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Bioengineering in reproductive health

Samuel Ojosnegros Martos
Head of Bioengineering in Reproductive Health

ABOUT

The first Open Innovation Lab research unit at IBEC will be Bioengineering in Reproductive Health @Biorephealth, led by Dr. Samuel Ojosnegros.

The main research focus of our lab is to study the development of human and mouse embryos. We combine bioengineering and optics tools to generate novel technologies that allow us to study the mechanisms controlling mammalian embryo implantation. Our proprietary solutions can be used to improve in vitro fertilization (IVF) and have been licensed by the pharma industry. The strong translational component of our research is not limited to embryology but convey into other disciplines such as diagnostics and cell therapies.

The development of the embryo E in humans (and mammals in general) requires the embryo to implantat, which proceeds with the attachment of the embryo into the walls of the mother uterus and invasion of the tissue to form the placenta. This process is crucial for natural conception and especially for in vitro fertilization (IVF) as only 30% of IVF embryos successfully implant into the mother uterus’ and develop to term. However, despite the importance of implantation in human fertility, this process is still elusive for experimentation because the uterus is rather inaccessible and difficult to be analysed

In our lab we create microscopes and bioengineered platforms to study the 3D environments that support embryonic development outside of the mother uterus.   Our systems allow us to interrogation of the genetics, metabolomics and mechanics of the embryo in a high throughput manner. Using our systems, we are capable to (i) improve embryo culture conditions and (ii) diagnose embryos with improved implantation potential.

Our dual research philosophy with a basic-translational component, has granted us collaboration contracts with the pharma industry, hospitals, and venture capital to bring our technology to the clinics and to the market. Our innovative Open Lab is a multidisciplinary environment where biologists, biophysicists, clinicians, and business developers synergize to create a unique environment shaped by science and entrepreneurship.

Molecular mechanisms of embryo implantation


Human reproduction is surprisingly inefficient compared to other mammalian species. On average, 25–30% of natural conceptions lead to successful live births. IVF leads to a successful live birth only in about 30% of the times (averaged per embryo transferred). Around 60% of all conceptions are lost at the time of (or soon after) implantation. Implantation is not only a cornerstone of reproduction but an evolutionary novelty of mammals.

During implantation, the embryo at blastocyst stage attaches to the epithelial lining of the uterus (the endometrium). A specialized embryonic tissue, termed the trophoblast, invades the endometrium reaching out and connecting to the blood vessels. The trophoblast will give rise to the placenta and umbilical cord allowing continuous nutrient supply to the embryo and consequently a prolonged intrauterine retention of the embryo during pregnancy. However, the study of implantation is mainly inaccessible because it takes place inside the adult. To overcome this problem, we have developed proprietary culture methods and ex vivo implantation platforms which mimic the uterine microenvironment, allowing the embryo to progress towards post-implantation stages in an amenable way for optical microscopy.

Development of Human Plasma-Derived Protein Supplement to Improve Embryo Culture and Promote Embryo Implantation

Embryo culture in vitro from one cell stage to blastocyst stage in IVF clinics is carried out using human serum albumin (HSA). However non-clinical grade serums (such as FBS) have the potential to push the development of embryos further, but of course they cannot be used in the clinics. In the last years, in collaboration with GRIFOLS we have co-developed serums with batch consistency and clinical approval to culture human embryos. In addition to albumin these serums also provide growth factors, vitamins and other components that are removed during the purification process of albumin. This cocktail improves the efficiency of the development towards blastocyst stage and promote embryo ex vivo implantation.

Spectroscopy and label-free imaging

Spectroscopy refers to a family of imaging techniques which aim to extract information from the sample signal beyond the intensity profile. These techniques provide an additional dimension (i.e., spectral, oligomeric) to the image acquired.

Label-free microscopy, such as the imaging of autofluorescence signals from the cells, provide metabolic information of living tissues when analyzed using multispectral techniques.

