In Vivo - Issue 23 by IRB Barcelona

in vivo July 2013 | Issue 23

NEWSLETTER OF THE INSTITUTE FOR RESEARCH IN BIOMEDICINE

IRB Barcelona hits the chemistry jackpot In the last few months, IRB Barcelona researchers have published five articles in three issues of Angewandte Chemie, one of the reference journals for the chemistry community worldwide. This is an “extraordinary accomplishment,” as Ernest Giralt, Group Leader and coordinator of the Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology Programme, notes in an accompanying Commentary on page 2. Themes span from photosensitive peptides and the synthesis of molecules of natural origin - this time, two of these substances come from the deep sea -, to new methods of drug design, again confirming the great variety of chemical research undertaken at the Institute. More on these stories on pages 2 and 3.

The 2012 Annual Report is online

Changes in the core facilities

The 2012 Annual Report is out! As in

Camille Stephan Otto Attolini from Mexico substi-

previous years, we have prepared a multimedia

tutes David Rossell as acting manager of the Biostatistics/

version of the report, which you can consult

Bionfomatics Unit and Nuno Sendas Vasconcelos from

online. You will find videos, interviews and

Portugal becomes the Histology Service manager.

articles on the 2012 feats of our Institute. Let us know what you think!

To know more about these two new colleagues, read their stories on page 5 and 8.

www.irbbarcelona.org/annualreport2012

Exchanges Magnetic Berlin for Albert

PhD programme New students and a Dutch visit

Kids’ Day pictures

Spotlight David Vilchez, successful researcher

COMMENTARY

Green light to drug controlling photosensitive peptides

Ernest Giralt, Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology Programme Coordinator

urn on the light and you will be cured.

light to a specific protein-protein interaction,”

Maybe that’s a bit oversimplified, but

says Giralt. This research falls into a field of

it’s the idea behind the article recently

chemistry called cellular recognition, the “social

published in Angewandte Chemie by a team led

life of proteins,” as he defines it. By focussing on

by Group Leader and 2011 National Science

the interactions of proteins, rather than on single

journal for the chemistry community world-

Prize awardee Ernest Giralt, and Pau Gorostiza,

molecules, scientists hope in the future to be able

wide. It’s an important feat, and bears wit-

from the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalo-

to design more effective therapeutic targets.

ness to the superlative quality of the chemical

nia (IBEC). A truly futuristic idea.

“We are now working towards a general

his issue of In Vivo marks an extraordinary accomplishment for IRB Barcelona, namely the publication of

five articles in Angewandte Chemie, the top

research we are carrying out.

The scientists synthesised two peptides

recipe to design photo-switchable inhibitory

Three of the five articles belong to the

(small proteins), which, upon irradiation with

peptides that can be used to manipulate other

field of chemical synthesis and the others to

ultraviolet light, change shape, thereby favour-

protein-protein interactions inside cells by ap-

molecular recognition, the pillars of chemi-

ing or preventing a specific protein-protein in-

plying light,” explain the researchers.

cal research at IRB Barcelona. In one article,

teraction. In this case, the peptides interact with

The modification of biological processes by

Fernando Albericio’s group uses an enzyme

two proteins whose association is required for

means of light is leading to the development of

as a reactive agent to perform organic syn-

endocytosis, a process by which cells allow mol-

cutting-edge tools for biology and medicine and

thesis. Complex molecules, like those found

ecules to cross the cell membrane and enter.

opening up new research fields, such as opto-

in nature, are made of skeletons with differ-

“As a proof of concept, we picked endo-

pharmacology and optogenetics. The combina-

ent functional groups – amines, alcohols, or

cytosis, a very fundamental system in cell biol-

tion of drugs with external devices that control

acids – and you have to choose which groups

light may contribute to the

you introduce first when you synthesise them.

development of personalised

Sometimes, you also have to protect them be-

medicine, limiting the area

cause they might be incompatible with sub-

where drugs act and the time

sequent reactions. In Fernando Albericio’s

of the treatment, thus reducing

research, they use an enzyme to ‘deprotect’

unwanted effects. “As a chem-

one of these functional groups. A second ar-

ist, I find it truly thrilling to be

ticle by the same group is an example of using

er and was recognised as ‘vip’ (very important

able to control a biological process from outside.

state-of-the-art methodology to synthesise a

paper), a distinction that only 5% of the articles

It is the key point of this research and it opens up

natural product with strong anti-cancer prop-

published in the German-based journal receive.

promising roads for advancements in pharmaco-

erties. It is a notable achievement, since this

“Photo-sensitive peptides act like traffic

logical research. This is the future of chemistry,”

molecule has never been synthesised before. It

lights and can be made to give a green or red

notes Laura Nevola, postdoc fellow in Giralt’s

is also a marvellous example of how chemical

Design, Synthesis and Structure of Peptides and

synthesis can help us to better understand the

Proteins lab and first co-author of the paper.

