In Vivo 13 by IRB Barcelona

in vivo January 2011

Issue 13

NEWSLETTER OF THE INSTITUTE FOR RESEARCH IN BIOMEDICINE

Researchers unravel a crucial mechanism involved in brain tumor growth The team prevents tumors from growing in the fruit fly IRB Barcelona PhD student Ana

Researchers in the Cell Division

brain tumors. The results of this

Janic and group leader Cayetano

Laboratory not only discovered

finding got the attention of the

González (pictured) recently

a set of genes that is crucial for

prestigious journal Science, which

found a way to prevent tumor

cancer growth, but found out

published the scientific details of

growth in the brain of the fruit

that silencing of a few of these

this discovery in December. Read

fly, Drosophila Melanogaster.

genes led to the disappearance of

the full story on page 2.

On the Spot

❝

We only invite revisions of papers we are highly certain will be accepted❞

New strategies to combat a male disease The Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics received over 397,000 euros€in October to explore new ways of understanding Kennedy’s disease, an inherited rare pathology that affects men only and that causes

Interview with Thomas Schwarz, scientific editor of The EMBO Journal. Page 4

A new program to import talent

Science Bites

muscle weakness throughout the body. Story on page 2.

Omnia closes a new round of funding

Faces to Names: Interview with Raúl Méndez

IN FOCUS

Researchers unravel a crucial mechanism involved in brain tumor growth

A new program

ostdoctoral fellows are one of the driving forces in laboratories around the world. With

this in mind, IRB Barcelona opened in December the first call of its newly launched International Postdoctoral Programme, which will offer a total of 18 fellowships to highly qualified

The team prevents tumors from growing in the fruit fly

postdoctoral researchers over the next four years. The fellowships will be co-financed by the Cofund Programme, a Marie

Curie Action initiative included in the

s if taken from a science fiction novel, researchers at the IRB Barcelona Cell Division Laboratory recently found a way to prevent tumor growth in the brain of the fruit fly, Drosophila Melanogaster. The research team, led by Cayetano González, not only discovered a set of genes that are crucial for cancer

growth, but found out that silencing of a few of these genes led to the disappearance of brain tumors. The results of this finding got the attention of the prestigious journal Science, which published the scientific details of this discovery in December.

European Commission’s 7th Framework Programme and with an allocated budget of 75 million euros. “One of the main objectives of the IRB Barcelona International Postdoctoral Programme is to promote mobility and interdisciplinary research of excellence within an international environment,” says Jorge Domínguez, Acting Head of the Institute’s Research and

“Tumor cells in the brain activate a total

ing proteins that are normally expressed in

of 102 genes that are not present in healthy

germline cells. “Our results show that some

cells,” explains Ana Janic, first author of the

brain tumors in Drosophila Melanogaster are

study and PhD student in the Cell Division

mimicking the genetic program of germline

Laboratory. After obtaining this figure thanks

cells to be able to grow,” says group leader

to DNA chip technology and gene expression

Cayetano González and senior author of this

analysis, the lab embarked on a quest to prove

research paper.

whether some of these 102 genes played a key role in tumor growth. “We discovered that the removal of four of the genes present in cancer cells made brain tumors disappear in the fruit fly,” says Janic. “This finding

the removal of four of the genes present in cancer cells made brain tumors disappear in the fruit fly❞

demonstrates that these

New strategies

that can be passed on to off-

spring. They have the potential

standing Kennedy’s disease, an inherited

to reproduce indefinitely, and

rare pathology that affects men only and

are essentially immortal.

that causes muscle weakness and atrophy

Germline cells are those,

❝We discovered that

Academic Administration Department.

such as sperm or egg cells, which contain genetic material

There’s still a long way to go to translate these findings into tangible results for pa-

he IRB Barcelona Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics received over 397,000 euros€of funding in

October to explore new ways of under-

throughout the body. Funded by the La Marató de TV3 Foundation and coordinated by IRB

four genes play a crucial role in tumor devel-

tients, but one potential diagnostic approach

Barcelona group leader Xavier Salvatella,

opment in the brain.”

