IRB Barcelona - InVivo 15 - July 2011

in vivo July 2011

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Issue 15

NEWSLETTER OF THE INSTITUTE FOR RESEARCH IN BIOMEDICINE

Iproteos launched IRB Barcelona researchers establish a new spin-off dedicated to the discovery of next-generation drugs After many years devoted solely to basic research, Teresa Tarragó is opening her horizons and entering the business world. From her position as Research Associate in the Design, synthesis and structure of peptides and proteins lab at IRB Barcelona, and together with Ernest Giralt, she has founded the biotech company Iproteos. The spin-off will focus on using a technology they developed based on finding drugs in a family of molecules known as peptides. Teresa tells us how the idea of the company came about, the long way they have come to get to this point, and how this initiative will affect her career in a Faces to Names interview on page 2.

In focus

Hip hop hooray!

A recent study by the groups of Maria

The African Clawed Frog, Xenopus Leavis, was first used in research

Macías and Joan Massagué unveils

by Aristotle to illustrate anatomical constraints on sound production

the mechanism by which a group of

and speech. Today, these plump little animals continue to fuel our

proteins named Smad contribute to orderly cell division, thus preventing uncontrolled growth that could lead to disorders such as cancer.

Learn more about their study on page 3.

02

New Board of Trustees

04

On the Spot: Hugo Bellen

understanding of many aspects of physiology and developmental biology. With the arrival of groups of Raúl Mendez and Angel R. Nebreda, who routinely use Xenopus in their research, these frogs have now found a new home at IRB Barcelona.

On page 7.

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New postdocs selected

06

Kids Day at IRB Barcelona

FACES TO NAMES Teresa Tarragó, Research Associate at IRB Barcelona

❝

A

PHOTO: N. BARBERÍA

If you have a good knowledge of science and the skills to organize and lead a team, you can do other exciting and interesting things besides research.❞ fter many years devoted solely to basic

edge Transfer – the Bosch i Gimpera Founda-

pany to your career?

research, Teresa Tarragó (Barcelona,

tion – of University of Barcelona (UB), where

It’s really important to me. At this stage of my

1974) is opening her horizons and

Ernest is Professor. We then set about drawing

career, forging ahead with a business plan, start-

entering the business world. From her position

up a comprehensive business plan, which was

ing from scratch with a project that we’ve cre-

as Research Associate in the Design, synthesis

approved by both institutions. Finally, partner

ated and that we can undertake as we please, is

and structure of peptides and proteins lab at

agreements were negotiated, under which IRB

incredibly motivating. So much so that I’m now

IRB Barcelona,

❝At this stage of my career,

and together with

forging ahead with a business plan, starting from scratch with a project that we’ve created and that we can undertake as we please, is incredibly motivating.❞

Group Leader Ernest Giralt, she has founded the biotech company Iproteos. Iproteos is based on a technol-

Barcelona and the UB

doing an Executive MBA at ESADE to make

licence the technology

sure I have the skills I need to run a business.

we have developed to

- And what would you say to a scientist who

Iproteos for exploita-

feels the business itch?

tion in exchange for a

Go for it. People need to know that besides the

stake.

traditional path of a researcher, if you have a

- What’s next?

good knowledge of science and the skills to or-

So far, we’ve applied to

ganize and lead a team, you can do other exciting

ogy they developed centered on finding drugs in

several calls for public funding, such as ‘Inncor-

and interesting things. Sometimes scientists end

a family of molecules known as peptides. They

pora Torres Quevedo,’ in which we’ve asked for

up relating only with other scientists with pro-

plan to use these peptides to inhibit a group

funds for a postdoc, a graduate student and a lab

files similar to their own, while in the business

of enzymes called proteases, which are often

technician. Also, at the end of the year, we will

world you get to meet a wide variety of people

involved in disease. Teresa tells us how the idea

apply for space allotment in the PCB Bioincuba-

and this is a really enriching experience.

of the company came about, the long way they

tor so we can set up our first lab.

have come to get to this point, and how this

- How important is the creation of this com-

.

NAHIA BARBERÍA

initiative will affect her career.

- How and when did the idea of Iproteos come about?

