La ricerca Italiana a Barcellona
2024-04-15 18:00 - 19:00 (Europe/Madrid) | Sala Dolors Aleu, Parc Científic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
“La ricerca italiana a Barcellona – Nuovi metodi per comprendere le malattie neurodegenerative.”
The Consulate General of Italy will present Dr. Benedetta Bolognesi with the “Cavaliere dell’ordine della Stella” medal in recognition of her career.
In addition, Dr Benedetta Bolognesi, Group Leader of Protein Phase Transitions in Health and Disease
, Prof. Josep Samitier, Director of IBEC and Prof. Giuseppe Battaglia, group leader of Molecular Bionics group will discuss Italian research: new methods to fight neurodegenerative diseases.
This event will be mainly in Italian.
Information here.

HeLa et al.
2024-04-19 16:30 - 18:30 | Sala Dolors Aleu, Parc Científic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
HeLa et al.

A video essay by TESS MARSCHNER

Barcelona, 2024, 12:00 min (ENG) Technical Support: Julio César Palacio

Inaugural event:
Friday, April 19th at 4:30PM
Parc Científic de Barcelona · Carrer Baldiri Reixac, 4-8, Dolors Aleu room

“HeLa et al.” is the result of the creative process carried out by visual artist Tess Marschner during her artistic residency at the Institute of Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC).
In her predominantly videographic and research-based works, she delves into the impact of scientific and theoretical knowledge on social dynamics. Her exploration focuses on feminist subjects, non-human entities and animal actors.
The video essay titled “HeLa et al.” serves as a contemplation on female and reproductive (parts of) bodies within techno-sciences: Henrietta Lacks’ immortal cell line, the cloned sheep Dolly, wombs, eggs and mice show up both as technical components of the scientific realm as well as entities that challenge the notion of the human, raising ethical considerations.
“HeLa et al.” was developed during her Artistic Residency at IBEC 2023/24.

EVENT AGENDA: 4:30PM-6:30PM

Welcome by Teresa Sanchis · Head of Strategy at IBEC.
Introduction by Tess Marschner, Artist in Residence at IBEC.
Video Screening.
Panel discussion & Q&A.
Video Screening.
Toast and final words by Josep Samitier, Director of IBEC.

Register here.

3rd edition EMBL-IBEC Conference ENGINEERING MULTICELLULAR SYSTEMS
2024-04-24 09:00 - 2024-04-26 15:00 | Barcelona Biomedical Research Park (PRBB), Dr. Aiguader 88 , Barcelona, 08003
3rd edition EMBL – IBEC Conference

ENGINEERING MULTICELLULAR SYSTEMS

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 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.
#EMBL_IBECConf
EMBL-IBEC Conference – ENGINEERING MULTICELLULAR SYSTEMS (ibecbarcelona.eu)

IBEC Seminar: Ovijit Chaudhuri
2024-05-03 10:00 - 11:00 | Sala Dolors Aleu, Cluster II, IBEC, Baldiri i Reixac, Barcelona
Cell migration and morphogenesis in viscoelastic matrices
Ovijit Chaudhuri, University of Standford
The 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.

IBEC Seminar: Aurora Hernandez-Machado
2024-05-07 12:45 - 13:30 | Sala Dolors Aleu, Cluster II, IBEC, Baldiri i Reixac, Barcelona
Biomicrofluidic analysis of hematological diseases by means of mathematical biomechanical models and statistical analysis: Cells and hydrogels in microchannels and microrheometers
Aurora Hernandez-Machado, Departament de Fisica de la Materia Condensada, Universitat de Barcelona
We 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%.

Research4talent
2024-05-08 10:30 - 13:00 | Sala Dolors Aleu, Parc Científic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
On Wednesday 8th May 2024 we’ll open our doors to UNDERGRADUATE & MASTER’s students interested in a research career

The event offers you the opportunity to engage with our researchers and inquire about their day-to-day work in the lab, career trajectories, work-life balance, mobility, etc.
In 2023, IBEC signed more than 130 internship agreements for undergraduate and master’s students with a wide range of national and international universities.
If you are interested in IBEC’s tenth edition of reSEARCH4TALENT, please register.