In our lab we have specialized in spectroscopy imaging with emphasis on label-free methods. These methods are non-invasive, they do not require staining or sample manipulation whatsoever. For these reasons label-free imaging enables us to bring state-of-the-art microscopy techniques from the lab into the clinics, and study samples of biomedical relevance undisturbed at unprecedented level of detail.

Enhanced Number and Brightness a novel Imaging technique reveals protein dynamics in live cells

Proteins continuously interact with other proteins in the cell yet revealing these interactions in live-cell microscopy is technically challenging. Using statistical tools, we designed the Enhanced Number and Brightness method, which quantifies and maps protein aggregation in live cells in high resolution movies.
Several fluorescence microscopy methods are used to measure protein interactions in cells.  However, most of these methods struggle to capture both the diversity of these interactions across the entire cellular area and their dynamics over time.  To overcome these limitations, we enhanced the spatiotemporal resolution of Number and Brightness, a spectroscopy method that transforms fluorescence fluctuations into protein aggregation values.

The Enhanced Number and Brightness method implements two algorithms, the first one uses statistical tools to extract the distribution of protein oligomers (monomers, dimers, trimers and so on) in single pixels, thus revealing protein diversity across an entire cell image.  The second one corrects the fluorescence intensity loss due to continuous light exposure, which enables measurements over prolonged periods of time. By combining these two algorithms, Enhanced Number and Brightness allows extended live imaging, providing dynamic maps of protein oligomerization overlaid on top of the corresponding cell image.

Figure: Enhanced Number and Brightness provides oligomerization maps (color-coded according to reference bar) during time-lapse movies. The image shows from left to right the dynamics of Eph receptor aggregation after stimulation with the ligand Ephrin. Each row depicts a cell stimulated with different types of ligands (i.e. soluble, surface-bound etc.).

STAFF

PROJECTS

European Projects
HSMe-ImPredict · Development of non-invasive imaging methodology for improving embryo implantation prediction, via hyper-spectral metabolic profiling (2022-2024)Marie Curie Individual FellowshipSamuel Ojosnegros
National projects
HYSPLANT · Selección de embriones para fecundación in vitro: predicción del éxito de implantación mediante clasificación metabólica de embriones (2020-2023)MINECO
Retos investigación: Proyectos I+D
Samuel Ojosnegros
Prediction of implantation success by hyperspectral metabolic profiling of human embryos obtained by in vitro fertilization (2020-2022)AGAUR
Beatriu de Pinós 2018
Samuel Ojosnegros
Private sector
Estudio del mecanismo de acción de OXO-001 (2020-2022)OxolifeSamuel Ojosnegros
Evaluación de derivados plasmáticos humanos para el cultivo de embriones (2019-2021)IVFTECH S.L.Samuel Ojosnegros
Evaluación de derivados plasmáticos humanos para el cultivo de células mesenquimales y CAR-T (2020-2022)IVFTECH S.L.Samuel Ojosnegros
Prediction of implantation success by single-cell transcriptomic profiling of human embryos obtained by in vitro fertilization (2018-2022)Scranton Enterprises BVSamuel Ojosnegros
Finished projects
HYSPLANT · Metabolic profiling of in vitro fertilization embryos using hyspectral imaging (2019-2020)European Commission ATTRACTSamuel Ojosnegros
Embryo on a chip: Smart microdevice development for high-throughput screening embryo implantation (2020)Tecniospring 2020Maria Demestre Viladevall

NEWS

 

HYLIGHT Project, coordinated by Samuel Ojosnegros from IBEC, was selected by the ATTRACT Phase 2, an initiative of the European Union to boost the transfer of deep technology with great potential to transfer from the laboratories to the society. The project was financed with around 2M euros for 26 months and aims to develop a diagnostic device to select embryos based on their metabolic profiles and increase the success rates of in vitro fertilization techniques.