A few years ago, I participated in the ‘Bioentrepreneurs’ program (http://www.bioemprenedorxxi.cat). We learnt how to develop a business plan, picked up the basics of marketing, and discovered how the market works.

At that time, in the lab we were working with peptides as protease inhibitors. One particular day in spring 2009 sticks in my mind. Ernest and I went out for lunch to discuss our options regarding the company and we decided to give it the green light.

- And since then, what have you had to do to set up the company?

First we spoke with the organizations to which we belong: IRB Barcelona, where Ernest and I are researchers, and the Centre for Knowl-

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in vivo

July 2011

| Issue 15

The role of institutions in taking on the challenge of innovation

I

n order to ensure a transition to a knowl-

their institutions. Their efforts are paying off,

edge-based economy, it is crucial that

and each year they have seen the number of

potentially useful scientific results from basic

collaborations with industry, licences, and spin-

research make their way from the pages of a

offs increase.

lab book to industry. At the institutional level, many organizations are realizing this potential, and are taking on a much more active role in promoting innovation activities in the lab.

As in cases like Iproteos, a collaboration

It’s not always an easy process, however, and to overcome the early-stage difficulties of transferring technology, the organizations take a proactive approach. Some of the fundamental steps that they take to bring value to the tech

between IRB Barcelona’s Innovation Depart-

transfer process include disseminating calls for

ment and the University of Barcelona’s Centre

funding among researchers, promoting good

for Knowledge Transfer, the Bosch i Gimpera

technology transfer practices in laboratories,

Foundation, and has significantly eased the pro-

training researchers in biotech-transfer policies,

cess. Their role is to identify, protect, develop

and identifying, protecting and adding value

and eventually commercialize the discoveries

to results with strong potential for success in

and inventions produced by researchers within

industry.

.

IN FOCUS

It’s a Smad, Smad world

A

recent study by Maria Macías group

rial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, unveils

was chosen for the cover of the 15

the mechanism by which a group of proteins

June issue of the journal Genes and

named Smads contribute to orderly cell di-

Development. The study, a collaboration

vision, thus preventing uncontrolled growth

with Joan Massagué’s group at the Memo-

that could lead to disorders such as cancer.

tor, has devoted over 25 years to investigating

proteins that regulate them. For our part, we

the TGFb-Smad signal transduction pathway

gathered a collection of peptides and protein

that controls cell division, as well as many

fragments that allowed us to test what the

other cell functions. Because these proteins

linker did and how it altered the behaviour of

play such a critical role in the cell, they have a

the protein.”

very refined and complex regulatory mecha-

Upon activation by BMP or TGFb receptors, Smad transcription factors become phosphorylated in the nucleus by CDK8/9 for transcription then for ubiquitination and destruction, creating a phosphoserine code that is selectively read by WW-containing proteins.

The conclusion the researchers have drawn

nism; however, this mechanism has until now

from their work is that the linker plays a

remained a mystery. The structure of Smads

crucial role in the close regulation of these key

contains two subunits joined by a linker.

proteins: it acts like a switch. If there is one

Massagué suspected that the linker may have

phosphorylation signal in the linker, then the

a more important role than merely preventing

protein binds to molecules that make it active.

one part from drifting away from the other,

However, if there are two signals, then the

so three years ago he joined forces with Maria

protein is marked for destruction. Although

Macías to solve the mystery once and for all.

these findings represent a significant advance

“We decided to combine the skills of our

in our understanding of the life cycle of Smad

oan Massagué, Chairman of the Cancer

two laboratories to discover the details,” says

proteins, several steps remain unknown. This

Biology and Genetics Program at the

Macías, “Massagué’s lab used their cell biology

transatlantic collaboration will continue to take

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in

approach and began to introduce mutations at

a deeper look at the ‘big picture’ of Smads in

New York and IRB Barcelona Adjunct Direc-

specific sites to see how Smads relate to other

the cell.

J

.

New Board of Trustees gather for their first meeting

I

a Board of Trustees charged with supervising research activities,

history and future plans of IRB Barcelona, focusing on recent activi-

approving operative funds and overseeing the fulfillment of annual

ties aimed at fulfilling the Institute’s missions of conducting research of

research objectives. Members of IRB Barcelona's Board are representa-

excellence in biomedicine, providing high level training, participating in

tives from the Catalan Government; the local governmental elections

collaborations at the local, national and international levels, engaging in

held in November 2010 therefore brought about a new composition for

public outreach activities and fostering technology transfer. In addition,

the Board.