PROGRAMME · 8th May 2024

10:45
Welcome

11:00
Deputy talent and training director talk. Elisabeth Engel, “What is IBEC?”

11:20
Human Resources presentation

11:30
PhD Committee presentation

-Coffee break-

11:45
Careers Fair*: a chance for participants to mingle and chat with our researchers.

13:00
Labs visits

* To know in advance in which of our research lines you are interested in the Careers Fair, you can find the full research groups here.
Register here.

IBEC Seminar: Nicolò Accanto
2024-05-09 12:00 - 13:00 | Sala Dolors Aleu, Cluster II, IBEC, Baldiri i Reixac, Barcelona
2P-BRAINSCOPY: pushing the boundaries of two-photon microscopy to study large neuronal networks in behaving mice.
Nicolò Accanto, Inserm researcher at the in Insitut de la Vision (IDV), in the group of Valentina Emiliani, Paris
In 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.
This 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.

In 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.

References
[1] Accanto, N. et al. Multiplexed temporally focused light shaping for high-resolution multi-cell targeting. Optica 5, 1478 (2018).
[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).
[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).
[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).

Seminar “The Canadian health research following COVID-19 pandemic – artificial intelligence (AI), generative systems, quantum computing and beyond"
2024-05-14 15:00 - 17:00 | Aula Manuel Corachan (5th floor) · UB Faculty of Medicine Clinic (Carrer de Casanova, 143, Eixample, 08036 Barcelona)
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).
Marek W. Radomski,
Vice-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.
He 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)
The Canadian health research following COVID-19 pandemic – artificial intelligence (AI), generative systems, quantum computing and beyond.
The COVID-19 pandemic claimed millions of lives worldwide and greatly disrupted societal fabric across the globe.
Despite amazing achievements of vaccine research and development many areas of health research have been adversely affected by limitations caused by pandemic.
However, AI, generative systems and quantum computing are examples of a postpandemic research acceleration with substantial health research and service potentials.
The 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.

14/05/2024 · 15h

Aula Manuel Corachan (5th floor) · UB Faculty of Medicine Clinic (Carrer de Casanova, 143, Eixample, 08036 Barcelona)

IBEC

No registration needed

IBEC Seminar: Erika Ferrari
2024-05-17 10:00 - 11:00 | Sala Dolors Aleu, Cluster II, IBEC, Baldiri i Reixac, Barcelona
Beating Organs-on-Chip: leveraging on motion to mimic human organ physiological/diseased states in vitro
Erika Ferrari, Commercial Science Leader, BiomimX Srl
Beating 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,
with 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 ).

IBEC – KAIST Symposium
2024-05-20 09:00 - 14:00 | Sala Dolors Aleu, Cluster II, IBEC, Baldiri i Reixac, Barcelona
Delegations of the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC, Spain) and Korean Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST, Korea) will introduce some of their exciting research at the IBEC – KAIST Mini Symposium with presenters from the field of materials science, polymer chemistry, tissue engineering, self-assembly, chemical biology and synthetic biology.
Date: May 20th 2024
Venue: Sala Baoba, Tower I, Floor 11, Baldiri I Reixac 4 – 12, Barcelona.
Schedule:
9:30 César Rodriguez-Emmenegger, IBEC
Welcome
9:50 Hee-Seung Lee, KAIST
10:10 Javier Ramon-Azcon, IBEC
Organs-on-chip with integrated optical sensors: advanced models for evaluation of potential therapies
10:30Myungeun Seo, KAIST
Polymerization/depolymerization-induced self-assembly/disassembly
10:50 César Rodriguez-Emmenegger, IBEC
Using Nature’s engineering principles to design biointerfaces and synthetic cells
11:10 Break
11:30 Sang Woo Han, KAIST
Plasmonic hybrid nanoarchitectures for boosting light-to-chemical energy conversion
11:50 Nina Kostina, IBEC
How spontaneous curvature induces the morphogenesis of dendrimersome vesicles?
12:10 Dong Ki Yoon, KAIST
Evaporation-induced self-assembly of biopolymers and its application
12:30 Mohit Kumar, IBEC / UB
Active Vesicles: Nanocontainers for temporally regulated cargo delivery
12:50 Byeong-Su Kim, Yonsei University
Recent advances in the design and biological applications of functional polyethers
13:10 Ramona Santini, IBEC
Discotic amphiphile supramolecular polymers for drug release and cell activation with light
13:30 Adriano Caliari, Jonas Quandt, Jenny Englert, IBEC/DWI
Flash talks
14:00 César Rodriguez-Emmenegger, IBEC
Closing remarks

