IRB Barcelona - InVivo 4 - October 2008

in vivo October 2008

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October 2008

Issue 04

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Issue 04

NEWSLETTER OF THE INSTITUTE FOR RESEARCH IN BIOMEDICINE

Lonely at the top To tackle the gender-gap head on, leading scientists and equality advocates from Spain, Europe and the US met at IRB Barcelona on July 21 for a hands-on working session with the local scientific community of female researchers in Barcelona.

New generation of students disembarks in IRB Barcelona

Good things happen when minds meet

This year's batch of PhD students arrived in Barcelona in September ready to step in the world of biomedical research in an IRB Barcelona laboratory. The young researchers soaked up an avalanche of data in a sixday introductory course to the Institute.

IRB Barcelona's group leaders and core facility heads met together for the very first time during the Group Leader and Core Facility Manager Retreat, held at the Hotel Montanya, located in the beautiful Montseny mountainside, on October 2-3.

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Faces to Names

Do you have acting skills?

Join the theater group currently being formed at IRB Barcelona. For more info, email theater@irbbarcelona.org.

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Alzheimer's research on the air

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Interview with IRB Barcelona PhD student Felipe Slebe (pictured) about his dual life as a scientist and a volunteer firefighter determined to save lives. He moved from Chile to IRB Barcelona in September to do his PhD on Lafora disease.

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Research below zero

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Scientist for three months

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Don't trust everything you hear ...

October 2008

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in vivo

Issue 04

(From left to right) The new group of PhD students at the six-day introductory course to the Institute in September and during one of the coffee breaks at

New generation of PhD students disembarks in IRB Barcelona The young researchers soaked up an avalanche of data in a five-day introductory course

N

o laptops, no Internet access, just a

a general overview of administrative proce-

The new generation of PhD students, anxious

bunch of notepads and concentrated

dures as well as a look at the PhD activities

to step in the real world of research in an IRB

faces immune to distractions. The new group

they will be involved in over the next four

Barcelona laboratory, also had a chance to get

of IRB Barcelona PhD students had a good

years. They also had training sessions on

some good advice from the masters before they

opportunity to get the knowledge and tools

safety management, biological and chemical

get rolling. “The closer you are to feeling frus-

they need to get off to a good start during

risks, intellectual property and heard about

trated 90% of the time the better you should

the introductory course to the Institute. The

the services provided by the IRB Barcelona

feel, as that means you're not doing predict-

course, held from September 16-23, included

Core Facilities.

able research but research of excellence,” said

VIEWPOINT

*What moved you to choose IRB Barcelona and Spain

Marc Duocastella (Spain)

Michael Goldflam (Germany)

Kader Cavusoglu (Turkey)

Structural & Comput. Biology Programme

Chemistry & Mol. Pharmacology Programme

Molecular Medicine Programme

“Some months ago I read a paper in Nature

“I first thought about applying for a PhD po-

“The only thing I knew for certain is that I

about the emerging power of Barcelona as a

sition in the US, but I changed my mind after

wanted to do my PhD in Europe to try some-

hot spot in biomedical research. I found the

thinking it through. Why Spain? I thought I

thing different. I was looking for a big metro-

idea of becoming a part of a scientific turning

could enjoy life better here — I prefer Eu-

politan city with a multicultural environment

point such as this one really stimulating and,

ropean cities! One of the main reasons I ap-

because this is what I was used to in Istanbul.

of course, knowing that it was occurring in

plied for my PhD here was the really good

And then I came across the IRB Barcelona call.

my city helped me take the step. So I decided

feedback I got from a friend of mine who had

The application process was pretty exhausting

to move back from Boston to the city where

been doing her postdoctoral research in IRB

— I had eight interviews with principal investi-

I grew up, and also to switch from chemis-

Barcelona. I like the atmosphere very much

gators in one day! —, but the results were defi-

try to bioinformatics. The change has been

here. People seem very cooperative and open

nitely worth it. I look forward to start working

pretty deep and, so far, extremely exciting.”

to interdisciplinary research.”

on cell signalling.”