Board members approved the creation of the new biotech enterprise

RB Barcelona, like all public research institutes, is governed by

Boi Ruiz i Garcia (Minister of Health, Government of Catalonia) has

At their first meeting on June 23, Joan J. Guinovart presented the

.

Iproteos, founded by Teresa Tarragó and Ernest Giralt.

assumed presidency of the Board while Andreu Mas-Colell (Ministry of Economy and Knowledge, Government of Catalonia) has taken up the position of first vice-president. Other new members include: Antoni Castellà (Secretary for Universities and Research, Government of Catalonia); Josep Maria Martorell (General Director of Research, Government

PHOTO: M. ESTEVEZ

of Catalonia); and Montserrat Vendrell (General Director, Biocat). The Board also includes representatives from the Barcelona Science Park and the University of Barcelona with Vice-Chancellor Dídac Ramirez as second vice-president.

New members of IRB Barcelona’s Board of Trustees met on June 23, 2011.

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July 2011

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New postdoc fellows to join IRB Barcelona research groups

A

T

fter six years, Joan Guin-

he first call for the IRB Barcelona In-

ovart’s tenure at the helm of

ternational Postdoctoral Programme,

Spain’s largest confederation

held in February this year, yielded a

of scientists has come to an end. COSCE,

bumper crop of excellent candidates who vied

the Federation of Spanish Scientific Societ-

to take up one of the positions available at the institute, funded through the EU’s Marie Curie COFUND programme. Eight researchers from a wide range of backgrounds, both scientifi-

Guinovart ends COSCE term

ies, was launched in 2004 to bring scientific Sandra Colié formerly INSERM Toulouse, France

Samira Jaeger Humboldt University Berlin, Germany

bodies in the country together in a single organization. COSCE represents more than 30,000 Spanish scientists and has

cally and geographically, made the final cut and

served as an important lobbying platform

will join their new labs as of September this

to serve the interests of science in Spain.

Among the contributions made under

year.

Guinovart’s mandate are the programmes

The new postdocs will be working on

.

CRECE, Commissions for Reflection and

interdisciplinary research themes, often sharing

the Study of Science in Spain; CONOC-

their time between two research groups in different IRB Barcelona programmes.

Marko Marjanovic Ruđer Bošković Inst., Zagreb, Croatia

Marianela Masin CRG Barcelona, Spain

EROS, a cooperation between parliament and scientific societies to promote mutual understanding; and ENCIENDE, an initiative to promote science teaching practices in schools.

.

Guinovart is succeeded by Carlos

Andradas, Professor of Algebra at the Complutense University of Madrid.

Irene Amata formerly EMBL Heidelberg, Germany

Salvatore Bongarzone SISSA/ISAS Trieste, Italy

ON THE SPOT

Juan M. Murillo INB, UNAM Juriquilla, Querétaro, Mexico

Christopher Sinadinos Univ. Southampton, United Kingdom

TANYA YATES

Barcelona BioMed Seminar series

❝The day I started working with Drosophila I was happy.❞

H

ugo Bellen (Belgium, 1953) was

hand it contributes to controlling neuronal fat

first going to be a businessman. He

metabolism and on the other hand it travels

then changed his mind and became

through our bloodstream as a hormone, reach-

a researcher in mathematical economics, then a

ing the muscles and keeping their mitochondria

doctor in veterinary medicine. He finally settled

in working order. The absence of this pro-

in fruit fly biology. Hosted by Marco Milán,

tein leads to neuronal and muscular damage.

he visited IRB Barcelona on May 2 to give a

Patients with this disease usually die within 3-4

Barcelona BioMed Seminar about his latest

years after onset.

work on ‘Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS),

- Are you expecting to find a drug against

mitochondria and neurodegeneration.’

this disease?

- How are ALS, mitochondria and neurode-

It’s still too early to say, but we think that since

generation related?

ALS is a devastating neurodegenerative disease that affects 1 in 400 people. It may or may not be due to genetic inheritance, but either way there is a neuronal protein –VAPB- that is found at very low concentrations in people with the disease. This protein presents a new and broad mechanism of action: on the one

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in vivo

July 2011

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the molecule acts as a hormone, hormone therapy would help. We are testing this possibility.

