival de la Nanociencia (10alamenos9), funded by FECYT.
The festival will take place simultaneously in Barcelona, Saragossa, Bellaterra, San Sebastian and Madrid.
The programme will include seminars by Gabriel Gomila and Samuel Sanchez and a Workshop on Drug Delivery (Cosmocaixa 26/04/2017), visits to IBEC and workshop for students (March and April at IBEC), and a Nano Workshop in collaborations with Il·lustraciència (Cosmocaixa 25/04/2017 and 26/04/2017).
More details here.

Curso de primeros auxilios
2017-04-26 09:00 - 13:00
El objetivo del curso es ser una ayuda para adquirir los conocimientos necesarios de cara a prestar los primeros auxilios a aquellas personas que sufran un accidente o enfermedad repentina, hasta la llegada del personal sanitario. De esta primera actuación va a depender, en gran medida, el estado general y la posterior evolución de la persona. Con este curso conoceremos los tratamientos que están a nuestro alcance y sabremos lo que NO debemos hacer nunca para no agravar el estado del lesionado.
Fechas:
26 de Abril. 4 horas, de 9 a 13h.
Participantes:
Toda la comunidad IBEC
Formador: ASEM.

Curso de Primeros Auxilios
2017-04-26 09:00 - 13:00
El objetivo del curso es ser una ayuda para adquirir los conocimientos necesarios de cara a prestar los primeros auxilios a aquellas personas que sufran un accidente o enfermedad repentina, hasta la llegada del personal sanitario. De esta primera actuación va a depender, en gran medida, el estado general y la posterior evolución de la persona. Con este curso conoceremos los tratamientos que están a nuestro alcance y sabremos lo que NO debemos hacer nunca para no agravar el estado del lesionado.
Fechas:
26 de Abril. 4 horas, de 9 a 13h.
Participantes:
Toda la comunidad IBEC

PhD Thesis Defence: Anna Crespo
2017-04-27 11:00 - 13:00 | Aula Magna, Faculty of Pharmacy, Av. Joan XXIII s/n, Barcelona, Spain
“Estudi transcripcional i funcional de les ribonucleotidil reductases de Pseudomonas aeruginosa“
Anna Crespo, Bacterial infections and antimicrobial therapies group
Anna will be defending her PhD thesis on Thursday 27th April at 11:00 in the Aula Magna of the UB’s Facultat de Farmàcia i Ciències de l’Alimentació.
Everybody is welcome to attend.
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If you’re an IBEC PhD student and would like to advertise your PhD defence on the IBEC calendar, please contact vleigh@ibecbarcelona.eu

IBEC-IRB Barcelona joint seminar: Erik Sahai
2017-04-27 12:00 - 13:00 | Sala Félix Serratossa, Parc Científic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
Imaging therapy response and failure
Erik Sahai, The Francis Crick Institute, London
Many tumors show an initial response to targeted therapies before genetic resistance emerges, however little is known about how tumor cells tolerate therapy before genetic resistance dominates. We present data that shows how the ECM generates a ‘safe haven’ in which melanoma cells can tolerate targeted therapy. This supports the population of cancer cells from which genetically resistance emerges. We are now studying the emergence of resistant clones and clonal competition in the context of ‘safe havens’. Finally, we present analysis of organ specific responses to targeted therapy in melanoma.

Mindfulness for improved self-mastery & resilience
2017-05-04 09:30 - 13:30
Training activity in Leadership&management skills.
Workshop of two ½ day sessions will feature the benefits of mindfulness, a tool to develop self-efficacy and improve stress management and resilience. This training is based on the MBSR (Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction, Center for Mindfulness, Univ. Massachusetts) program.
Dates:
4th and 11th May from 9.30 -1:30pm.
In person class sessions = 8 hours + Pre-reading material
Target group:
All IBEC members
Provider: Andrés Martín.

Say it so it stays : Oral presentation skills training for scientists
2017-05-08
Training activity in transferable skills.
The course’s aim is to improve scientists’ effectiveness and confidence when presenting their research to peers and public.
Dates:
Monday 8th May 9.30 – 5.30,
Tuesday 9th May 9.30 -1pm,
and Friday 12th May 9.30 to 1.30
In person class sessions = 14 hours. One whole day and two half days.
Target group:
PhD students and post-docs.
Provider: Elinor Thompson.

reSearch4Talent 2017
2017-05-12 11:00 - 14:00 | Sala Dolors Aleu, Cluster II, Parc Científic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
reSearch4Talent 2017
On Friday 12th May 2017 we’ll open our doors again to undergraduate and masters students interested in a research career.
This will be the third edition of reSearch4Talent.

PROGRAMME:
11:00 Welcome
11:15 Director’s talk, “What is IBEC?” and overview of research groups
11:50 HR Speech
12:00 Careers Fair: a chance for participants to mingle and chat with our researchers
13:00 – 14:00 Lab visits

VENUE:
Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC)
Dolors Aleu Room
Parc Científic de Barcelona (PCB)
C. Baldiri Reixac, 4-8, Barcelona
More details here.