THE BARCELONA BLOOD-BRAIN-BARRIER (B4) SYMPOSIUM
2024-05-21 08:00 - 2024-05-22 17:00 | Auditori Antoni Caparrós, PCB, Tower D, c/Baldiri Reixac 4-8, Barcelona, Spain
To fulfil the promise of applying bioengineering to improve the lives of patients, we need to adopt a holistic approach encompassing understanding of biological/pathological mechanisms, development of engineered systems, and consideration of clinical needs. Hence, the B4 symposium, by bringing together experts studying the BBB from a biological, engineering and medical perspective, will greatly aid IBEC in its goal of developing bioengineering solutions to deliver therapies against brain disorders.
Barcelona is home to numerous research groups pushing forward the knowledge frontier of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and its role in brain disorders. To foment interaction across this community, we are organizing the Barcelona Blood-Brain-Barrier (B4) symposium to bring the BBB-community of Barcelona together to discuss advances in the field. The event will focus on the mechanisms underlying BBB physiology (e.g., brain endothelial specialization, neurovascular coupling, molecular transport), its role in brain disorders (neurodegeneration, infectious diseases, cancer), and nano/bioengineering strategies to deliver therapies across the BBB.
The first edition of this symposium will take place on May 21st-22nd, 2024. As our inaugural keynote speaker, we have the honour to welcome Prof. Martin Lauritzen (Copenhagen University). Prof. Lauritzen has been instrumental in our understanding of regulation of cerebral blood-flow by the neurovascular unit, nanoparticle transport dynamics across the BBB, and in developing in vivo imaging systems to study the brain vasculature.

Check que program and register here.

IBEC Seminar: Sergi Garcia-Manyes
2024-05-24 10:00 - 11:00 | Sala Dolors Aleu, Cluster II, IBEC, Baldiri i Reixac, Barcelona
Single molecule insights into cellular mechanotransduction
Sergi Garcia-Manyes, Single Molecule Mechanobiology laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute and King’s College London

Cellular 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.

MSCA Doctoral Networks: convocatoria 2024
2024-05-31 09:30 - 12:30 | Sala Dolors Aleu, Parc Científic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
Event in Spanish
El objetivo de las Doctoral Networks es implementar programas de doctorado mediante asociaciones de organizaciones de diferentes sectores de Europa y más allá para formar doctorandos y doctorandas altamente cualificados, estimular su creatividad, mejorar sus capacidades de innovación y potenciar su empleabilidad a largo plazo. Gracias al componente de movilidad (internacional, interdisciplinar e intersectorial) y al enfoque orientado a la innovación, se proporcionan perspectivas profesionales optimizadas en los sectores académico y no académico.
La convocatoria de Redes de Doctorado 2024 tendrá un presupuesto de 608,6 M€ y abrirá el 29 de mayo de 2024 (fecha límite: 27 de noviembre de 2024).
Está previsto que se puedan agendar reuniones con el NCP para resolver dudas concretas entre las 14 y las 16h (a confirmar).

Agenda preliminar
09.30 h Bienvenida.
09.40 h La convocatoria MSCA-DN 2024 y novedades. Puntos importantes por la preparación de propuestas. Xavier Ronald Eekhout, NCP MSCA, FECYT.
11.30 h Pausa de café.
11.50 h Caso de éxito. Prof Gabriel Gomila, IBEC Group Leader
12.20 h Experiencia en la gestión de una MSCA-DN. Rosa Miralles, IBEC Projects Office.
Inscripciones aquí.

