Bioengineering approaches to understand, model and modify healthy and pathological CNS (NET-CNS)

Date and Venue
Friday 09/05/2025 · 09:00h – 16:00 h
Sala Baobab, Tower I, Floor 11 (PCB)

The first workshop on May 9th will focus on will focus on exploring the molecular and cellular mechanisms of neurodegeneration and CNS pathology, as well as emerging therapies and prevention strategies. The event will feature two plenary lectures by leading external experts, along with a series of presentations by IBEC researchers.  

Amaia Arranz (Achucarro Basque Center for Neuroscience) – Investigating how APOE variants influence astrocyte function in Alzheimer’s disease using humanized in vitro models and chimeric mice.

Salvador Ventura (Institut de Biotecnologia i Biomedicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona) – Exploring protein folding, misfolding, and aggregation in Parkinson’s and other neurodegenerative diseases.

We will also have three presentations from IBEC researchers working in the field and a final roundtable discussion on how these novel concepts and approaches can drive new therapeutic strategies and prevention for CNS disorders.

Schedule programme:

9:00 – Registration

9:20 – Welcome from Network Coordinator

9:30 – Mariano Martín, IBEC, “Amyloids ‘at the border’: deep mutagenesis and random sequence extension reveal an incomplete amyloid-forming motif in Bri2 that turns amyloidogenic upon C-terminal extension”

10:00 – Invited speaker: Salvador Ventura, Institut de Biotecnologia i Biomedicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, “A structure-based approach to tackle protein aggregation in Parkinson’s disease”

11:00 – Coffee Break and Networking

11:30 – Invited speaker: Amaia Arranz, Achucarro Basque Center for Neuroscience, “Divergent Effects of APOE3 and APOE4 Human Astrocytes on Key Alzheimer’s Disease Hallmarks in Chimeric Mice”

12:30 – Roundtable moderated by network chairs to debate the issues discussed

13:30 – Lunch break

14:30 – Amayra Hernández, IBEC, “Dynamics of Axonal Degeneration in Alzheimer’s Disease Induced by Tau or Amyloid Beta Aggregation”

15:00 – Karolina Zimkowska, IBEC, “Neuronal Activity and p-Tau: Lessons from Primary Cultures to Cortical Organoids Modeling FTLD-17”

15:30 – Closing remarks and end of the workshop

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Plenary talks details:

Amaia Arranz (Achucarro Basque Center for Neuroscience)

Divergent Effects of APOE3 and APOE4 Human Astrocytes on Key Alzheimer’s Disease Hallmarks in Chimeric Mice

Despite strong evidence supporting that both astrocytes and apolipoprotein E (APOE) play crucial roles in the pathogenesis and progression of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the impact of astrocytes carrying different APOE variants on key AD pathological hallmarks remains largely unknown. To explore such effects in a human relevant context, we generated a chimeric model of AD. We transplanted isogenic APOE3 or APOE4 human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived astrocyte progenitors into neonatal brains of AD model mice. We show that at five to six months after transplantation, transplanted cells have differentiated into mature astrocytes (h-astrocytes) that often integrate in upper layers of one cortical hemisphere. APOE3 and APOE4 h-astrocytes differentially express and secrete the APOE protein, which binds to Aβ plaques with an isoform-dependent affinity. Remarkably, APOE3 h-astrocytes ameliorate Aβ pathology, Tau pathology and neuritic dystrophy. In contrast, APOE4 h-astrocytes aggravate these AD processes. Moreover, APOE3 and APOE4 h-astrocytes modulate microglia responses to Aβ pathology in opposite ways. APOE4 h-astrocytes enhance microglia clustering around Aβ plaques and exacerbate DAM state whereas APOE3 h-astrocytes reduce microglia clustering and induce a more homeostatic state on plaque-associated microglia. These findings highlight a critical contribution of h-astrocytes not only to Aβ pathology but also to other key AD hallmarks in chimeric mice. In addition, our findings reveal that h-astrocytes with different APOE variants and the different forms of APOE they secrete have a crucial role in AD progression.

Salvador Ventura (Institut de Biotecnologia i Biomedicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona)

A Structure-Based Approach to Tackle Protein Aggregation in Parkinson’s Disease

α-Synuclein aggregation drives neurodegeneration in Parkinson’s disease (PD). We identified peptides that selectively bind to toxic α-synuclein oligomers and fibrils with high affinity while sparing the functional monomer. These peptides effectively inhibit aggregation and prevent oligomer-induced cell damage. Human peptide candidates with strong anti-aggregation and detoxifying properties were discovered, and the best in vitro candidate alleviated motor symptoms in a PD animal model. Structural studies mapped their binding region, showing that mutations or deletions in this site eliminate α-synuclein aggregation and toxicity. This insight led to the development of conformation-specific nanobodies and monoclonal antibodies that block amyloid formation, providing a novel therapeutic and diagnostic strategy for PD.