- How does your lab study ALS? We are looking at several neurodegenerative diseases using the fruit fly as a model animal.

Most of the neuronal mechanisms are very similar to those of humans but its life cycle is shorter. A healthy fly lives around 70 days,

Hugo Bellen is a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator at the Baylor College of Medicine.

PHOTO: I. CASTANEDO

while a sick fly won’t survive for more than 12-30 days. We produce mutations in specific neuronal genes of the fly to see what effects they have.

- Why did you change from wanting to be a businessman to being a scientist?

I changed many times, and all the changes happened because I was not satisfied with what I

.

was doing. Money was never an issue and, you know, the day I started working with Drosophila I was happy.

NAHIA BARBERÍA

N TIO !!

A R IST PEN G RE W O NO

SCIENCE BITES

➲

New hope in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease

N

othing is an absolute

disease was to find a way to inhibit

truth, not even in sci-

their formation.

ence. This is what we

But what if it is small aggregates,

can gather from an article published

rather than large fibrilar ones, that

by IRB Barcelona researcher Natàlia

are actually the cause the disease?

Carulla in El Pais in June. In this

This is exactly what scientists from

article, Carulla explains how research

around the world have been ad-

on Alzheimer’s disease has shifted to

dressing over the last nine years. In

propose that small aggregates of pro-

a recent article published in May 4

teins – and not large fibrilar ones as

issue of the Journal of the American

previously thought – are responsible

Chemical Society (JACS), Carulla

for neuronal death.

and collaborators report that fibril

At the beginning of the 20th cen-

formation is not a static process but

tury, the neurologist Alois Alzheimer

a dynamic one in which proteins

discovered unusual accumulations of

making up the fibrils are continually

protein in the brain of a patient with

detaching and re-attaching to the

severe cognitive impairment. Today

fibrils. This molecular recycling sug-

we know that this patient suffered

gests that fibrils could be a reservoir

from Alzheimer’s, a disease that

of small toxic aggregates. It is hoped

involves the accumulation of proteins

that the future will bring about new

in the brain in the form of fibrilar ag-

strategies to treat this devastating

gregates. For decades, scientists have

disease.

studied these aggregates in depth believing that the solution to this

Ab protein

Initial aggregates

.

NÚRIA NORIEGA

Final aggregates - Amyloid fibrils

Drawings: Antònia Casanovas

Unraveling chronic lymphocytic leukemia

IRB Barcelona researchers Modesto Orozco and Josep L. Gelpí participated in a Spanish study that sequenced for the first time the whole genome in healthy and sick cells of chronic leukemia patients. Their paper, published in Nature, indicates that mutations in four genes are responsible for the disease. Findings from this study have also helped identify the biological mechanisms underlying the development of this type of leukemia, which is the most frequent in the developed world, with more than 1000 new cases each year in Spain alone.

➲

.

➲

When cells lose their leader

That groups of cells migrate in physiological contexts is no surprise. The collective movements of cells require organization and coordination - and they need a leader.

Sofia Araújo and Jordi Casanova have analyzed how ‘leading’ and ‘trailing’ cells establish their roles during the development of the Drosophila tracheal system.

The study, published online in June in the Journal of Cell Science, shows that the number of leading cells in new branches of Drosophila trachea is established by the genetic interaction of two genes, Sequoia and Branchless.

.

➲

Clarifying the role of NIMA in cell division

Each cell derives from a previous one that has split in two. Along the way, all the components of the original cell must divide so that each daughter cell receives everything it needs: half of the chromosomes, enough mitochondria, and so on. Cells build up a ‘spindle’, similar to a spider’s web, to ensure the correct distribution of all the components. Scientists in the Cell Signaling Laboratory, including Joan Roig and Carme Caelles, have explained how a series of phosphorylations – molecular modifications – performed by the NIMA family of kinases control the formation of this spindle.

The study appears in The EMBO Journal.

.