in the years ahead would be to use some of

the project will be carried out in collabo-

the proteins produced by these cancer-cell

ration with the University of Cambridge

Mimicking germline cells

genes as tumor cell markers to develop vac-

and the Institute of Biomedicine of the

When researchers examined the functions of

cines against brain tumors. In the short run,

University of Barcelona.

the 102 genes present in brain tumors to learn

the results of this study will help the scientific

what made them more active, they discovered

community to open up the way for new lines

son’s, Kennedy’s disease has its origin in

that as many as 25% of these genes - includ-

of research aimed at developing new strategies

the development of protein aggregates.

ing the four crucial ones - were express-

to treat this devastating disease.

These aggregates accumulate in motor

in vivo

January 2011

| Issue 13

Just like Alzheimer’s and Parkin-

SCIENCE BITES

to import talent

➲

The first call of the programme,

What makes some breast cancer tumors more aggressive than others? Scientists in the IRB Barcelona Growth Control and Cancer Metastasis Laboratory (MetLab) have recently discovered a key mechanism involved in breast cancer, a disease that kills over 500,000 women every year worldwide. The lab’s research results, published in the journal Cancer Research in November, show that the strength behind the most aggressive forms of breast cancer lies in a large number of Her2 proteins which have managed to bypass the cellular mechanisms that protect cells from excessive growth and turn them to their advantage.

which closes on February 15, will grant eight two-year postdoctoral fellowships in 2011. The second call, scheduled for 2012, will grant a

further ten fellowships by 2014. After the deadline closes in February, candidates will

➲

be evaluated by an tion committee. In addition to the IRB Barcelona International Postdoctoral Programme, the

Institute is supported by “la Caixa”

dents from around the world who

International PhD Programme, which

wish to undertake their doctoral

provides for highly motivated stu-

thesis at the Institute.

to combat a male disease

➲

more than a meter long and are in charge of contracting muscles to produce movement. “Our goal will be to study the nature of the androgen, or

A. ALSINA

known about them - and

PHOTO:

aggregates - very little is to understand the reasons why these cause motor neuron death,” explains

curable condition include difficulty in

Salvatella. The results of this three-year

chewing and moving the limbs. When

project could offer new clues to devel-

the disease progresses, patients are af-

oping drugs to treat the disease.

flicted with profound muscle weakness

Men suffering from Kennedy’s disease see their quality of life greatly reduced. Initial symptoms of this in-

which impairs their daily life.

NAHIA BARBERÍA

Interactions against Alzheimer’s

Through a complex analysis of thousands of proteins, researchers in Patrick Aloy’s group have recently discovered 200 new interactions between proteins that may be involved in the development of Alzheimer’s disease. The results reveal new molecular and functional data that could help researchers gain a better understanding of this form of dementia. Published in the journal Genome Research in December, the work was part of an ongoing collaboration with the Barcelona Supercomputing Center, where the computational analysis of these interactions was performed.

neurons, which can be

The project led by Salvatella (right), entitled ‘Identification of the androgen receptor aggregates that cause Kennedy’s disease’, was selected out of more than 280 proposals.

Orchestrating organ size

Establishing the correct size and proportions that organs must have in the body is a vital step during embryonic development to ensure life. But, what are the elements behind this highly coordinated miracle of science? Through experiments in the fruit fly, researchers in Marco Milan’s group at IRB Barcelona have discovered that p53, a protein widely known for its capacity to suppress tumors, is the main orchestrator in coordinating the growth and proportions of organs during embryonic development. The discovery was published in the journal PLoS Biology in December.

international selec-

male hormone, receptor

New insight into the breast cancer machinery

➲

Paper of the week

The latest research study carried out in Lluís Ribas de Pouplana’s group, the first author of which was PhD student Tanit Guitart, was chosen ‘Paper of the Week’ in the December issue of the Journal of Biological Chemistry. The finding that earned this recognition was a new protein called SLIMP, which the group proved to be critical for the maintenance of mitochondria, the cellular ‘powerhouses’. Their results show that the removal of SLIMP in the fruit fly leads to aberrant mitochondria, loss of metabolic capacity and even death.

