Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia

IN2UB International Research Seminars: Pere Roca-Cusachs
2018-10-25 16:00 - 17:00 (Europe/Madrid) | Sala de Graus Eduard Fontseré, Martí i Franquès, 1-11, Barcelona, 08028
IBEC group leader Pere Roca-Cusachs is the speaker at the inaugural seminar of the new IN2UB International Research Seminar series.
Sensing the matrix: transducing mechanical signals from integrins to the nucleus
Pere Roca-Cusachs, IBEC
Cell proliferation and differentiation, as well as key processes in development, tumorigenesis, and wound healing,are strongly determined by the properties of the extra cellular matrix (ECM), including its mechanical rigidity and the density and distribution of its ligands. In this talk, I will explain how we combine molecular biology, biophysical measurements, and theoretical modelling to understand the mechanisms by which cells sense and respond to matrix properties. I will discuss how the properties under force of integrin-ECM bonds, and of the adaptor protein talin, drive and regulate matrix sensing. I will further discuss how this sensing can be understood through a computational molecular clutch model, which can quantitatively predict the role of integrins, talin, myosin, and ECM receptors, and their effect on cell response. Finally, I will analyze how signals triggered by rigidity at cell-ECM adhesions are transmitted to the nucleus, leading to the activation of the transcriptional regulator YAP.

Becoming a Scientific Writer, putting ‘why’ before ‘how’
2018-10-25 | IBEC, floor 11, Tower I, Baldiri Reixac 4-8, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
The aim of this workshop is to help publishing scientists develop a more impartial, analytical view of scientific writing, to better understand their readership, and to make them more efficient writers and editors. Their writing will no longer be driven by the standard formula for How? to write a paper, but will be inspired by the question Why?
Dates:
25th October, from 10 to 6pm. In person class sessions = 7 hours. One whole day.
Target group:
PhD students and post-docs
Trainer:
Dr. Gavin Lucas

IBEC Seminar: Alvaro Aytés, IDIBELL
2018-10-19 10:00 - 11:00 | IBEC, floor 11, Tower I, Baldiri Reixac 4-8, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
Cross-species analysis of gene regulatory networks during prostate cancer progression
Alvaro Aytés, IDIBELL
Analysis of gene regulatory networks is a powerful tool to decipher drivers of phenotypic transitions, oncogenic dependencies and potential vulnerabilities that can be exploited for therapeutic intervention. By modeling prostate cancer progression in genetically engineered mice we have been able to perform cross-species studies between mouse and human, facilitating the identification and functional validation of cancer mechanisms. In particular we have a strong interest in understanding how aberrant control of transcriptional programs leads to treatment failure and resistance in prostate cancer. Whether this results in the emergence of new dependencies and vulnerabilities is also key to envision new treatment paradigms in the era of personalized medicine.

Good practices workshop: “How to design experiments”
2018-10-18 09:30 - 17:30 | IBEC, Baldiri Reixac 10-12, Barcelona, 08028, Spain
The objective of the course is to learn how to apply Chemometrics to design better experiments. The training will focus on the rationale behind using an experimental design, rather than on the “technical” part.
Dates:
18th October. In person class session: 9:30 to 17:30
Target group:
PhDs and master’s students (maximum 20 participants).
Training content:
• Why thinking multivariate
• Multivariate optimization
• Design experiments and try hypothesis
• What to do when I have more than one response?
Trainer:
Prof. Riccardo Leardi.