➲

Disulphide bridges: the antidote for cellular toxicity

In many diseases, including Alzheimer’s, cell death has been associated with the abnormal aggregation of proteins in the form of amyloid fibers. Computational analysis shows that disulfide bonds are common among proteins with a tendency to aggregate. Researchers led

by Xavier Salvatella have discovered that proteins with disulfide bonds show a reduced risk of fiber formation, and in cases where these fibers do develop, they are more structured and stable, and possibly less damaging for the cells. These results, published in Angewandte Chemie, raise new questions about how these protein bonds have evolved to safeguard cells against death.

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July 2011

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05

Aspiring researchers visit the lab for Kids Day

S

ixty aspiring researchers arrived at IRB Barcelona on the morning of June 23 to get a fun-filled taste of science. After an

entertaining hands-on science show (where they got to make elephant boogers), the little visitors went on a tour of the lab and learned some basic principles of chemistry and physics, how bacteria and microbes grow, and what fruit flies look like under the microscope.

After lots of ooohs and ahhhhhs and tons of questions, the kids took home a tube of flies,

.

bacteria cultures from their own rather filthy hands - and great memories of a fun day.

Thanks to all who helped out!

PHOTOS: S. SABORIT AND E. SORIANELLO

A new blog to help solve your english doubts! http://tanyatheenglishdoctor. blogspot.com/

IN BRIEF working in industry, government and aca-

students and postdoctoral fellows from all

Albericio has been presented with the 2011

demia from 65 countries gathered to network

over the world.

Vincent du Vigneaud Award by the American

and discuss innovative healthcare, industrial

Peptide Society, given in recognition of scien-

and environmental biotechnology products.

Peptides worth prizes Fernando

tific excellence in the field of peptide chemis-

Science and Society debate On May 10, the Societat Econòmica Barce-

Science communicators who communicate The Heads of Communica-

lonesa d’Amics del País (SEBAP) organized

tions of the 37 research institutions within

chaired by Joan Guinovart, head of the SE-

the Associació Catalana d’Entitats de Recerca

BAP Research Committee, provided an op-

(ACER) met for the first time in June to share

portunity for the general public to participate

experiences. IRB Barcelona’s Sarah Sherwood

in the round-table discussion held by Josep

Congress of the Spanish Biophysics Society,

was on hand to present the Institute’s com-

Martorell, the Catalan Government’s Direc-

held in Murcia on June 3, Ignasi Fita received

munications strategy. Several working groups

tor of Research, Jaume Lanaspa, Obra

the Bruker Award for his study entitled ‘Large

will attempt to create synergies to explore

Social y Fundació “La Caixa” Director and

protein shells with and without icosahedral

new communication channels and strate-

Joan Massagué, IRB Barcelona Adjunct

symmetry: viruses and vaults.’ The prize is

gies to enhance public understanding of and

Director.

given in recognition of the career of a scientist

engagement in science.

try. His contributions to the development and optimization of peptide synthesis methodologies have facilitated the synthesis of molecules that were not available previously.

Bruker Award for Ignasi In the XIth

working in the field of biophysics in Spain.

a Science and Society debate. The initiative,

Journal recognitions IRB Barcelona

Betting on training From May 3-6,

researchers were in the spotlight in recent

BIO Washington 2011 on science transfer IRB Barcelona participated for the

the IRB Barcelona and BSC Joint Research

issues of two journals. A recent paper by

Programme jointly organized a reference

Ramón Eritja’s graced the inside cover of the

third time in the BIO International Conven-

workshop on molecular dynamics. AM-

May 2 issue of ChemBioChem, while Ernest

tion, held in Washington on June 27-30. More

BER (Assisted Model Building with Energy

Giralt was chosen as the subject of an author

than 15,000 biotechnology representatives

Refinement) was attended by 40 graduate

profile in the May 2 issue of ChemMedChem.

06

in vivo

July 2011

| Issue 15

Hip hop hooray!

The frogs are here “I don’t see no p’ints about that frog that’s any better’n any other frog.”

Almost 150 years after Mark Twain penned these words in The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County, we actually do

Xenopus Laevis, African Clawed frogs, have taken up residence in their new facility at IRB Barcelona.

know why some frogs are better than others.

PHOTO: N. BARBERÍA

Both writers and scientists have brought frogs deserved stardom. Since first used by Aristotle to illustrate anatomical constraints on sound production and speech, these plump animals continue to fuel our understanding of many aspects of physiology and developmental biology.