in vivo

January 2011

| Issue 13

Omnia closes a new round of financing

Taking time to

Pouplana, closed a round of funding with

‘Caixa Capital Risc’ worth 2.1 million euros

tion. In spite of busy schedules, however,

in November.

it is often worthwhile to take a few hours

he biotech spin-off Omnia Molecular, founded by IRB Barcelona group leader Lluís Ribas de

The objective of this new investment

efficacy in animal models has been proved,

easier in the long run. This winter, IRB

pharmaceutical industry. If things work as planned, the company will start clinical trials in humans by 2014.

gic partners, held two courses to help researchers fine tune their science writing and communication skills. As any researcher knows, getting

MB HANSEN

for co-development with partners from the

Barcelona, in collaboration with strateThe new round of financing has brought new faces into the management team of Omnia Molecular. Raphael Klingmann, with twenty years of international management experience in the pharmaceutical industry, was recently appointed new Chief Executive Officer. Lluís Ribas de Pouplana (pictured) is now serving as Chief Scientific Officer.

PHOTO:

some of these compounds will be available

minute experiments done and

out to develop skills that will make things

will be to back the development of the enter pre-clinical trials in 2012. Once their

means a frantic race to get last-

papers written and submitted for publica-

effort by the risk capital section of ‘la Caixa’ company’s most promising antibiotics and

ear’s end in the lab usually

published is crucial for success, and one of the most important skills that a successful scientist must master is the ability to write about their research clearly, concisely and

Since its foundation in 2005, Omnia Mo-

form to detect not only antibiotic activity but

effectively. Often, however, researchers

lecular has devoted its research efforts to the

also the potential toxicity of new compounds,

have little time to dedicate to developing

discovery and development of new antibiot-

thereby accelerating the time from discovery

these essential skills. Biomedical science

ics. One of its main goals is to bring new and

to development of non-toxic drugs.

writer, editor and communications trainer

efficient non-toxic drugs to the market to fight

Omnia Molecular has been supported in

Jane Fraser, dropped by IRB Barcelona on

diseases while minimizing secondary effects.

its research endeavors by ‘Caixa Capital Risc’

December 15 to lead postdocs and pred-

The company has a proprietary screening plat-

since 2007.

ocs through some exercises to improve

ON THE SPOT Barcelona BioMed Seminar series

only invite revisions of papers we ❝We are highly certain will be accepted❞

hat are the main factors in a

ted. The EMBO Journal has pioneered what

scientific publisher’s decision to

we call the transparent review process in

accept or reject a paper? Thomas

that all relevant communication between

Schwarz, one of the six scientific editors of

author, editor and referees is made public as a

The EMBO Journal, was at IRB Barcelona on

supplementary file for each accepted paper.

Schwarz’s talk on the working habits of scientific publishing of the Barcelona BioMed Seminar Series.

November 11 to answer this question and offer

- What does that imply?

researchers further insight into the behind-the-

We are aware that every paper represents an

scenes process of scientific publishing.

investment of at least two or three years of

- How many paper submissions does The

work in a researcher’s life. Scientists have a

answers from scientists who show their ap-

EMBO Journal receive per year?

right to know why their paper has not been ac-

preciation about our comments. We’ve even seen

On average we get about 3,000 submissions.

cepted. For every single manuscript rejected we

researchers who have implemented our recom-

Narrowing this number down is definitely a

write a detailed letter to the authors explaining

mendations after rejection and eventually made it

complex task, mainly because we perform an

the scientific reasons why the paper cannot be

into the journal upon invited resubmission.

in-depth scrutiny of every single paper submit-

published. Sometimes we get very constructive

- What do you look for in a scientific paper?

in vivo

January 2011

| Issue 13

brush up on communication skills

Ten top tips for effective scientific writing ➲ by Jane Fraser Getting the basics right 1. Know your message and audience 2. Make a detailed plan 3. Write a draft, then revise 4. Simple sentences 5. Planned paragraphs

(From left to right) IRB Barcelona researchers Guiomar Solanas, Elisa Espinet and Santiago Esteban during the Barcelona BioMed Workshop ‘Effective Writing for Scientific Research’ held in December.