Ayuda GPE2022-001085 financiada por MCIN/AEI/ 10.13039/501100011033

IBEC Seminar: Wenting Zhao
2024-05-31 10:00 - 12:00 | Sala Dolors Aleu, Cluster II, IBEC, Baldiri i Reixac, Barcelona
Engineering the Nanoscale Membrane Topography in Cells
Wenting Zhao, School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore and Institute for Digital Molecular Analytics and Science (IDMxS), Singapore
Abstract.
Cell 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.

Short Bio
Dr. 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.
Group website: www.wtzhaolab.com.

Nanomotors International Conference
2024-06-03 08:00 - 2024-06-05 17:00 | CosmoCaixa
The Nanomotors International Conference: 20th Anniversary will be held June 2-5, 2024 in Barcelona. This event will gather high-profile plenary and invited speakers and world-class researchers specializing in nanomotors to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the first publications in the field.

From the early days of artificial catalytic nanomotors, the expanding field of active matter has moved into new and exciting areas spanning physical length-scales, academic disciplines, and international boundaries.

This conference will feature invited talks, breakout sessions, and posters exploring leading-edge designs and applications of nanomotors. This year’s meeting will focus on biomedical applications and collective behaviour of self-propelled nanomotors, from both experimental and theoretical perspectives.

Nanomotors International will foster collaborations; highlight the positive impact of these technologies on society; promote scientific advances and innovative applications; and explore current and future challenges to bringing these technologies to the clinic and to the market.
Check the program and register here.

IBEC Seminar: Irene Lázaro
2024-06-05 16:00 - 17:00 | Sala Dolors Aleu, Cluster II, IBEC, Baldiri i Reixac, Barcelona
Enhanced regeneration through in vivo cell reprogramming: lessons from the first decade of research and a success story in the mouse heart
Irene de Lázaro, PhD1,2,3
1 Department of Biomedical Engineering, NYU Tandon School of Engineering, New York University
2 Cardiovascular Research Center, NYU School of Medicine and NYU Langone Health
3 Harvard John A Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University

Our 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.

Encuentro De Las Plataformas Isciii De Apoyo A La I+D+I En Biomedicina Y Ciencias De La Salud
2024-06-07 09:30 - 13:30 | Sala Dolors Aleu, Cluster II, Parc Científic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
El Instituto de Bioingeniería de Cataluña acoge la Jornada Informativa de las Plataformas ISCIII de Apoyo a la I+D+i en Biomedicina y Ciencias de la Salud, organizada por la Plataforma ISCIII de Biomodelos y Biobancos (P_ISCIII_BB), la Plataforma ISCIII de Dinamización e Innovación de las Capacidades Industriales del SNS y su Transferencia Efectiva al Sector Productivo (ITEMAS), y la Plataforma ISCIII de Soporte para la Investigación Clínica (SCReN), en adelante denominadas “Plataformas ISCIII”, junto con Nanomed Spain.
Las Plataformas del Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII) de apoyo a la I+D+i en Biomedicina y Ciencias de la Salud constituyen un conjunto de infraestructuras y profesionales, pertenecientes a diversas instituciones, quienes ofrecen servicios transversales para respaldar el sistema de I+D+i. Su objetivo es facilitar la generación y transferencia de conocimiento de alta calidad dentro del Sistema Nacional de Salud.
La sesión incluirá ponencias que abordarán la misión y visión de las tres Plataformas ISCIII, así como el papel de estas en el contexto internacional. Entre los temas a tratar en la Jornada Informativa se encuentran, entre otros, la convergencia de las tres plataformas bajo la coordinación del ISCIII, la transferencia del conocimiento científico a la industria y la sociedad, y el desarrollo de ensayos clínicos

IBEC Seminar: Jan Lammerding
2024-06-12 10:00 - 11:30 | Sala Dolors Aleu, Cluster II, IBEC, Baldiri i Reixac, Barcelona
Nuclear mechanobiology – from striated muscle disease to ultrarapid cellular mechanosensing
Jan Lammerding, PhD, Weill Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology & Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
Abstract. 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.

