Protein NBS1 is crucial for macrophage functional activity Blog Post

Protein NBS1, which plays a key role in DNA damage repair, is required for macrophage functional activity. This is one of the conclusions of a scientific paper published in the journal Blood—considered one of the best scientific publications in the field of haematology— and signed by a team of experts from the Faculty of Biology of the University of Barcelona (UB), Consolidated Research Group Macrophage Biology –located at the Barcelona Science Park (PCB)– and the Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona). The protein also has implications for understanding the immune defects observed in patients with Nijmegen breakage syndrome and other related disorders.

 

Leitat leads GLAM, a European project to improve cancer diagnosis Blog Post

A European consortium led by Centre Tecnològic Leitat –through its Biomed Divisionlocated at the Barcelona Science Park (PCB)– has started the Glass-Laser Multiplexed Biosensor (GLAM) project, the aim of which is to develop a photonic-based point-of-care device for a non-invasive diagnosis of Genitourinary Cancer (GU). The GLAM project which will expand for 4 years will involve the participation of 10 European organizations with resources and capabilities from the academia and scientific and business field, among them the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), located at PCB. 

 

The 14th edition of the Spend the Summer at the Park! starts Blog Post

The welcome ceremony to participants of the Spend the summer at the Park! program was held today, Wednesday, July 1. The aim of this initiative –organized annually by the Barcelona Science Park (PCB)– is to bring research closer to students of any university in the world through their participation in projects currently being carried out in research groups, research centers and companies based at the PCB.

Atrian Bakers’s bread Tritordeum, made with the new cereal Agrasys, nominated to the Carrefour Innovation Awards Blog Post

A new type of bread  produced by Atrian Bakers  and made with Tritordeum,  has been nominated for the 2015 Carrefour Innovation Awards. The new type of bread will be subjected to population vote until the 21st of June. Tritordeum cereal is the first man-made cereal without genetic modification suitable for human consumption. Developed in the late 70s by a group of scientists from the Institute for Sustainable Agriculture (IAS) of the Higher Council for Scientific Research (CSIC)), and after 30 years of research, Agrasys -a spin-off company based at the Barcelona Science Park, founded by researchers from the IAS and the industry, launched the new bread to the market in April 2013.

Genetic “editing” a new tool to fight inherited disease Blog Post

Researchers at the Hospital Clínic, IDIBAPS, the Hospital Sant Joan de Deu and the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC) have participated in a study, led by Dr. Juan Carlos Izpisúa Belmonte of the Gene Expression Laboratory at California’s Salk Institute, that uses molecular scissors to remove mitochondrial mutations in mouse eggs. In the study, published today in the journal Cell (doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2015.03.051), researchers developed a simple technique to eliminate mitochondrial mutations in eggs or embryos at an early stage of development.

Inveready enters biotech Agrasys after leading an increase of capital Blog Post

Inveready has invested 500,000 euros in the biotech Agrasys, based at the Parc Cientific de Barcelona, through its capital fund Inveready Invierte Biotech II.  With this contribution, the venture capital investment group has become owner of  a stake of the company, of which Uninvest, a management company, is also part of, after having joined the group in 2008, and which, on this occasion, has materialized its support -through its R & D  Unifondo fund-  entering the venture jointly with the development partners involved in the increase of capital.

 

Connexió Antàrtida: videoconferència entre la UB i la base antàrtica Gabriel de CastillaTO TRANSLATE >>> Blog Post

La Facultat de Biologia connectarà per videoconferència el proper dilluns, 20 de febrer, a les 11 hores, amb la base antàrtica Gabriel de Castilla, situada a l’illa Decepció, a l’arxipèlag de les Shetland del Sud (península Antàrtica), per fer balanç de la campanya científica Actiquim-II, que ha coordinat la professora Conxita Àvila, del Departament de Biologia Animal de la UB.La campanya científica Actiquim-II, la finalitat de la qual és estudiar el paper dels productes naturals d’origen marí en els ecosistemes de l’Antàrtida i valorar-ne el potencial farmacològic, ampliarà els treballs de recerca del projecte Actiquim engegat el 2007 per estudiar l’ecologia química d’invertebrats marins que viuen al fons del mar a l’Antàrtida, i en què participen investigadors del Parc Científic Barcelona (PCB) i de l’empresa PharmaMar, present al Parc a través de la Unitat Mixta PharmaMar – PCB..

El PCB organitza “Outbound Missions”, la primera jornada de formació del projecte ABCEuropeTO TRANSLATE >>> Blog Post

Ahir, dimarts 8 de novembre es va celebrar al Parc Científic Barcelona “Outbound Missions”, la primera jornada de formació que es desenvolupa en el marc del projecte ABCEurope. L’objectiu de l’acte – organitzat conjuntament pel PCB i el Parc Tecnològic de Heidelberg– va estar revelar les claus per dur a terme amb èxit una missió comercial integrada per petites i mitjanes empreses biotec.

Fernando Albericio guardonat per la Universitat de XileTO TRANSLATE >>> Blog Post

El 17 d’agost, en la Facultat de Ciències Químiques i Farmacèutiques de la Universitat de Xile, Fernando Albericio, director General del Parc Científic Barcelona (PCB), catedràtic de Química Orgànica de la Universitat de Barcelona i investigador principal de l’IRB Barcelona i va impartir la classe magistral: “Ciència Interdisciplinària i Interestamental: Nanotecnologia, un bon exemple”. Durant l’acte, que va reunir prop de 80 persones, el científic va ser guardonat per la seva destacada contribució al Doctorat en Ciències Farmacèutiques de la Universitat de Xile i al suport brindat al laboratori de Nanobiotecnología d’aquesta Facultat.