IBEC researchers are part of the European ATTRACT Project to develop a diagnostic device to improve embryo selection for in vitro fertilization procedures

HYLIGHT Project, coordinated by Samuel Ojosnegros from IBEC, was selected by the ATTRACT Phase 2, an initiative of the European Union to boost the transfer of deep technology with great potential to transfer from the laboratories to the society. The project was financed with around 2M euros for 26 months and aims to develop a diagnostic device to select embryos based on their metabolic profiles and increase the success rates of in vitro fertilization techniques.

El projecto REACT, liderado por el Statens Serum Institut de Dinamarca, cuenta con la participación del Instituto de Bioingeniería de Cataluña (IBEC) que, con un presupuesto cercano al millón de euros de un total de siete, generará organoides epiteliales nasales humanos específicos como plataformas de validación y modelos preclínicos para investigar la interacción huésped-patógeno .

El IBEC recibe cerca de un millón de euros para estudiar las enfermedades respiratorias graves causadas por virus

El projecto REACT, liderado por el Statens Serum Institut de Dinamarca, cuenta con la participación del Instituto de Bioingeniería de Cataluña (IBEC) que, con un presupuesto cercano al millón de euros de un total de siete, generará organoides epiteliales nasales humanos específicos como plataformas de validación y modelos preclínicos para investigar la interacción huésped-patógeno .

International experts and three hundred registered attendees met in the 14th IBEC Symposium, dedicated to regenerative therapies. Organised by the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), speakers presented the latest advances in mini-organs, organs on a chip, 3D bioprinting and tissue engineering, among others.

14th IBEC Symposium brings international experts and 300 attendees together

International experts and three hundred registered attendees met in the 14th IBEC Symposium, dedicated to regenerative therapies. Organised by the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), speakers presented the latest advances in mini-organs, organs on a chip, 3D bioprinting and tissue engineering, among others.

Oxolife, the biotechnological startup focused on the development of drugs to improve female fertility, and the Bioengineering for Reproductive Health laboratory of the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), will combine two pioneering technologies for the study and treatment of infertility.

IBEC and Oxolife start a pioneering study to treat infertility

Oxolife, the biotechnological startup focused on the development of drugs to improve female fertility, and the Bioengineering for Reproductive Health laboratory of the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), will combine two pioneering technologies for the study and treatment of infertility.

Application Deadline: 15/07/2020Ref: SR-SO The Bioengineering in reproductive health group at the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC) is looking for a Senior Scientist to develop a project in collaboration with the industry. The project involves investigate the molecular mechanisms affected by specific chemical treatments on endometrial receptivity and on mouse and human embryos in culture. We aim to combine the expertise in microscopy of the lab with embryology tools to understand the morphological and molecular modifications that lead to an increase in endometrial receptivity. An ideal candidate will have experience in the mouse or human embryology field and will know basic tools of molecular biology. The candidate will have a great degree of independence to coordinate the project, competitive salary and funding to outsource several tests (i.e. sequencing, histology etc.). Our laboratory is a multidisciplinary environment where biologists, biophysicists, clinicians and business developers synergize to create a unique environment shaped by science and entrepreneurship. Due to the high translational component of our research, we have established collaboration contracts with the pharma industry, hospitals and venture capital to bring our technology to the clinics and the market. In our lab we use bioengineering methods to create 3D environments that support embryonic development outside of the mother uterus. Our systems are accessible to imaging tools which allow us to interrogate the genetics, metabolomics and mechanics of the embryo in a high throughput manner. Using our systems we are capable to (i) improve embryo culture conditions and (ii) diagnose embryos with improved implantation potential.