 

Date and Venue
Friday 23/10/2025 · 09:00h – 16:00 h
Baobab room, Torre I, Floor 11, Parc Científic de Barcelona (PCB)

This second workshop on October 23^th will focus on emerging neurotechnologies to interface with the CNS, including innovative strategies to record, stimulate, and modulate neural activity for both fundamental research and therapeutic interventions. The event will feature three lectures by leading experts: 

John Rogers (Northwestern University, Chicago) developing flexible and bio-integrated electronic devices to monitor health, interface with the nervous system, and advance medical therapies. 

Josep Maria Font Llagunes (Institute for Research and Innovation in Health (IRIS-UPC), Barcelona) developing computational methods for the analysis and prediction of human movement, innovative robotic exoskeletons and wearable monitoring technology. 

Aureli Soria-Frisch (Starlab, Barcelona), Director of Neuroscience at Starlab, a deep tech company that develops wireless platforms and AI tools to find biomarkers to diagnose and treat brain disorders, with applications ranging from neurodevelopment to cognitive decline in aging. 

Programme

09:00 – Registration 

09:20 – Welcome from Network Coordinator 

09:30 – IBEC speaker: Nicolò Accanto, Nonlinear Photonics for Neuroscience Group, ” Advanced Two-Photon Microscopy for Decoding Neuronal Circuits “  

10:00 – Invited speaker: John Rogers, Northwestern University, Chicago, “Bioelectronic Systems as Neural Interfaces” 

11:00 – Coffee Break and Networking 

11:30 – Invited Speaker: Aureli Soria-Frisch, Starlab, Barcelona, “From Starlab to Neuroelectrics, a neurotechnology transfer success case” 

12:30 – IBEC speaker: Mònica Mir, Nanobioengineering Group, “Integrated sensors in humanized models on a chip to study neurodegeneration” 

13:00 – Lunch Break 

14:15 – Invited speaker: Josep M. Font-Llagunes, Institute for Research and Innovation in Health (IRIS-UPC), “From Biomechanics to Clinical Impact: Exoskeleton and Monitoring Technologies in Neurorehabilitation” 

15:15 – IBEC speaker: Silvia Pittolo, Nanoprobes and Nanoswitches group, “Exploiting new technologies to read and control brain cells and circuits in real time” 

15:45 – End of the Workshop 

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Plenary talks details:

Bioelectronic Systems as Neural Interfaces

John Rogers, Northwestern University, Chicago

Advanced electronic/optoelectronic systems constructed in classes of materials that enable intimate integration with soft tissues of the brain and the peripheral nervous system will accelerate progress in neuroscience research; they will also serve as the foundations for new approaches in regenerative medicine and in the treatment of neurodegenerative disease. Specifically, capabilities for injecting miniaturized electronic elements, light sources, photodetectors, multiplexed sensors, programmable microfluidic networks and other components into precise locations of the deep brain or for softly laminating them onto the surfaces of the spinal cord or peripheral nerves will open up unique and important opportunities in stimulating, inhibiting and monitoring neural circuit behaviors. This presentation will describe concepts in materials science and assembly processes that underpin these types of technologies, in 1D, 2D and 3D architectures. Examples include ‘cellular-scale’ optofluidic neural probes for small animal model research, 3D mesoscale networks for study of neural signal propagation in organoids and bioresorbable electrical stimulators for neuroregeneration.

From Biomechanics to Clinical Impact: Exoskeleton and Monitoring Technologies in Neurorehabilitation

Josep M. Font-Llagunes is Full Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC) and director of the BIOMEC Lab at the Institute for Research and Innovation in Health (IRIS-UPC)

Exoskeletons and other assistive devices are becoming key technologies in advanced therapies for neurorehabilitation. Their development and clinical use require a solid understanding of human movement and its interaction with wearable devices, which can be explored through biomechanical simulation. This lecture will discuss how personalized biomechanical models can support the design and control of exoskeletons, enabling more effective and individualized therapies. Recent clinical investigations on bilateral and monoarticular lower-limb exoskeletons for gait rehabilitation in individuals with spinal cord injury and stroke will be presented. In addition, results from a clinical study using an IMU-based wearable system to monitor arm kinematics in pediatric patients with muscular dystrophy will be discussed. Together, these examples illustrate how neurorehabilitation technologies, informed by biomechanical simulation, can help clinicians improve therapy personalization, monitor rehabilitation outcomes, and maximize functional recovery.

Date and programme to be announced.

This third workshop will focus on organoids, lab-on-chip systems, computational analysis, and other in vitro models of the CNS in healthy and diseased states. 

This fourth workshop will focus on innovations in drug delivery systems, crossing the blood-brain barrier, local delivery of drugs, and engineered proteins to read brain activity.