October 2008

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in vivo

Issue 04

Good things happen when minds meet

W

Photo: S. Sherwood

hen it comes to finding out what's going on in the research labs

across an institute like IRB Barcelona and figuring out where common interests lie, IRB Barcelona.

there's nothing like a good old discussion around a really big table. IRB Barcelona's 27 group leaders and 6 core facility heads

IRB Barcelona Adjunct Director Joan Mas-

met together for the very first time dur-

sagué during his introductory address. The

ing the Group Leader and Core Facility

Institute's management wished them all the

Manager Retreat, held at the Hotel Mon-

best and encouraged the new students to

tanyà, located in the beautiful Montseny

make their research ideas happen.

mountainside an hour north of Barcelona,

Selected from a pool of more than 250

on October 2-3.

candidates, the new PhD students will spend

Their task was an ambitious one: for

up to four years doing their practical work

everyone to hear firsthand what their

toward their thesis in an IRB Barcelona

neighbours are doing and to carve out

laboratory. The young researchers are join-

paths to collaboration. Programme by

ing walks through the idyllic surroundings,

ing an established community of more than

programme, group leaders provided in-

or late-night table-football sessions in the

150 PhD students, which has not only been

sightful snapshots of their research proj-

hotel's lounge.

growing steadily but offers many possibilities

ects and future goals, ultimately painting a

“Retreats like this are fundamental when

for scientific interactions and social cohesion

broad picture of the exciting science hap-

trying to create a community of scientists

activities within IRB Barcelona.

pening at IRB Barcelona.

that have extraordinary potential to work

for your PhD?

IRB Barcelona group leaders and core facility managers during one of the working sessions.

Despite the packed schedule, as we

together to push the boundaries of science,”

know, all work and no play makes Jack (or

says IRB Barcelona principal investigator

Jordi or Maria) a dull boy (or girl). Time

Ramon Eritja. “It's a welcome initiative that

was set aside for chit-chats over coffee,

is sure to lead to real developments and we

lively conversation over dinner, refresh-

look forward to making the best of it.”

The Princess of Asturias hands AECC grant to Roger Gomis for cancer research Milica Pavlovic (Serbia) Oncology Programme

M

etLab managing director Roger Gomis flew to La Coruña on Sep-

“Choosing a lab to do your PhD is not an

tember 18 to receive a grant for cancer re-

easy task, especially when you decide to get

search from the Princess of Asturias, Letiz-

your degree abroad. You have to choose not

ia Ortiz, who presided the award ceremony

only a lab and a project, but the whole new

of the Spanish Association Against Cancer

environment where you want to spend the

(AECC). IRB Barcelona was among the

next few years of your life. Here I've found

only four centers in Spain to be awarded

what I was looking for. A city of bright

a grant by the AECC, and will conduct re-

architectural and artistic qualities full of

search into the metastasis of breast cancer

research opportunities in one of the most

to the lung. The AECC will fund Gomis

interesting countries worldwide regarding

with 300,000 euros over three years.

literature, customs, history and climate.”

(From left to right) The Princess (in white), Isabel Oriol Diaz de Bustamante and Francisco González-Robatto from the AECC, and Roger Gomis (middle right) posing for the group photo at the award ceremony. Photo: © AECC

October 2008

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in vivo

Issue 04

istry in Germany, a leading scientist and in-

After a passionate discussion, IRB Barcelona

ternationally renowned proponent of gender

director Joan J Guinovart presented the audi-

equality in science, maintained that it is of

ence with the challenge: to come up with a list

utmost important that the change begin with

of 10 commandments for women who want

f you take a look at into an average life sci-

public research organizations. This, she says,

to get and stay ahead in science. This is what

ences research laboratory at any of Spain's

should be achieved by these organizations

they came up with…

universities or research institutes you're sure

recognizing the imbalance and facilitating ac-

to see teams of young, motivated researchers,

cess and increasing the presence of women in

hard at work on their experiments. Chances

top posts and in committees.

Lonely at the top

I

are, at least among the younger researchers,

Catherine Didion, Executive Director of

you'll see a roughly equal mix of men and

the Committee for Women in Science, Engi-

women. But as scientists advance in their ca-

neering and Medicine of the National Acad-

reers, the number of female researchers be-

emies of the United States, maintained that to

gins to dwindle. Recent statistics show that

be recognized as a scientist it is not enough

of those holding PhDs in science in Spain,

to work well but women must position and

more than half are women (53% vs. 47%).

promote themselves at a personal level. She advised that wom-

top positions, however,

en scientists estab-

Photos: J. Pareto

Of those who reach only 17% are female.

