Group leader
IBEC researchers Benedetta Bolognesi, Xavier Fernàndez Busquets and Xavier Trepat have been selected in the CaixaResearch 2024 call to lead their own research projects. The grants will provide financial support for the scientists to carry out their research in key areas such as cancer, malaria and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
IBEC’s 17th Annual Symposium focused on ‘Bioengineering for Emergent and Advanced Therapies’, one of IBEC’s key application areas. Around 300 people attended the event, including local and international researchers. It was a multidisciplinary environment in which experts from other centres and the IBEC community itself had the opportunity to present their projects and share knowledge.
A study led by the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC) has studied the migratory movement of groups of cells using light control. The results show that there is no leader cell that directs the collective movement, as previously thought, but that all cells participate in the process. These findings are relevant to the design of treatments to stop tumour invasion or accelerate wound healing, physiological processes closely linked to cell migration.
An IBEC-led study has demonstrated the ability of colorectal cancer stem cells to change their mechanical properties, facilitating the successful metastatic process. They did this using tumour organoids derived from patient cells. These findings could contribute to the development of new strategies to treat and prevent metastasis in colorectal cancer.
The prize recognises the research work of Trepat, ICREA Research Professor at IBEC. These awards, presented by the Valencian Foundation Rei Jaume I Awards, aim to bring science and business closer together in order to promote research, scientific development and entrepreneurship in Spain.