Open Science (Spanish)
2024-06-19 09:30 - 13:30 | Sala Dolors Aleu, Cluster II, Parc Científic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
CIENCIA ABIERTA Y PROPIEDAD INTELECTUAL
Open science and intellectual property (IP) regulation share the same fundamental objective of promoting innovation for social, scientific and economic development. However, there may be some tension due to the fact that IP rights can be used as a basis for controlling and managing the way in which protected subject matter can be accessed. The results of scientific research may result in scholarly articles or original databases that can be protected by copyright or inventions that can be protected by patents and other forms of intellectual property. Many open access initiatives, repositories or collaborative projects operate on the basis of clear licensing of intellectual property.
This event will be held in Spanish

La ciencia abierta y la regulación de la propiedad intelectual e industrial (PI) comparten el mismo objetivo fundamental de promover la innovación para el desarrollo social, científico y económico. Sin embargo, puede existir cierta tensión debido al hecho de que los derechos de PI pueden utilizarse como base para controlar y gestionar la forma en que se puede acceder a la materia protegida. Los resultados de la investigación científica pueden dar lugar a artículos académicos o a bases de datos originales que pueden protegerse mediante derechos de autor o invenciones que pueden protegerse mediante patentes y otras formas de propiedad intelectual. Muchas iniciativas, repositorios o proyectos de colaboración de acceso abierto funcionan sobre la base de una concesión clara de licencias de propiedad intelectual.
El Institut de Bioenginyeria de Catalunya junto con la Universitat de Barcelona y Nanomed Spain organiza esta Jornada para exponer y debatir las complementariedades o posibles conflictos entre los dos paradigmas en el marco español, persiguiendo una comprensión clara de su uso y aplicación en el día a día de la práctica científica.
Registro aquí: Ciencia Abierta y Propiedad Intelectual – NANOMED Spain

Second Hand Exchange Market
2024-06-21 08:00 - 15:00 | Cluster II
To celebrate the World Environment Day (5 June) IBEC’s Sustainability Committee is organizing a second-hand exchange market!
You can bring those pieces of clothing and lab materials that are clean and in good shape, but you don’t use anymore, and take one for free!
SAVE THE DATE:
📅 21st of June
📍 in front of the Cluster II reception
⏰ 9:00 to 15:00
At the end of the day, we will donate all the clothing left to a charity.
❗❗We only accept clean and good-condition clothes and lab material ❗❗

Seminar SparkCyto TECAN
2024-06-25 14:00 - 17:00 | Sala Dolors Aleu, Cluster II, IBEC, Baldiri i Reixac, Barcelona
Multimode User Day
Agenda:
1. Absorbance, Fluorescence and Luminescence
reading modes
1. Incubation options: gas, temperature, shaking, injectors,…
2. Brightfield Imaging
3. Fluorescence Imaging
4. Hands-on session: SparkCyto

Where? Parc Científic de Barcelona
c/Baldiri Reixach, 10. Torre I, Floor 11, Sala Baobab (IBEC)
When? 25th June 2024 (Tuesday), 14-17h
Organizer: Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia – Tecan
Tecan speaker: Nicola Vettore (application specialist)
Registration: https://forms.office.com/e/6mMYTESqe6

IMAB closure project (Catalan)
2024-06-26 17:00 - 18:30 | C/ de Provença, 480, L’Eixample, 08025 Barcelona
As part of IBEC’s science education initiatives, this year we have been running the IMAB project, which aims to bring the latest advances in bioengineering in organ and tissue regeneration to the over-65s. The aim of the project, beyond being a dissemination activity, has been to gather their impressions and transmit them to the scientific community.
We have been holding various sessions in civic centres, adult education centres and university extension classes… And now it is time to fulfil the last objective of the project, to share the opinions of the population gathered over the last few months:
Date: Tuesday 26th June
Place: Espai BiblioLab – Sagrada Familia Library
Location:C/ de Provença, 480, L’Eixample, 08025 Barcelona
Time: from 5 to 6.30 p.m.
This event will be held in Catalan.
This event will be open to all members of the public and will serve to publicise the results and opinions obtained from the population. There will be a short introduction to the project, followed by a talk on the latest advances in organ and tissue regeneration research that was given at the sessions, and finally, the conclusions will be presented.
We hope to see you there!