It is no surprise that women leave science in

both vertical and

higher numbers during

their strict field of

the later stages of their

work, and find a

academic career. Factors

good mentor who

such as starting a family,

can serve as a guide

adjusting their own ca-

and defend their

reers to suit their part-

work.

ners or competition for

Capitolina

research grants and fel-

Díaz, experienced

lowships represent real

sociologist and rethe Spanish Per-

for women. And though a number of intia-

manent Representation to the European

tives at the national and European level have

Union, advocated introducing support mea-

made some headway in bridging the gender

sures to facilitate the reconciliation of fam-

gap, the problem persists.

ily and professional life, such as introducing

To tackle the gender-gap head on, leading

a ‘tenure clock-stop,’ which would ensure

scientists and equality advocates from Spain,

that institutions do not consider the mater-

Europe and the US met at IRB Barcelona on

nity leave taken when evaluating a scientist's

July 21 for a hands-on working session with

curriculum.

the local scientific community of female re-

María Luisa Lois, a 37-year-old investi-

searchers in Barcelona. The event, ‘From

gator at Barcelona's Research Centre on Ag-

woman to woman: Practical advice on how to

ricultural Genomics, provided a case-study

get and stay ahead in science,’ was part of the

example that motherhood and excellence in

Barcelona Biomed Forum series organized

science are compatible. Mother of a 3-year-

by IRB Barcelona in collaboration with the

old, she recently received a prestigious ERC

BBVA Foundation.

Starting Grant that will allow her to set up

Speaker Mary Osborn, researcher at the

II.

Develop the attitude of a life-long learner and acquire new skills and knowledge as your responsibilities and interests dictate. Widen your horizons regarding professional opportunities in science. Create your own opportunities.

III.

Move, gain experience abroad and work with other scientists. Don't stay glued to one spot.

IV.

Find a good mentor (or more than one) to guide and advise you and to promote your professional career. Do the same for others.

V.

Forge a solid network of contacts and nurture them. Join societies and associations.

VI.

Put yourself in the running. Consistently apply for grants and project funds, locally and internationally.

VII.

Trust yourself and take risks. Develop core strength and learn to say ‘no’.

search adviser in

advancement in science

Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chem-

Plan the next step in your career and prepare yourself for it. Don’t waste time – learn to optimize it. Finish your degree on schedule.

series of contacts, horizontal, outside

Speaker Catherine Didion (top) and participants (bottom) during the Forum at IRB Barcelona.

I.

lish and maintain a

disproportionately

impediments for career

Ten commandments to get and stay ahead in science

her own laboratory to continue her research into plant molecular biology.

04

VIII. Develop your professional image and promote it. You may be a genius inside your own lab but that won't help you much if nobody knows about it.

Learn how to transmit your message effectively and be aware of who your audience is.

IX.

Be honest about your personal and professional goals. Know what you value. Periodically weigh these factors and make your decisions deliberately.

X.

Make a good choice of the institute in which you wish to work, and find a partner who accepts and supports your career and ambitions. If one or both don't work out, consider changing them!

S. Sherwood / S. Armengou

October 2008

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in vivo

Issue 04

IRB Barcelona at ESOF2008: Science for a better life

Photos: © ESOF (From top to bottom) IRB Barcelona director at the informal debate on science policy, staff attending visitors at the exhibition stand, a woman looking at her brain thanks to a special helmet, and curious kids checking out one of the outreach activities at ESOF.

B

arcelona has long been known as a

activities provided ample opportunity

city of tourism, business and cul-

for attendees to learn about current re-

ture. But with the major investments

search trends, and to discuss and even

that the city has made in the cultivation

influence the future of research and in-

of its scientifi c resources, Barcelona is

novation in Europe.

fast gaining recognition as a major Eu-

IRB Barcelona made sure they

ropean city of science. More than 4,000

joined in on the fun and participated

scientists, policy makers, funding bod-

in ESOF2008 in a variety of ways. IRB

ies, business executives, communica-

Barcelona scientists were involved in

tors, educators and people simply in-

sessions on women in science as well

terested in science from 63 countries

as career development. The communi-

got to experience this fi rst hand as they

cations staff was on hand with the IRB

arrived in Barcelona for the EuroSci-

Barcelona exhibition stand to answer

ence Open Forum (ESOF2008), held on

questions from interested scientists and

July 18-22.

prospective students, and IRB Barce-

The event, the third in the series or-

lona director Joan J Guinovart fi elded

ganized by the grass-roots society Eu-

questions about current science policy

roScience following events in Stockholm

informally over glasses of beer. Several

in 2004 and Munich in 2006, aimed to

IRB Barcelona volunteers were also to

provide a strong and visible showcase

be seen running around in the back-

for what is happening in science in Eu-

ground helping out with the organiza-

rope today, and also to serve as an im-

tion of the event.

portant platform to address challenging issues.