But fame costs and now, as many other ce-

Xenopus are a notoriously discerning creature. They need silence, an exact temperature of 18 degrees, purified water, places to hide, and

Just ask Raúl Mendez and his group at IRB Barcelona, who have recently been working with the Barcelona Science Park to set up a Xenopus facility.

protein expression experiments.

At IRB Barcelona, Raúl Méndez’s group,

lots of worms to complement their regular diet

for example, will be using Xenopus to decipher

of meal, which they eat every two days. If these

the molecular mechanisms controlling mRNA

conditions aren’t strictly controlled, the frogs

translation. Research groups led by Ángel

likely won’t lay good eggs - which hold the

R. Nebreda and Jens Lüders are also taking

secret to their usefulness in lab experiments.

advantage of this model system to gain new

lebrities, the tongueless African Clawed Frog, Xenopus laevis, has become a picky animal.

els, and thus are a good system for gene and

Xenopus oocytes and eggs are very large, measuring 1 mm in diameter, and are easy to culture and use in experiments, making them ideal tools for developmental and cell biology

insight into cell proliferation and microtubule

.

organization.

Welcome frogs, we hope you like your new home. Now, go make eggs!

studies. They also have greater similarity to

ITZIAR CASTANEDO

humans than many other popular animal mod-

NEWS FROM THE PARK Somewhere over the lab bench

Getting closer to the labs

N

T

ot everyone who plugs their way

Bench,” organized jointly by IRB Barcelona

through a PhD in the biomedical sci-

and the Barcelona Science Park on June 9.

hough they may work day-in and day-out with scientists, IRB Barcelona

admin staff may not necessarily know how

ences will end up with a flourishing career at

Panelists Susanna Baqué (Director Support

the bench and achieve the ever-elusive posi-

& Market Development – EMEA, AB SCI-

to run a PCR or what the structure of a pro-

tion of independent group leader. The fact of

EX), Antoni Párraga (Knowledge Manage-

tein looks like. ‘Descubre dónde trabajas’,

the matter is that some will not even want to.

ment and Modelling Director, Esteve), Paula

a workshop series aimed at familiarizing

García Nogales (Scientific Project Manager,

admin staff at IRB Barcelona with the world

Stiff competition for advanced research positions, combined with the growing need scientific backgrounds in areas related to research, means that more and opening up to the possibility of turning in their

of scientific research, is doing an excellent

K. Scheper (R&D

job at filling them in.

Project Man-

for professionals with

more young scientists are

AROMICS), Johanna

Panelists and organizers of the Career Progression in Science Day, held on June 9.

lab coats and changing career tracks.

But how does one go about switching gears? What kind of skills do scientists need to acquire to be able to make the change?

And where in the world do you start to look? Providing answers to these questions was the aim of the fourth edition of “Career Progression in Science – Options Beyond the

PHOTO: M. VALLE (PCB)

on June 14, participants found out first hand

Xavier Rubies (Head

from Nahia Barbería, Núria Noriega and

of Technology Trans-

Cristina Horcajada about DNA, the secret

fer, CRG), and Sarah

code of life. With presentations by research-

Sherwood (Head of

ers Helena González and David Rossell,

Communications and

the session revealed that the fruit fly and

External Relations,

humans share more than 60% of their genes.

IRB Barcelona) each discussed their professional experiences and gave their take on the possibilities of embarking on careers in science beyond the bench.

.

In the latest of these presentations, held

ager, CIBER-BBN),

The relevance of technology took on a new dimension as David, head of the Bioinformatics and Biostatistics Unit, explained how computational tools allow scientists to

.

The clear consensus of the day? The panel-

analyze in weeks what was once achieved in

ists agreed: When opportunity knocks,

years. Attendees agreed that the session was

answer the door.

eye-opening and highly informative.

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July 2011

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07

NEW AT IRB BARCELONA Markus Muttenthaler (Austria, 1978) is a new postdoc in Fernando Albericio’s lab. Granted a Marie Curie International Outgoing Fellowship, Markus will spend two years in a lab outside Europe – in this case the Scripps Research Institute in San Diego – and then a third year at IRB Barcelona. Markus will first gain some expertise in the use of peptide dendrimers as molecular probes, and then arrive in Barcelona by June 2013.