Senior researcher at the Bioengineering in Reproductive Health Research Group

Application Deadline: 15/07/2020Ref: SR-SO The Bioengineering in reproductive health group at the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC) is looking for a Senior Scientist to develop a project in collaboration with the industry. The project involves investigate the molecular mechanisms affected by specific chemical treatments on endometrial receptivity and on mouse and human embryos in culture. We aim to combine the expertise in microscopy of the lab with embryology tools to understand the morphological and molecular modifications that lead to an increase in endometrial receptivity. An ideal candidate will have experience in the mouse or human embryology field and will know basic tools of molecular biology. The candidate will have a great degree of independence to coordinate the project, competitive salary and funding to outsource several tests (i.e. sequencing, histology etc.). Our laboratory is a multidisciplinary environment where biologists, biophysicists, clinicians and business developers synergize to create a unique environment shaped by science and entrepreneurship. Due to the high translational component of our research, we have established collaboration contracts with the pharma industry, hospitals and venture capital to bring our technology to the clinics and the market. In our lab we use bioengineering methods to create 3D environments that support embryonic development outside of the mother uterus. Our systems are accessible to imaging tools which allow us to interrogate the genetics, metabolomics and mechanics of the embryo in a high throughput manner. Using our systems we are capable to (i) improve embryo culture conditions and (ii) diagnose embryos with improved implantation potential.

Application Deadline: 30/06/2020Ref: LT-SO The Bioengineering in Reproductive Health Group offers a lab technician position for an experienced cell culture technician to develop a project in collaboration with the industry. The project involves testing the effects of different cell culture supplements on several cell types (e.g. Mesenchymal Stromal Cells, CAR T Cells, etc.) Our laboratory is a multidisciplinary environment where biologists, biophysicists, clinicians and business developers synergize to create a unique environment shaped by science and entrepreneurship. Due to the high translational component of our research, we have established collaboration contracts with the pharma industry, hospitals and venture capital to bring our technology to the clinics and the market. In our lab, we develop high-tech projects in the fields of embryology, cell biology and imaging. Our strategy involves the development of new products for the pharmaceutical industry. The current position seeks a motivated cell culture technician with experience in diverse cell culture systems.

Cell culture lab technician at the Bioengineering in Reproductive Health Research Group

Application Deadline: 30/06/2020Ref: LT-SO The Bioengineering in Reproductive Health Group offers a lab technician position for an experienced cell culture technician to develop a project in collaboration with the industry. The project involves testing the effects of different cell culture supplements on several cell types (e.g. Mesenchymal Stromal Cells, CAR T Cells, etc.) Our laboratory is a multidisciplinary environment where biologists, biophysicists, clinicians and business developers synergize to create a unique environment shaped by science and entrepreneurship. Due to the high translational component of our research, we have established collaboration contracts with the pharma industry, hospitals and venture capital to bring our technology to the clinics and the market. In our lab, we develop high-tech projects in the fields of embryology, cell biology and imaging. Our strategy involves the development of new products for the pharmaceutical industry. The current position seeks a motivated cell culture technician with experience in diverse cell culture systems.

Santiago Marco, group leader of the Signal and Information Processing for Sensing Systems and Samuel Ojosnegros, Head of Bioengineering in Reproductive Health and have been selected for their research projects in the ATTRACT programme. The call received more than 1200 projects and only 170 proposals were selected. The ATTRACT programme is a pioneering Horizon 2020 research and innovation project funded by the European Union and backed by a consortium of 9 partners. The main objective of this programme is to create a co-innovation ecosystem between fundamental research and industrial communities to develop breakthrough detection and imaging technologies for scientific and commercial uses.

Two projects of the ATTRACT program for IBEC researchers

Santiago Marco, group leader of the Signal and Information Processing for Sensing Systems and Samuel Ojosnegros, Head of Bioengineering in Reproductive Health and have been selected for their research projects in the ATTRACT programme. The call received more than 1200 projects and only 170 proposals were selected. The ATTRACT programme is a pioneering Horizon 2020 research and innovation project funded by the European Union and backed by a consortium of 9 partners. The main objective of this programme is to create a co-innovation ecosystem between fundamental research and industrial communities to develop breakthrough detection and imaging technologies for scientific and commercial uses.

The Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC) has signed an agreement for an initial investment round of one and a half million euros with Scranton Entreprises B.V. -an investment association headquartered in the Netherlands-, with the aim of developing technology that predicts the probability of implantation of embryos obtained through in vitro fertilization. This agreement is the first to be established within the framework of the institute’s new initiative, the Open Innovation Lab, that offers companies and investors a platform to bring the cutting-edge research to patients and to the market faster.

IBEC signs an agreement for 1.5 million euros with Scranton Enterprises

The Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC) has signed an agreement for an initial investment round of one and a half million euros with Scranton Entreprises B.V. -an investment association headquartered in the Netherlands-, with the aim of developing technology that predicts the probability of implantation of embryos obtained through in vitro fertilization. This agreement is the first to be established within the framework of the institute’s new initiative, the Open Innovation Lab, that offers companies and investors a platform to bring the cutting-edge research to patients and to the market faster.

New insights into the intercellular communications mechanism that regulates cell repositioning leads the way towards the development of targeted therapies in regenerative medicine Understanding the language of cells in order to redirect them when necessary: this is one possibility unveiled by researchers at the Center for Regenerative Medicine of Barcelona (CMR[B]), led by Dr. Samuel Ojosnegros, who describe in their latest paper the intercellular communications mechanism involved in cell relocation. The work, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), was carried out in collaboration with the groups of Elena Martínez (IBEC) and Melike Lakadamyali (ICFO), among others. The fruitful collaboration also gave rise to the publication of work by Verónica Hortigüela, former PhD student in Elena’s group, who bioengineered a nanopatterning strategy that provides control over this communication mechanism.

Deciphering cell language

New insights into the intercellular communications mechanism that regulates cell repositioning leads the way towards the development of targeted therapies in regenerative medicine Understanding the language of cells in order to redirect them when necessary: this is one possibility unveiled by researchers at the Center for Regenerative Medicine of Barcelona (CMR[B]), led by Dr. Samuel Ojosnegros, who describe in their latest paper the intercellular communications mechanism involved in cell relocation. The work, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), was carried out in collaboration with the groups of Elena Martínez (IBEC) and Melike Lakadamyali (ICFO), among others. The fruitful collaboration also gave rise to the publication of work by Verónica Hortigüela, former PhD student in Elena’s group, who bioengineered a nanopatterning strategy that provides control over this communication mechanism.

JOBS

PUBLICATIONS

S Ojosnegros, A Seriola, AL Godeau, A Veiga (2021) Embryo implantation in the laboratory: an update on current techniques. Human Reproduction Update, Vol.00, No.0, pp. 1–30.

Martin Plöschner, Denitza Denkova, Simone De Camillis, Minakshi Das, Lindsay M. Parker, Xianlin Zheng, Yiqing Lu, Samuel Ojosnegros, and James A. Piper (2020) Simultaneous super-linear excitation-emission and emission depletion allows imaging of upconversion nanoparticles with higher sub-diffraction resolution. Optics Express 28 (16), 24308-24326.

EQUIPMENT

  • Micromanipulation-microinjection station
  • Embryo biopsy laser
  • Embryo culture laboratory
  • Genome editing
  • In vitro fertilization
  • ICSI
  • Cell culture laboratory
  • 3D cell culture
  • Advanced live imaging: photoconversion, 3D imaging, light scattering, spectroscopy
  • Image analysis workstation

COLLABORATIONS

  • Prof. Anna Veiga – Barcelona Stem Cell Bank (IDIBELL) and Dexeus Mujer, Barcelona
  • Dr. Montserrat Boada/ Dr. Pere Barri – Dexeus Mujer, Barcelona
  • Dr. Ayelet Lesman – Tel Aviv University (TAU), Israel
  • Dr. Elena Martínez – IBEC
  • Dr. Francesco Cutrale, University of Southern California (USC), USA
  • Dr. Manuel Irimia – CRG, Barcelona
  • Dr. Javier Ramón – IBEC

ENTREPRENEURSHIP

· Jorge Fuentes,
   Business Strategy, A_Ventures, Barcelona, Spain

  

 

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