After all was said and done, the event was deemed to be a great success.

Scientific sessions, business and career programmes, plus a variety of outreach

Watch out for ESOF2010, to be held in Turin, Italy.

A

Photo: © Quèquicom

Alzheimer's research on the air local TV station cameraman and a re-

what moved them to participate?

porter recently spent a few days at IRB

“We didn't want to miss the op-

Barcelona following principal investigator

portunity to explain to a broader

Ernest Giralt and research associate Natàlia

audience what our research on Al-

Carulla's every move. The reason? They

zheimer's here at the lab is trying

were filming footage for a TV programme

to achieve,” explains Carulla. “The

about Alzheimer's disease involving several

challenge was to make our work

ic and trigger cell death in Alzheimer's, and to

research institutes in Barcelona, and the for-

understandable to the general public, and to

design inhibitors to prevent further aggrega-

mer president of Catalonia, Pasqual Maragall,

make it clear that it will be several years be-

tion. Asked about what motivates them the

who was recently diagnosed with this devas-

fore research efforts in Alzheimer's disease

most in their research, their answer is clear:

tating disease.

can be applied to patients,” adds Giralt.

“To know that we're contributing to unrav-

Ernest Giralt and Natàlia Carulla during the TV program Quèquicom broadcast on Channel 33.

Believe it or not, both IRB Barcelona sci-

The group is trying to find answers to

entists turned out to be natural actors. But

why amyloid protein aggregates become tox-

05

elling the complexity of a disease that affects millions of people worldwide.”

October 2008

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in vivo

Issue 04

Research below zero

FACES TO NAMES

I

Felipe Slebe. PhD student, IRB Barcelona group on metabolic

RB Barcelona principal investigator Cayetano González recently spent

two months freezing in the Antarctica while ice-fishing for indigenous cod species with a team of eight international researchers. Their sudden interest in fishing was no mere hobby, but part of a planned expedition to obtain samples for research in the northern region of

engineering and diabetes therapy

“I've never been afraid because I know where my limits are”

the Antarctica. Their mission: to study the unique molecular mechanisms of several fish species that have adapted to

ANNA ALSINA

survive in frozen waters.

The team of international scientists, headed by William Dietrich from North Eastern University, arrived in

Photo: C. González

Biochemist Felipe Slebe (Chile, 1981) has a dual personality. He's been using his lab coat as much as his fireman uniform for the past eight years. He admits having withdrawal symptoms because he hasn't been able to put any fires out since he moved for work to IRB Barcelona in September, but he's found a solution to overcome his dependence on fire: Working remotely on the organization of a workshop for firefighters scheduled to take place next year in Valdivia, his hometown.

Felipe Slebe (right) with two other firemen in front of a house in flames during one of the training sessions.

to be a good exercise in teamwork. “We

- Where were you when the Faculty of Sci- What kind of memories as a fireman can't ences at the Austral University of Chile in you get out of your head?

Valdivia was burned?

“I think pretty much all of them will stay for- “I was in charge of the firefighters who put ever. I've come across all sort of situations, the fire out that morning! I remember being from small fires easy to put out, to big fires shocked when we arrived at the faculty and out of control involving explosions and flame saw the second, third and fourth floors of the propagation to other buildings. I've been to building burning out of control. I got really major car accidents for vehicle rescue too, upset about the safety of my team ... I'll never and successfully saved lives, but I've also seen get this memory out of my head.” people die from respiratory arrest while we - A recent survey showed that being a firewere trying to keep them alive.” man is one of the most respected profes- Have you ever been afraid? sions in Europe ...