Perfecting your document 6. 7. 8. 9.

Edit for conciseness Edit for fluency Check for scientific accuracy Check for grammar, spelling and punctuation 10. Check for consistency

their writing skills in the Barcelona BioMed

end up making headlines. But how prepared

Workshop on Effective Writing for Scien-

are scientists to deal with the journalists calling

tific Research. The hands-on course helped

up them up to explain their findings? IRB Bar-

scientists develop strategies for the many steps

celona teamed up with AlphaGalileo, Europe’s

involved in getting published, from selecting

science and technology news platform, and the

an appropriate target journal for their paper,

Catalan Government’s Institució CERCA in

the press. The following day, he turned his

to planning the content for maximum impact,

the last week of November to offer a two-day

attention to the press officers working in the

writing clearly, concisely and persuasively,

course on how to work with the media. Com-

CERCA centers, giving them valuable tips on

avoiding common mistakes, and maximizing

munications specialist Myc Riggulsford was

how to work with both scientists and journal-

chances of publication and citation.

on hand to guide scientists from IRB Barce-

ists to maximize chances of getting the science

And once those scientific breakthroughs

lona and other local research centers through

at their institutes covered in the local and

get published in scientific journals, they could

the opportunities and pitfalls of working with

international media.

The main requirements a paper

ments of referees against each other and moni-

work will be published in the journal.

must have are a conceptual

tor their individual performance. We would

advance in the field and con-

get suspicious if one referee would always like

- What’s your advice for scientists when writ-

vincing levels of experimental

every submitted paper or conversely would

support that confirm the facts.

always turn negative. Further we have recently

If both condi-

implemented a

tions are met, then

system to cross-ref-

the next step is to send the paper to external referees for a full review of the experimental data. Initially the journal was part

rejects over 75% of

❝The main requirements

a paper must have are a conceptual advance in the field and convincing levels of experimental support that confirm the facts❞

all submitted work,

erence our referee reports before reaching an editorial decision. This allows our referees to comment on the reports of their peers within 24

and from those sent to peer

hours. Initial experience shows that it crystal-

review, about 50% are accepted.

lizes major issues of a given paper and adds

- How many referees does the

further to the transparency of our decisions.

journal have?

- How long does a scientist have to wait to know

The numbers are constantly changing, but over-

whether his or her paper will be accepted?

all we have about 10,000 names in the database.

We only invite revisions of papers that we’re

- How does the journal assess the perfor-

highly certain will be accepted for publication.

mance of reviewers?

So, if a scientist gets invited to revise his or her

We have a system in place to rank the com-

paper, that itself is a clear message that their

ing papers? Be concise, honest and realistic about your work. Always reference earlier work appropriately. Don’t try to oversell. The most important of all, focus on a simple but convincing story and don’t include too many side aspects in a paper that drive the reader away from the main facts. Some people think that to be convincing they have to include everything. It doesn’t work that way. Sometimes we’ve received huge papers with just too many lines of research that didn’t fit together. - Have you ever rejected a ‘big name’? It can be a bit scary when a paper authored by an eminent scientist lands on your desk, but even then there have been cases of research by

really big names that had to be rejected. Two of the strengths of The EMBO Journal are its scientific breadth and editorial independence.

ANNA ALSINA

in vivo

January 2011

| Issue 13

FACES TO NAMES

shows that if we inactivate this mechanism in pancreatic tumor cells grafted in mice, the tumors shrink dramatically.

Raúl Méndez. Group Leader, Translational Control

- Should pancreatic cancer patients be

of Cell Cycle and Differentiation Group

hopeful? Predicting when, or even if our results will have clinical impact is difficult,

❝

me think it may be a good target in

N. BARBERÍA

but there are two aspects that make

PHOTO:

We have promising results that demonstrate how the deregulation of messenger RNA translation contributes to tumor growth❞

the long run. First, the shrinking effects of tumors in mice have been spectacular. Second, the fact that this phenomena seems to be very specific for tumor cells could be a good strategy to develop therapies that target tumors without damaging healthy cells.

is excellence in scientific research

- Twenty per cent? Their role could then

and latest breakthroughs in molecu-

have implications in many diseases...