En el marc de les iniciatives d’educació científica organitzades per l’IBEC, aquest any hem desplegat el projecte IMAB, que mira d’apropar els últims avenços de la Bioenginyeria en la regeneració d’òrgans i teixits a la població més gran de 65 anys. L’objectiu del projecte, més enllà de fer una activitat de divulgació, ha estat recollir les seves impressions i transmetre-les a la comunitat científica.
Hem estat realitzant diverses sessions a centres cívics, escoles d’adults i aules d’extensió universitària… I ara toca complir amb l’últim objectiu del projecte, compartir les opinions de la població recollides aquests darrers mesos:
Data: dimecres 26 de juny
Lloc: Espai BiblioLab – Biblioteca Sagrada Familia
Ubicació: C/ de Provença, 480, L’Eixample, 08025 Barcelona
Horari: de 17 a 18.30h
Aquest esdeveniment estarà obert a tots els públics i servirà per donar a conèixer els resultats i les opinions obtingudes de la població. Farem una petita introducció del projecte, seguidament la xerrada sobre els últims avenços de la recerca en la regeneració d’òrgans i texitis que es feia a les sessions; i per tancar, s’exposaran les conclusions.
Esperem veure-us allà!

GREEN LAB: REDUCING THE IMPACTS OF UNIVERSITY LABORATORIES IN THE ENVIRONMENT
2024-06-28 09:30 - 17:00 | Sala Dolors Aleu, Parc Científic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
Laboratories consume three to five times more energy and resources than standard office spaces, with significant environmental impacts from constant equipment operation and disposable plastic use.
Against this background, the project ‘Sustainable Laboratories’ (NACH-LABS), a joint effort of the Hamburg University of Applied Sciences, the Technical University of Darmstadt, and IUTA e.V., the European School of Sustainability Science and Research (ESSSR), the Inter-University Sustainable Development Research Programme and the UK Consortium for Sustainability Research (UK-CSR), are organising the international symposium Green Labs: Reducing the Impacts of University Laboratories on the Environment.
Due to its focus on sustainability, the event will be held online. Therefore, the Sustainability Committee of IBEC, in collaboration with PCB and Nanomed Spain, believes that organizing a satellite event to collectively follow the main event would be a great opportunity to bring together our community, facilitating networking and sharing local experiences.
This event will consist of two parts. In the first part, the official conference will be streamed. The second part will be an opportunity for local networking and experience sharing of our journey towards more sustainable research.
We invite you to present a 5-minute short talk on your experiences in making your labs more sustainable. You can register and send your proposals.
Registration here: Green Lab: Reducing the impacts of University laboratories in the environment (ibecbarcelona.eu)

IBEC Seminar: Shahid Uddin
2024-07-05 10:00 - 12:00 | IBEC, floor 11, Tower I, Baldiri Reixac 4-8, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
Developability assessment of biologics and formulation of novel molecules
Shahid Uddin, PhD, MBA, Senior Director of Drug Product, Formulation & Stability within the CMC department at Immunocore, UK
It’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.

IBEC Seminar: Sabina Quader
2024-07-17 15:00 | Sala Dolors Aleu, Cluster II, IBEC, Baldiri i Reixac, Barcelona
Nanomedicine to Tackle Unmet Medical Needs in CNS Disorders
Sabina Quader, Innovation Center of NanoMedicine (iCONM), Kawasaki Institute of Industrial Promotion, Kawasaki, Kanagawa 210-0821 Japan
The 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.
References–

Quader and K. Kataoka*, Mol Ther, 25 (2017) 1501.
Cabral, K. Miyata, K. Osada, K. Kataoka*, Chem. Rev., 118 (2018) 6844.
Kinoh, S. Quader, H. Shibasaki, X. Liu, A. Maity, T. Yamasoba, H. Cabral*, K. Kataoka*,ACS Nano, 14 (2020) 10127.
Quader*, 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.
J 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

Dr. 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.