“I get nervous when my adrenaline bursts in “I guess people appreciate what we do beextreme situations, but I've never been afraid cause of the high level of risk involved in our because I know where my limits are and work. It definitely gets people's attention to how far I can go without crossing the point see others willing to put their life in danger of no return.” for someone they don't even know. Espe-

spent two consecutive months com-

- Would you cross the rubicon for a loved one?

Several research team members rowing toward the Laurence M. Gould ship.

the Antarctic research station in April breaking through ice on board of the Laurence M. Gould, a 70-meter ship operated by the US National Science Foundation and equipped with major research platforms. Once there, their routine was to jump back in the ship and spend hours fishing for notothenioid antarctic fishes, which would then be dissected to undergo tubulin and centrosome purification. Life on the ice in the Antarctic research station proved

pletely isolated from society, living a cooperative lifestyle,” says González, who flew back to IRB Barcelona with boxes full of purified centrosomes for further study in the lab.

“I would act the same way to save a loved one and a person I didn't know. I would do whatever it takes if I knew I could be of any help, but risking your life when nothing can be done is useless. This profession forces us to be responsible with ourselves too.”

06

cially in Chile, where all the firefighters are volunteers who work for free.”

- Would you swap science for firefighting?

“I just want to keep my dual life like it is — I enjoy science as much as firefighting. I'm impatient to start working on Lafora disease here, but I'll never give up my other side.”

October 2008

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in vivo

Issue 04

An indelible contribution

Photo: © Gencat

IN BRIEF A visit from New Zealand New Zealand's Ambassador to Spain Geoffrey Wa r d , D e p u t y Vice-chancellor for research of the University of Otago Geoff White, and New Zealander senior researcher Elisabeth Poley, paid a special visit to IRB Barcelona on September 2nd to get insight into research in Spain. The meeting was part of an organized series of visits to research institutions in Barcelona and Madrid.

Editors in organic synthesis IRB Barcelona principal investigator Fernando Albericio and postdoctoral researcher Judit Tulla have been working extra hours in the past months to edit the more than 350 pages of an everythingyou-need-to-know book for chemists and biochemists about solid-phase synthesis. The publication, entitled ‘The power of functional resins in organic synthesis’, was released by Wiley-VCH this past August.

O

ne of the driving forces behind IRB Barcelona, José Jerónimo Navas Pala-

cios, has recently accepted the Spanish gov-

Navas in his office in Barcelona prior to his appointment as General Director of ISCIII.

ernment's invitation to pack up and move to Madrid to take up the role of General Direc-

a key role in developing national research of

tor at the Carlos III Health Institute (ISCIII),

the highest quality,” says Margarida Coromi-

a public institution in charge of promoting

nas, IRB Barcelona Managing Director.

and monitoring biomedical and health sciences research in Spain.

During his career, Navas (1948) has served as Director of the Research Centres

His years of dedication to IRB Barcelona

Programme of the Department of Health of

as president of the Executive Board and mem-

the Catalan Government, as Scientific Direc-

ber of the Board of Trustees have made Na-

tor of the Catalan Institute of Health, and as

vas a key figure in shaping the Institute's stra-

Medical Director of the Germans Trias i Pu-

tegic directions, even before its foundation.

jol Hospital. He has published more than 200

“His professionalism and effective guidance

scientific papers in structural pathology, im-

will be sorely missed, but we're proud he's

munopathology, molecular biology of cancer

been chosen to lead an institution that plays

and health management.

Scientist for three months

W

ould you trade your summer vacation

says. “With Drosophila you don't have to

for full-time working days in an IRB

wait one or two years to get good results. It's

Barcelona laboratory? Daniel Olivieri (Italy,

much quicker than with mice, which makes

1985) didn't have second thoughts when the

it a great model for basic research.”

Barcelona Science Park (PCB) granted him

Olivieri's research project turned out to

a three-month internship in Marco Milán's

be so outstanding that the organizers of this

Development and Growth Control Labo-

annual internship program, ‘Spend the Sum-

ratory to work on

mer at the Park’,

a project involv-

chose him along

IRB Barcelona packed up their exhibition stand and boxes of brochures and headed to Bilbao to attend the 31st Congress of the Spanish Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (SEBBM), held on September 10-13 in Bilbao. This year, PhD student Nina Görner (pictured right) kindly volunteered to help answer questions from researchers that stopped by the stand during the event.

ing the analysis of

Photo: R. Deamo

IRB Barcelona goes to Bilbao

microRNAs in the fruit fly.

