The project is linked to the Strategic Plan of IBEC and aims to provide laboratory spaces, computer resources, laboratory auxiliary equipment and specific scientific equipment to perform research in nanomedicine and tissue engineering applied to the development of advanced therapies. Thus, thanks to the European co-funding, IBEC will be able to continue generating research of excellence and at the same time working with the industrial sector to develop new diagnostic and treatment systems. Early diagnosis, new therapies based on regenerative medicine, improved quality of life with respect to aging population and technological advances to increase efficiency and make health care sustainable, are areas where the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia contributes to generating new technological advances.
Aging of society is a fact. Low birth rates and increased life expectancy mean that we form societies with a higher average age. For this reason, one of the current challenges is to look for solutions that guarantee well-being and an independent lifestyle for the elderly.
In words of Dr. Isabel Oliveira, Head of IBEC’s Core Facilities: “This project has allowed three new groups to be incorporated to IBEC. All make forefront research and have among their objectives the achievement of producing new applied technologies that will be used in life and health sciences. For example, early diagnosis, new therapies based on regenerative medicine, better quality of life compatible with an ageing population and technological advances to increase efficiency and make health care sustainable.”
As an example, Dra. Oliveira mentions the SPECS group, which aims to understand the mind, brain, and behaviour through the construction of perceptual, emotional, and cognitive synthetic systems. Following this deductive medicine approach, the group is investigating a variety of brain pathologies where medical interventions are explicit validations of scientific predictions.
The acquisition of these scientific equipments and the adaptation of new laboratory spaces must be in line with scientific objectives such as:
- improving methodologies for early detection of diseases and customization of treatments
- early detection and treatment of highly infectious diseases
- information management and processing to monitor people’s health
- design of effective strategies to repair damage and restore functionality, including tissue regeneration, advanced prosthetics, and robotics
This action benefits from the 2014-2020 Catalan FEDER Operational Program call (year 2015) provided by the Department of Research and Universities (formerly Secretary of Universities and Research). The Foundation Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia has received a FEDER co-funding of 700,000 € of an eligible amount of 1.400,000 € to the adaptation of new laboratory spaces and the acquisition of scientific equipment for IBEC laboratories for the development of technologies for regenerative medicine and nanomedicine.
The aim of this aid line is to select singular institutional projects for construction, acquisition, rearrangement, or building extension for R+D infrastructures that allow to attract talent and develop technology and knowledge transfer activities.
Original article published by the Department of Research and Universities from the Government of Catalonia.