IBEC Seminar: Carlos Moreno Yruela
2024-07-19 10:00 - 11:00 | Sala Dolors Aleu, Cluster II, IBEC, Baldiri i Reixac, Barcelona
Semi-synthetic nucleosomes to stabilize and image enzyme-chromatin interactions
Carlos Moreno Yruela, Researcher in Chemical Biology, EPFL, Switzerland
Chromatin 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
metastasis. 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.

Carlos 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.

IBEC Seminar: Prof Marcelle Machluf
2024-09-13 14:00 - 16:30 | Sala Dolors Aleu, Cluster II, IBEC, Baldiri i Reixac, Barcelona
Harnessing the power of stem cell therapy in an off-the-shelf nano-delivery platform for treating brain disorders
Prof Marcelle Machluf, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Engineering, Technion, Haifa, Israel
Mesenchymal 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.

IBEC Seminar: Maria João Amorim
2024-09-18 12:00 - 13:00 | Sala Dolors Aleu, Cluster II, IBEC, Baldiri i Reixac, Barcelona
Advances in understanding and manipulating influenza A virus liquid inclusions
Maria João Amorim, PhD, Group Leader, Cell Biology of Viral Infection Lab, Católica Biomedical Research Centre, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, and Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Portugal
Many 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.

Animal welfare VS human welfare: To what extent do we want to protect them? (Spanish)
2024-09-25 18:00 - 19:00 | Biblioteca Gabriel García Marquez
Animal welfare VS human welfare: To what extent do we want to protect them?
The use of experimental animals is widely accepted within the scientific community and although there are differences in regulations between countries, they all follow the guidelines set by the 3Rs: Replace, Reduce and Refine. This event will be held in Spanish.

El uso de animales de experimentación está ampliamente aceptado dentro de la comunidad científica y a pesar de que hay diferencias en regulaciones entre países todos siguen las directrices que marcan las 3.os: Reemplazar, Reducir y Refinar. Por lo tanto, la primera pregunta que nos tenemos que hacer cuando estamos diseñando un experimento con animales es:
Podemos usar otro sistema que no involucre el uso de animales de experimentación para responder nuestra pregunta científica?
Afortunadamente esta pregunta cada vez es más fácil de responder gracias al desarrollo de sistemas biomimètics que imitan ciertos órganos como por ejemplo la piel, el intestino o el páncreas.
Proponemos la siguiente estructura para la mesa redonda:
Presentación
Exploración de la situación con los asistentes a través de preguntas:
• Qué impacto ha tenido durante la historia el uso de animales de experimentación?
• Qué nos motiva a reducir el uso de los animales de experimentación?
• Hasta qué punto estamos dispuestos a reducir su uso?
• Qué alternativas tenemos?
Lluvia de ideas: Buscamos soluciones
Antes que nada se explicarán las premisas por el buen funcionamiento de la lluvia de ideas. A continuación, exploraremos las opciones que tenemos para reemplazar el uso de animales de experimentación.
Con que nos quedamos?
Qué sueño las propuestas que entre todos los asistentes creemos que pueden tener más éxito?
Cierre
Ponentes: Marcel Sorribas Adriana González Anna Martínez y Daunis Xiomara Gislen Fernández Garibay Nuria Camarero (moderadora), del IBEC.
Para registrarse haz click aquí.

Emerging Leaders in Biomedicine Symposium
2024-09-26 09:00 - 17:00 | Vall d’Hebron, Barcelona, Spain
The second edition of the Emerging Leaders in Biomedicine Symposium will take place on September 26th, 2024 at the Vall d’Hebron Institute of Oncology. This exceptional event is a collaborative effort between:

Vall d’Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO)
Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute
Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC)
Institute of Molecular Biology of Barcelona (IBMB)
Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG)
University Pompeu Fabra, Department of Medicine and Life Science
Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona)
Institute of Biomedicine of the University of Barcelona (IBUB)

The primary objective of this symposium is to provide a platform for senior postdocs and junior principal investigators (PIs) to come together and receive valuable scientific and logistical support from the local scientific community.
During the symposium, we will host several short talk sessions, round tables, and networking opportunities, allowing you to showcase your research, share the challenges you face, present your scientific interests, and explore potential synergies and collaborations.
Registration closed.
Full programme here.
