Researchers develop a new class of covalent inhibitor for a protein involved in brain diseases Blog Post

An article published in Cell Chemical Biology by scientists at the Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona) in Barcelona Science Park (PCB) describes a new class of prolyl oligopeptidase (POP) inhibitors. Found mostly in the brain, POP protein has emerged as an “attractive·” therapeutic target for the treatment of several cognitive and neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease and schizophrenia.The work was done in collaboration with the biotech Iproteos, based in PCB and scientists at the University of Glasgow (Scotland, UK) and the Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences (the Netherlands). The study has also involved the Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Laboratory (LRB) –wich is part of CCiTUB and it’s located in the Cluster building of the Park– and the Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC).

 

Bionure initiates a Phase 1 clinical trial of its lead compound BN201 in the United Kingdom Blog Post

Bionure, a biotech company based in the Barcelona Science Park that develops neuroprotectant agents to treat neurodegenerative diseases primarily focusing on rare ophthalmologic diseases, announces today the initiation of a Phase 1 clinical trial of its lead compound BN201 in the United Kingd. BN201 is a first-in-class treatment that promotes remyelination and neuroprotection, offering a game-changing solution for neurodegenerative diseases. Both actions make BN201 a promising solution for rare ophthalmologic diseases  and open a research pathway to treat other neurodegenerative diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis (MS). 

 

IBEC PhD student receives Daniel Bravo scholarship Blog Post

Jesús Ordoño, PhD student at the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), based in the Barcelona Science Park, is one of just three winners in the 2018 call by the Daniel Bravo Andreu Private Foundation grants, which aims to to stimulate high impact biomedical research in Catalonia with scholarships to researchers (in possession of a doctorate, bachelor’s degree or equivalent) who carry out their activity in Catalonia and who wish to make short stays at leading centres in their field in North America or Europe.

 

The ICCUB Technology Unit participates in the elaboration of the most accurate map of the Universe Blog Post

The European Space Agency (ESA) today announced the second file for the Gaia mission, which aims to create the most accurate map of our galaxy, the Milky Way. In its preparation, a team from the Institute of Cosmos Sciences of the University of Barcelona (ICCUB), a member of the Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia (IEEC), has takes part in its elaboration. The engineers of the ICCUB Technology Unit (ICCUB-Tech), located at the Barcelona Science Park, have played a key role in the development of the software for processing and reducing data to create this catalog.

 

Kelly Arrontes combines art and science in her “Water is Life” mural Blog Post

Kelly Arrontes has completed her artistic project at the Barcelona Science Park which she began in January. Created with the sponsorship of Agbar, the mural depicts water’s four states as it runs for 125 metres along the corridor that connects the Cluster I and Cluster II buildings. Kelly Arrontes, who is legally blind as she only has 9% of normal vision, is a member of ONCE. Her “Water is Life” project won a PCB art contest which was open to the public and anonymously judged.

 

Francesc Posas, named new director of IRB Barcelona Blog Post

Francesc Posas Garriga, an internationally acknowledged researcher in the field of cell biology and full professor of the Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), is to take up the position of director of the Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona). As of 1 May, he will succeed Joan J. Guinovart, who was a key figure in setting up the Institute in October 2005 and who has served as director since.

 

The GAEM Foundation reorganises its Board of Trustees Blog Post

Headquartered in the Barcelona Science Park (Parc Científic de Barcelona, PCB), the GAEM (Multiple Sclerosis Sufferers Group, Grup d’Afectats per l’Esclerosi Múltiple) Foundation is reorganising its governing bodies to include leading medical, biomedical and business figures. The changes in its Board of Trustees are designed to enhance its public image and expand its scope of action by bringing in a wider variety of expertise in biomedicine, research, the private sector and charities.

 

From African clawed frog oocytes… to drugs that are activated by light Blog Post

The Live Research Fair, which opens its doors today at CosmoCaixa Barcelona until Saturday 14 April, aims to raise public awareness of research by opening up dialogue between the community and researchers and encouraging young people to consider scientific professions. The event has been organized by the Barcelona Science Park (PCB) –as part of its Research in Society programme– and “la Caixa” Foundation, with the support of Barcelona City Council and the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology (FECYT), and the collaboration of the University of Barcelona (UB).