Catalan biomedical companies attracted €153.1 million in investment in 2016 Blog Post

Catalan biomedical companies were able to attract €153.1 million in investment in 2016, a record figure for the sector. This is the main takeaway from the first Study on investment in the Biomedical industry in Catalonia 2017: Achievements and future challenges presented by CataloniaBio, based at the Barcelona Science Park, and EY at the Cercle d’Economia before some seventy members of the association, entrepreneurs, investors and other professionals. 

 

Two studies reject the scientific dogma associating ageing with the loss of stem cell circadian rhythm Blog Post

Two studies published in Cell by scientists from the Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona) at the Barcelona Science Park, the Pompeu Fabra University (UPF) and the University of California, Irvine (UCI) reject the scientific dogma associating ageing with the loss of stem cell circadian rhythm. Their results reveal that stem cell functions continue to be governed by day and night cycles (circadian rhythms) during ageing, but their rhythms become devoted to tissue repair and not to the maintenance of tissue tone.

 

Errors made by ‘DNA spellchecker’ revealed as important cause of cancer Blog Post

A study developed by Fran Supek (currently a group leader at IRB Barcelona at the Barcelona Science Park) and Ben Lehner at the Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG) in Barcelona reveal that many mutations in human cancers are caused by mistakes made by a repair mechanism or ‘DNA spellchecker’ rather than the actual damage to DNA caused by the environment. High levels of alcohol, sunlight, and tobacco consumption increase the rate at which this happens, resulting in more mutations in the most important parts of our genomes.

 

IBEC group develops a nanoscale imaging method that shows electron transfer pathways Blog Post

An IBEC group at the Barcelona Science Park has developed a new imaging method that can characterize the conductance of single molecules, shedding light on the molecular mechanisms behind biological processes such as respiration, photosynthesis and repair. Publishing in the journal Small, the Nanoprobes and Nanoswitches group describe a new way to observe conduction pathways in redox proteins and complexes – in which the transfer of electrons causes a change in oxidation – at the nanoscale.

 

AVX pharma announces initiation of a Phase 2 Clinical Trial of AVX-012 Ophthalmic Solution in Dry Eye Syndrome Blog Post

Avizorex Pharma (AVX Pharma), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company with offices at Barcelona Science Park and focused on the development of novel therapies for Dry Eye Syndrome, today announced the initiation of a Phase 2 clinical trial, evaluating the safety and efficacy of AVX-012 Ophthalmic Solution in patients with mild-to-moderate Dry Eye Syndrome, based on the concept of modulating corneal nerve activity to stimulate basal lacrimation.

 

The Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia joins BIST Foundation Blog Post

The Board of the Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST) has approved the incorporation of the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC) –based at the Barcelona Science Park– as a new member. At its annual meeting held today in Barcelona, the Board has also appointed Gabriel M. Silberman as a new BIST general director, replacing Miquel A. Pericàs, director of the Institute of Chemical Research of Catalonia (ICIQ).