A lot of work still needs to be done though...

lar biology won him the prestigious

Definitely. Besides tumors and embryonic devel-

- It must be rewarding to see that your work

Carmen y Severo Ochoa national prize in

opment, it is already known that regulated trans-

can help improve people’s lives one day.

November. Raúl Méndez (Madrid, 1965) has

lation of these messenger RNAs participates

It’s definitely a strong motivation to know that

worked in top institutions across the globe, in-

in the learning process, memory and neuronal

our work is heading toward projects that could

cluding the Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, the

❝Up to 20% of the

Louisiana State University Medical Center, the University of Massachusetts, and the Centre for Genomic Regula-

genome is regulated by this messenger RNA translation mechanism❞

tion in Barcelona. He joined

synapses. We’re finding data

have direct clinical impact, especially coming

that indicate they also play an

from a background in basic research. But it

important role in metabolism.

may be a bit frustrating too.

We hope to unravel many

- Why?

functions and pathologies

Sometimes I receive emails from patients ask-

associated to the deregulation

ing questions about my research. They hope I

of these mechanisms. Cancer

may be able to help them... It’s very inspiring

IRB Barcelona in January to run the Transla-

and tumors will be a top priority for our group,

to get these kind of messages, but it’s also a bit

tional Control of Cell Cycle and Differentiation

but we will also explore other diseases.

frightening because you know that the expecta-

Group in the Molecular Medicine Programme.

- Where is your work on cancer heading now?

tions your research generates will take years to

- What are your research plans?

We have just obtained promising results, which

translate into new treatments, and the patient

We’ll continue our work on a mechanism of

should be released shortly, that demonstrate how

writing to you likely won’t be able to benefit

translational regulation of messenger RNAs

the deregulation of messenger RNA transla-

from these.

that, by the end of the past century, was found

tion contributes to tumor growth. Our work - a

to be essential for embryonic development in

collaboration with groups at IMIM and CNIO -

ANNA ALSINA

vertebrates. Now this mechanism to control the expression of genes is proving to be much more extensively used, even in the adult organism. - Your work on messenger RNAs resulted in three consecutive publications in Nature, Cell and Nature Cell Biology in 2008. What happened that year? We did a very detailed analysis of how this mechanism of translation regulation directs the expression of proteins in time and space and deciphered the code of how this information is stored in the messenger RNA. Later, in 2010, we proved for the first time that all these concepts, besides being essential for embryonic development, also play a key role in the adult organism by controlling cell division processes, and now we are expanding its function to programmed cell death and even cell differentiation. Altogether, we demonstrated that up to 20% of the genome is regulated by this specific messenger RNA translation mechanism.

in vivo

January 2011

| Issue 13

IN BRIEF Shower of awards

Chemistry editors

member of the Institute for Catalan Studies

November 12, when the manuscript on

on December 13. Also in recognition of his

protein interactions they had been editing

scientific career, adjunct director Joan Mas-

for months was published by Wiley. The

sagué received the Gold Medal Award of the

book, entitled Protein Surface Recognition:

Queen Sofia Spanish Institute on November

Approaches for Drug Discovery, provides

19. Both directors were also appointed mem-

new perspectives on the design of molecu-

bers of the Council of Notables of University

lar therapeutics, as well as theoretical and

of Barcelona Alumni on November 3 and

practical information for researchers inter-

were named among the 500 most influential

ested in exploiting this emerging paradigm

Spaniards by El Mundo newspaper.

in drug discovery.

irector Joan Guinovart joined the Catalan Royal Academy of Phar-

macy on November 3 and was elected new

hemistry group leaders at IRB Barcelona Ernest Giralt and Xavier

Salvatella saw their efforts pay off on

NEWS FROM THE PARK

There’s still a glass ceiling to break through her speech that

but they still need to advance a lot

motherhood had

more.” This was one of the conclu-

greatly affected her

(From left to right) Alícia Casals, Maria Casado, Mercè Piqueras (moderator), Conxita Solans and Isabel Cacho during the roundtable discussion held at the PCB on December 14.

sions provided by Maria Terrades, Manager of

work. “Becoming

the Barcelona Science Park (PCB), that emerged

both a scientist

from the roundtable ‘Women, Science and

and a mother was

Society: Breaking the Glass Ceiling?’.

a very hard decision because I knew I would

tion for Science and Technology (FECYT), the

have to put a lot of extra hours to be good in

Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation

both areas.”