When asked why he chose IRB Barcelona and Scripps as his destinations, Markus confirms, “definitely because of the great science conducted in both places.” One thing is clear: this 32-year-old scientist loves travelling the world. He has already lived in Vienna, New York and Brisbane, with Barcelona next on the list.

SPOTLIGHT A new title for Roger

A

fter a postdoc fellowship in Joan Massagué’s group at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, in 2006,

Roger Gomis moved back to his native Barcelona to set up a lab to study metastasis at IRB Barcelona.

Under the guidance of Massagué, he worked as Managing Director to ensure that the lab produced great science and to learn the ropes about leading a research team. In May, he successfully completed a comprehensive external evaluation and was officially appointed Group Leader

Lluis Palenzuela (Spain, 1968) has recently taken up the position of Research Assistant/Lab Manager in Travis Stracker’s lab. He holds a PhD in Biochemistry and Biology from the Autonomous University of Barcelona and did a postdoc from 2003 to 2006 at Colombia University (USA).

In January, Lluis left the Vall d’Hebron Research Institute, where he had spent five years working on liver diseases, and in April he joined IRB Barcelona. “The technical duties of this new post attracted me, together with the rich scientific atmosphere at the Institute.” In a just a few months, Lluis has settled and is enjoying the opportunities IRB Barcelona offers.

- What’s the future of research in your lab?

We work on deciphering the molecular mechanisms that govern metastasis, trying to figure out how metastatic cells navigate and survive their trip through the body to colonize a new organ. We’ll keep working on breast cancer - it’s a good model to understand basic processes that may be taking place in other types of cancer. We will, however, focus less on what is happening in the primary tumour and take a deeper look at how disseminated cells survive long periods of time in different tissues to eventually cause secondary tumours.

ON THE MOVE

- Any a-ha! moments in your career so far?

There have been instances, when I was work-

After completing a PhD on Drosophila DNA binding proteins, IRB Barcelona and ICREA researcher Alfred Cortés

(Barcelona, 1971) “felt the need to step into a field with an enormous impact on global public health.” Invisible to the naked eye, the human malaria parasite causes more than one million deaths a year. Like the great explorer naturalists of the nineteenth century, Alfred has devoted his scientific career

ing on TGFb in Massagué’s lab for example, where I had a result and suddenly realized that one molecule actually explained several different things we had been observing. It was like finding a key piece to the puzzle that made everything fit. It’s quite remarkable when that happens. It makes the long and hard journey worthwhile.

to the study of malaria all over the world. He has worked in

- What’s the best advice you have received in mak-

Switzerland, Australia, Papua New Guinea and England to finally land here. Now, five

ing your transition from a junior researcher to an

years after joining IRB Barcelona, he is moving on to the CRESIB institute to continue

independent Group Leader?

deciphering the genetic peculiarities of this parasite.

I’ve had lots of good advice, especially since most researchers are trained to be good scientists,

IRB Barcelona visiting researcher Karin Weidner (Ger-

not managers. I’ve learned how

many, 1980) became a scientist because she “always wanted

to handle the timing of things,

to do something special.” For four years she worked among

how to deal with human relations

flasks and organic reactions in Professor Renaud’s lab in the

effectively. But by far the most

University of Bern, where she defended her PhD in radical

important advice I’ve received is

chemistry. In June 2011 she was due to begin a postdoc stay

to always make sure you do things

in Phil Baran’s lab at the Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla,

the best you can, no matter what.

but what was she to do in the meantime? Working in a “dif-

Don’t panic if things go wrong,

.

ferent environment on a great project sounded perfect,” so she applied for a short

and stay focused. Everything

stay in Antonio Riera’s lab. Karin spent three months working on natural product

else will come together

synthesis here at IRB Barcelona.

...hopefully!

In vivo, issue 15. 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. Editors: Nahia Barbería and Sarah Sherwood. Contributors: Itziar Castanedo, Núria Noriega, Tanya Yates.

Graphic Production: La Trama. Legal deposit: MU-951-2011. This document has been printed on recycled paper. To subscribe or unsubscribe from in vivo email info@irbbarcelona.org. © IRB Barcelona 2011.