Olivieri, who's

with two other graduate students to

present

his

work in front of

currently studying a

all the program

Master's in biotech-

participants dur-

nology, had never

ing the closing

worked with Droso-

session, held at the Olivieri during his final presentation at the PCB.

phila before, but he enjoyed it so much

PCB on September 25. Olivieri

that now he wants to make it his career path.

went back to Italy with a one-year free sub-

It makes you wonder how a tiny fly can leave

scription to Nature as a reward for his effort

such a mark ... “I just felt in love with it!” he

in presenting his work.

07

October 2008

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in vivo

Issue 04

SPOTLIGHT Don't trust everything you hear ...

I

f you tend to trust every word that comes out of a speaker's mouth, you should pay a visit to Ken Dev, a visiting professor invited to IRB Barcelona by group leader Fernando Albericio, and ask him about the biweekly brainstorming sessions he runs. The activity is mostly for PhD students and postdocs, but is open to anyone.

- What's your basic message to students in these sessions?

“Mainly to stop trusting everything they hear and start challenging certain assumptions. The idea is to generate discussion and to get the fear of asking questions out of their system. I've even seen undergraduates questioning members of the National Academy in sessions at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology! It's a fact that if you can't question things, you'll never progress in science.”

Ken Dev (left) during the 10th brainstorming session at IRB Barcelona. Photo: A. Alsina

NEW AT IRB BARCELONA Xavier Salvatella (Spain, 1972) has returned to his hometown after more than five years at the University of Cambridge to start and run the Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics within the Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology Programme. Although he's been really busy recruiting postdoctoral fellows and setting up the lab, his group has somehow found the time to start producing scientific results before landing in IRB Barcelona. Granted degrees in chemistry by the universities of Barcelona and London, his goal as principal investigator will be to develop methods to explore the fluctuations of protein structures and to understand how these changes relate to the molecular recognition of proteins, their function and disease.

Julien Colombelli (France, 1977) has recently moved to IRB Barcelona from the European Molecular Biology Laboratory in Heidelberg, where he has worked for six years in the Light Microscopy group. A physicist and engineer by training, he's been hired to run the newly created Advanced Light Microscopy Core Facility, which will provide a wide range of light microscopy imaging techniques to researchers within the Institute. He chose Barcelona as his next working destination moved by a mix of professional and personal reasons.

Yolanda Olmos (Spain, 1967) is the person you should definitely contact when you have questions about purchasing. She left her previous position at the Official College of Doctors of Barcelona to join IRB Barcelona as the new head of purchasing, mainly because she was convinced that her work would be stimulating and challenging. Yolanda carries more than fifteen years of experience working in purchasing for the biotech and medical sectors. Her primary responsibilities are to oversee all the steps of the purchasing process and make sure everything runs smoothly.

- How are the sessions run?

“The participants can interrupt the speaker to ask questions any time they get lost or are not able to follow the presentation. They don't have to wait until the talk is over.”

- How does the speaker react to interruptions?

“They know questioning is a natural part of science, so they are not defensive when someone interrupts them. In fact, a PhD student recently told me that he had found one of the talks very useful during a poster presentation he had to give in Finland. Apparently someone in the audience asked him the same question he had raised in one of the brainstorming sessions, so he was able to answer right away without hesitation. If he hadn't attended the session he wouldn't have been able to react that quickly.”

Adriana Grosu (Romania, 1977) is the new European Projects officer at IRB Barcelona. A lawyer by training, her working experience in project management goes back to Romania, where she helped monitor the first competitive grants received from the United States Agency for International Development to boost the business sector in her country. She's been buried in paperwork since she started, and is now working hard on preparing the implementation strategy for the two new European projects IRB Barcelona has just been granted.

COMING SOON Welcome party to open academic year. October 16, 2008 Save the date! IRB Barcelona Christmas Party. December 17, 2008

Published by the Institute for Research in Biomedicine. Office of Communications & External Relations. Parc Científic de Barcelona. Baldiri Reixac, 10. 08028 Barcelona, Spain. www.irbbarcelona.org Editor: Anna Alsina. Associate Editor: Sarah Sherwood. Contributor: Sònia Armengou. Design: Aymerich Comunicació. Printing: La Trama. Legal deposit: B-30893-2008. © IRB Barcelona 2008

www.irbbarcelona.org