(MICINN) and the Network Unit of Science

The event, held on December 14 at the PCB, was organized with the collaboration of the Catalan Association of Scientific Communication (ACCC) as part of the exhibition ‘16 Catalan Women Scientists’ and was

Alicia Casals, engineer at the Institute for

Piqueras, president of the ACCC. Maria Casado, from the Bioethics

Culture (UCC+i).

Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), explained

❝Becoming a scientist and

moderated by Mercè

a mother was a very hard decision because I knew I would have to put a lot of extra hours to be good in both areas❞

TORÁN

omen have made great progress,

PHOTO: R.

❝W

RAÜL TORÁN (ACCC)

that back when she was studying, she was “the only woman in class at the faculty” and even now she is still the only woman in the scientific committees

IRB Barcelona raises funds for children in need

she belongs to. This roundtable

and Law Observatory, raised during the session a key question to the

was framed within the exhibition ‘16 Catalan

audience aimed to encourage debate: “How is

Women Scientists’, an initiative open to the

it possible that women are still so poorly rep-

general public from December 2 to the 22 in the

resented in management positions in research

R+D+i Towers of the PCB.

centres when more than half of the science graduates today are women?”

The exhibition was organized by the ACCC, in collaboration with the Department of Innovation, Universities and Enterprise of

Short talks at EMBL

Being a postdoc in Barcelona

he research carried out by young PhD students got the attention of their

counterparts at the European Molecular

ncology expert and IRB Barcelona group leader Angel Ne-

breda traveled to Vienna on December

During the Holiday party, new PhD recruits won extra prizes thanks to the Catalan ‘Caga Tió’ tradition.

N. BARBERÍA

the Catalan government, the Spanish Founda-

PHOTO:

Geologist Isabel Cacho, from the University of Barcelona (UB), admitted during

highlight of this year’s IRB Barcelona Holiday party, held on December 16, was a charity raffle to once

again raise funds for the ‘Casal dels Infants del Raval’, a Catalan organization that strives

Biology Laboratory. IRB Barcelona PhD

10 to present his latest research work

students Sabine Klischies, Jordi Lanuza and

at the Signalling Cancer Symposium.

Laura Mendieta were chosen to give three

During the student-run event, he set

out of the ten short talks at the 12th EMBL

time aside to attend a special session

PhD Student Symposium, held in Heidel-

called Being postdoc in... and offer

berg in October. The three students are

young researchers insight into the ad-

members of the IRB Barcelona PhD Student

vantages of being a postdoctoral fellow

Symposium Committee, which is actively

in IRB Barcelona. Nebreda also shared

organizing the second PhD Student Sympo-

his impressions about what life is like

Leica, Merck Biosciences, Millipore, Olympus,

sium, scheduled for November 2011.

for a scientist in Barcelona.

PMC Group, Sartorius, Satec, Sigma, Sudelab,

to improve the quality of life of children and families at risk of social exclusion. The raffle prizes - more than a hundred in total - were generously provided by the Institute’s suppliers Bechtle, BERCU, Bio-Rad, Bowling Pedralbes, Caixa Catalunya, Catalonia Hotels, Durviz, El Corte Inglés, Eppendorf, Fisher, IFR Consulting, Invitrogen, Izasa,

Tecan, UBK Seguros and VWR.

in vivo

January 2011

| Issue 13

NEW AT IRB BARCELONA Biologist Eulàlia Belloc (Spain, 1979) has recently joined IRB Barcelona as research associate in the newly created Translational Control of Cell Cycle and Differentiation Laboratory, run by researcher Raúl Méndez. After

SPOTLIGHT Hooked on Google Apps

doing a fellowship in the USA and working at the Centre of Regenerative Medicine in Barcelona, she has come back to the group where she did her PhD. Eulàlia is going to develop her own research project, which is going to be linked to translational regulation. Since the lab is going to use frog oocytes for their research, don’t be surprised if you suddenly find a frog around the Barcelona Science Park.

