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Molecular Imaging for Precision Medicine

ABOUT

The central theme of our work is the development of new insight and applications in chemical biology systems.

Our group’s research line is to detect, identify and validate biomarkers of disease. In particular, we focus on developing molecular imaging tools to identify abnormalities of cell metabolism in human disease and predict treatment efficacy.

In particular, we focus on Bioengineering solutions using Chemistry and Physics tools to study Biological problems. Specifically, we develop Magnetic Resonance (MR) molecular imaging methods to study the biochemical pathways in bioengineered systems and in vivo.

MR is already a well-known clinical technique in the form of 3D, non–destructive imaging of tissue and fluid composition in vivo (MRI). As a further benefit, MR spectroscopic imaging is chemically specific and can thus directly relate response of a single (or many) chemical compound to biological events in biofluids, cell suspensions in vitro, excised tissue and perfused organs ex vivo, animal models in vivo and clinical patients. The rich variety of MR experiments developed over the past decades permits quantification of metabolites concentrations, diffusion rates, perfusion, energetics and tissue oxygenation. These parameters represent a steady state fingerprint of the sample studied, which encodes physiological and pathological factors.

Our young team of passionate researchers works at the forefront of molecular imaging using a technique known as hyperpolarised MR (HP-MR), which increases the signal of MR more than 10.000 times. This dramatic increase means that we can now see molecular processes in real time, in situ, and non-invasively in a wide range of biological systems.

STAFF

All group members:

Irene Marco Rius

Junior Group Leader
+34 9340 ext 21750
imarcoibecbarcelona.eu

PROJECTS

INTERNATIONAL PROJETCSFINANCERPI
BLOC · Benchtop NMR for Lab-on-Chip (2020 – 2022)European Commission, FET OPENIrene Marco
NATIONAL PROJECTSFINANCERPI
Analisis metabolico en tiempo real de modelos de cultivo de celulas 3d de la enfermedad del higado graso no alcoholico: organos en un chip y resonancia magnetica nuclear (2020 – 2021)MINECO, Acciones Dinamización Europa Investigación/EIN2020-112209Irene Marco
Junior Leader Programe (2018 – 2022)Obra Social La Caixa, Junior Leader ProgramIrene Marco
 
 

PUBLICATIONS

For a list of publications prior to joining IBEC, visit the Google Scholar.

NEWS

IBEC and Vitala, a spin-off founded by IBEC researchers, are set to participate in three public-private partnership projects, with a combined investment nearing €4 million. These initiatives, backed by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation and the State Research Agency, aim to advance remote health monitoring, create an oral drug for Inflammatory Bowel Disease, and enhance 13C magnetic resonance imaging for therapeutic research. Leveraging cutting-edge technological approaches, these endeavors aspire to make a positive impact on the fields of medicine and biomedical research.

IBEC engages in two public-private partnerships for biomedical breakthroughs

IBEC and Vitala, a spin-off founded by IBEC researchers, are set to participate in three public-private partnership projects, with a combined investment nearing €4 million. These initiatives, backed by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation and the State Research Agency, aim to advance remote health monitoring, create an oral drug for Inflammatory Bowel Disease, and enhance 13C magnetic resonance imaging for therapeutic research. Leveraging cutting-edge technological approaches, these endeavors aspire to make a positive impact on the fields of medicine and biomedical research.

Dr. James Eills, researcher at IBEC, has been selected to attend the prestigious Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting that brings together outstanding young scientists from around the world with Nobel laureates. This year, the event will be dedicated to Physiology & Medicine and will be held from 25th-30th June in Lindau, Germany.

IBEC researcher James Eills to meet with Nobel laureates

Dr. James Eills, researcher at IBEC, has been selected to attend the prestigious Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting that brings together outstanding young scientists from around the world with Nobel laureates. This year, the event will be dedicated to Physiology & Medicine and will be held from 25th-30th June in Lindau, Germany.

Main tasks and responsibilities / The successful candidate will develop research involving:  Design and fabrication of lab-on-a-chip and microfluidic devices Development and implementation of a microfluidic platforms to study the … Read more

Postdoctoral position / Senior Research Assistant at the Molecular Imaging for Precision Medicine Research Group

Main tasks and responsibilities / The successful candidate will develop research involving:  Design and fabrication of lab-on-a-chip and microfluidic devices Development and implementation of a microfluidic platforms to study the … Read more

BIST-FBA Fellow at IBEC, Dr. James Eills, is part of an international team that has received the Erwin Schrödinger Prize. Eills, current Postdoc at the Group of Irene Marco at IBEC, contributed in Germany to a technique that amplifies magnetic resonance signals.

IBECer James Eills wins the Erwin Schrödinger Prize

BIST-FBA Fellow at IBEC, Dr. James Eills, is part of an international team that has received the Erwin Schrödinger Prize. Eills, current Postdoc at the Group of Irene Marco at IBEC, contributed in Germany to a technique that amplifies magnetic resonance signals.

A Dynamic Nuclear Polarisation (DNP) Polariser for Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) has been recently installed at IBEC, being the only one in operation in Spain, and among the few ones existing in Europe. This equipment can improve up to 10000 folds the signal compared to a conventional NMR procedure and allows for the study of cellular metabolism in real time.

Unique resonance technology in Spain to study cellular metabolism, hosted by IBEC

A Dynamic Nuclear Polarisation (DNP) Polariser for Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) has been recently installed at IBEC, being the only one in operation in Spain, and among the few ones existing in Europe. This equipment can improve up to 10000 folds the signal compared to a conventional NMR procedure and allows for the study of cellular metabolism in real time.

Vitala Technologies, a biotechnology-based company born in the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), will offer innovative solutions for the analysis of drugs during their development, as well as the possibility to know in advance and in a personalized way, what will be the response of a patient to a certain treatment.

Vitala is born, a spin-off of IBEC that offers innovative and more ethical solutions for health research

Vitala Technologies, a biotechnology-based company born in the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), will offer innovative solutions for the analysis of drugs during their development, as well as the possibility to know in advance and in a personalized way, what will be the response of a patient to a certain treatment.

Last Friday, September 24, the “European Researchers’ Night” took place, an event that is held on a European scale in more than 300 cities in 30 different countries. The objective of this event is to publicize the diversity of science and its impact on the daily lives of citizens in a close and inspiring way. For yet another year, IBEC has not wanted to miss it and has been present at various activities.

IBEC researchers participate in the “European Researchers’ Night”

Last Friday, September 24, the “European Researchers’ Night” took place, an event that is held on a European scale in more than 300 cities in 30 different countries. The objective of this event is to publicize the diversity of science and its impact on the daily lives of citizens in a close and inspiring way. For yet another year, IBEC has not wanted to miss it and has been present at various activities.

JOBS