IBEC Seminar: Prof. Rui L. Reis
2018-10-08 12:00 - 13:00 | IBEC, floor 11, Tower I, Baldiri Reixac 4-8, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
New Approaches, combining natural materials and stem cells, for the Engineering of Different Types of Tissues
Prof. Rui L. Reis, University of Minho
The selection of a proper material to be used as a scaffold or as a hydrogel to support, hold or encapsulate cells is both a critical and a difficult choice that will determine the success of failure of any tissue engineering and regenerative medicine (TERM) strategy.
We believe that the use of natural origin polymers, including a wide range of marine origin materials, is the best option for many different approaches that allow for the regeneration of different tissues. In addition to the selection of appropriate material systems it is of utmost importance the development of processing methodologies that allow for the production of adequate scaffolds/matrices, in many cases incorporating bioactive/differentiation agents in their structures.
Furthermore an adequate cell source should be selected. In many cases efficient cell isolation, expansion and differentiation, and in many cases the selection of a specific sub-population, methodologies should be developed and optimized. We have been using different human cell sources namely: mesenchymal stem cells from bone marrow, mesenchymal stem cells from human adipose tissue, human cells from amniotic fluids and membranes and cells obtained from human umbilical cords.
The development of dynamic ways to culture the cells and of distinct ways to stimulate their differentiation in 3D environments, as well as the use of nano-based systems to induce their differentiation and internalization into cells, is also a key part of some of the strategies that are being developed in our research group.
The potential of each combination materials/cells, to be used to develop novel useful regeneration therapies will be discussed. The use of different cells and their interactions with different natural origin degradable scaffolds and smart hydrogels will be described. Several examples of TERM strategies to regenerate different types of tissues will be presented. This will include the use of original high-throughput methodologies to look at materials/cell interactions.

PhD Thesis Defence: Jemish Parmar
2018-10-05 11:30 - 13:30 | Sala Antiga de Graus, Faculty of Physics, UB, Barcelona, 08028, Spain
Micromotors for Environmental Applications
Jemish Parmar, Smart nano-bio-devices group
Jemish will be defending his PhD thesis on Friday 5th October at 11:30 in the Sala Antiga de Graus of the UB’s Faculty of Physics.
Everybody is welcome to attend.
—
If you’re an IBEC PhD student and would like to advertise your PhD defense on the IBEC calendar, please contact vleigh@ibecbarcelona.eu

11th IBEC Annual Symposium
2018-10-02 08:00 - 17:00 | AXA Auditorium, L'illa Diagonal, Av. Diagonal 547 , Barcelona, 08029
The IBEC annual symposium brings together high-profile international experts for an open forum for interdisciplinary discussions and networking. The whole scientific community is invited to participate.
Researchers are welcome to present their projects in a poster format for the 11th Symposium. Some of these contributions will be selected, by the scientific committee, for an oral flash presentation.
Visit https://events.ibecbarcelona.eu/symposium2018/ for more details.

Nit Jove de la Recerca
2018-09-28 19:30 - 23:00 | CosmoCaixa Barcelona, Carrer d'Isaac Newton, 08022 Barcelona, Spain
Coincidint amb la Researchers’ Night, iniciativa europea per acostar la ciència a tots els públics, us hem preparat una programació nocturna on la recerca surt del laboratori. Podreu participar en performances amb un Reactable, pilotar drons i molt més.
Taller de nanociència
En aquests tallers nocturns dedicats a la nanociència, investigadors dels centres més pioners en aquest camp duran a terme un seguit d’activitats relacionades amb els seus objectes d’estudi, vinculats a disciplines com l’òptica, el desenvolupament de noves fonts d’energia i nous materials, o la realitat augmentada.

https://cosmocaixa.es/ca/noche-joven-de-la-investigacion

IBEC PhD Discussions Complementary Skills Session: The importance of science communication
2018-09-28 10:00 - 11:00 | IBEC, floor 11, Tower I, Baldiri Reixac 4-8, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
The importance of science communication: Skills to be a good PhD
Jordi Díaz, Manager of the NanoSPM techniques unit (CCiTUB) and Science Communicator (NanoDivulga)
In this talk, we will review the experience of the Nanodivulga UB group and the EspaiNano group in outreach and scientific communication activities. We will explore the importance of these disciplines as a complement to the PhD and we will review some useful tools… because remember: if something you explain is understood it means that you really understand what you are explaining, but if it is not understood…