Daniel Byrom (England, 1987) is the lucky guy who won the Wii console in the IRB Barcelona Holiday raffle. He

IRB Barcelona and Google’s pioneering partnership has led to the implementation of IT solutions to organizations throughout Spain.

has recently started working as a technician in Antoni Riera’s lab and is responsible for producing large amounts of starting material for the PhD students within the group. He is from North Yorkshire and came to Barcelona in September after completing a Master’s degree in green chemistry at the Imperial College of London. He likes the city very much, especially the idea of being so close to the beach and less than two hours from ski bases. In his short time here, besides winning a Wii, he has also won some money at the national lottery. Barcelona could be his lucky town.

n 2006, IRB Barcelona became one of the first organizations in Spain to channel its email services through Google. Today, millions of

companies in Spain and throughout the world rely on Google for a range of applications to support their day-to-day operations. In November, the Internet’s most famous company invited Head of IT

The main goals of his postdoc in Carme Caelles’ laboratory will be to study glucocorticoid resistance in a mouse model and to better understand the mechanism by which this type of steroid hormones induce cell cycle arrest. Johan Tisser-

and (France, 1982) comes from the Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire in Strasbourg, where he investigated the role of nuclear receptors regulation in liver cancer. Outside the lab, he likes to set aside his biochemical skills to play in Badminton competitions.

Services Francisco Lozano to their Google Enterprise Tour to tell of IRB Barcelona’s experience with Google Apps. - Traditionally, companies have kept their email services inhouse. Why the jump to Google for IRB Barcelona? We were a small organization and needed to make careful decisions on where to invest our resources. In-house solutions

❝IRB Barcelona

ON THE MOVE Margarita Alvira (Spain, 1981) recently moved to Stockholm to work as a postdoc in the Karolinska Institutet thanks to a Marie Curie fellowship. Margarita completed her

was among the first to become beta testers of Google Apps❞

PhD thesis in Ramon Eritja’s group at IRB Barcelona, where she synthesized oligonucleotides to obtain novel DNA structures with therapeutic interest. Now, hosted by Roger Strömberg, she will continue to explore the promising applications of nucleic acids by working in a project on delivery of oligonucleotides into cells for gene therapy.

often require lots of infrastructure and staff. Google - which people had been trusting with their personal mail solutions - began offering test packages to organi-

zations. We jumped on board: IRB Barcelona was among the first to become beta testers of Google Apps. - What are the benefits for IRB Barcelona? Google’s experts that make sure we have a reliable

Anna on the move. After nearly four years at the helm of In Vivo, journalist and editor Anna Alsina (Spain, 1977) is wrapping up her final edition of IRB Barcelona’s newsletter. In February she will leave the Institute to take up a new position as Content Manager at the ESADE Law and Business Schools. We thank her for her valuable contributions to IRB Barcelona’s communications activities, congratulate her on her move and wish her well!

and secure email service that is integrated with other collaboration services like calendars, document sharing, mailing lists, which make it easier for our

scientists to work together. All these services are in continuous evolution where new features are being released every week.

NAHIA BARBERÍA

In vivo, issue 13. Published by the Institute for Research in Biomedicine. Office of Communications & External Relations. Barcelona Science Park. Baldiri Reixac, 10. 08028 Barcelona, Spain. www.irbbarcelona.org. Editor: Anna Alsina. Associate Editor: Sarah Sherwood. Contributors: Nahia Barbería, Raül Torán. Printing: Puresa. Graphic Production: La Trama. Legal deposit: B-2306-2011. This document has been printed on recycled paper. To subscribe or unsubscribe from in vivo email info@irbbarcelona.org. © IRB Barcelona 2011.