stereochemistry, or relative spatial arrange-

ogy,” explains chemist Giralt. “If we are able to modify this very basic process, we can certainly do it for more therapeutically useful mechanisms.” The breakthrough warranted the July issue cov-

❝ Controlling

a biological process from the outside is the future of chemistry❞ Laura Nevola, Postdoctoral Fellow

To make photo-sensitive drugs a reality,

ment of atoms in a substance. Comparing the

scientists must enhance the photochemical re-

artificial synthesis to the unknown structure

sponse and be able to stimulate compounds at

of the natural product, they saw that it was

visible wavelengths. “Prolonged illumination

identical, automatically giving them insight

with ultraviolet light is toxic for cells. It is a clear

into the true atomic disposition. In an article

limitation and has little tissue-penetration capac-

by Antoni Riera’s group, we learn of new

ity,” says Giralt.

methods to decorate a molecule’s skeleton

“We are now trying to apply this technique to other processes, such as cell death and apop-

in vivo

metric control. The last two articles belongs to a different

tosis,” concludes Nevola.

Postdoctoral fellow Laura Nevola reflects on photoJuly 2013 Issue p2 sensitive peptides and traffic lights. (Photo L.T. Barone, elaboration S. Sherwood)

with functional groups with an exquisite geo-

The study involved researchers in IRB Bar-

domain of chemistry, called molecular recog-

celona’s Advanced Digital Microscopy Platform,

nition. Traditionally, chemistry has focussed

who designed an ad hoc programme to be able

on either isolated molecules (to allow us to

to qualitatively and quantitatively validate the

study their structure and synthesise them) or

effects of the peptides inside the cells in real time.

on their reactivity (trying to transform mol-

Artur Llobet’s group at IDIBELL contributed

ecules into other molecules). At the end of the

with their expertise in biology. (ltb)

XX century, we started to concentrate on the

Chemistry, a powerful tool for biomedical research

Drugs deep in the sea

he sea holds a wealth of compounds

15 years ago, this molecule shows potent anti-

with pharmacological activity; howev-

tumoral activity against cell lines of colon, breast

er, these have been explored very little

and pancreatic cancer. Thanks to a new technique

compared with those of terrestrial origin.

developed in his lab, Albericio and his team have

The search by pharmaceutical companies for

managed to mimic nature and synthesise an ex-

substances of marine origin susceptible to be-

act copy of the natural compound. “We have de-

coming drugs to treat human diseases began only

voted many years to this research, during which

30 or 40 years ago. Many compounds with cura-

time we have developed a new method that will

tive properties have been identified in this time;

serve as a starting point for a programme to syn-

interactions between proteins are not cova-

however, 20 years can go by from the discovery

thesise analogues for drug development,” says

lent, because no bond is created. This is the

of a potentially active substance to its commer-

Judit Tulla, post-doctoral fellow in the lab and

world of molecular recognition, and we still

cialisation, and this process involves multimil-

first author of the study.

have a lot to learn. My lab’s article deals with

lion investments. To ensure that the process is

Shortly after, in a project headed by As-

the social interactions of proteins. And Carme

sustainable and respectful of the environment, a

sociate Researcher Mercedes Álvarez, they

Fàbrega reports on the use of synthetic DNA

key element is to achieve the synthesis of natural

deciphered and synthesised baringolin. This

for molecular recognition.

molecules in the lab.

substance, taken from the coast of Alicante by

‘social life’ of molecules. In cells, proteins are not indifferent to their neighbours. On the contrary, they actively react with them – either in a permanent or transient way. These

Why is this strategic for a biomedical re-

At IRB Barcelona, the group headed by Fer-

the company BioMar, is an anti-bacterial agent

nando Albericio excels at the synthesis of such

that could be a candidate to develop into a drug

molecules, developing new approaches and ap-

to combat resistant bacteria. The PhD student,

plying them to achieve this objective. The last

Xavier Just-Baringo, in research work over five

that we know that molecules interact, we can

two papers published by this group on the syn-

years, has synthesised the molecule and is fine

precisely target these interactions, either to fa-

thesis of natural products published in the spe-

tuning a series of analogues in order to confirm

vour them or to prevent them. Labs like mine

cialized journal Angewandte Chemie exemplify

their activity and to improve their pharmacologi-

or Xavier Salvatella’s are interested in under-

this line of research.

cal properties. “There is only one molecule with

search institute like ours? Until we realised that molecules possess this very active social life, our therapeutic targets, the molecules we were designing drugs for, were isolated. Now

standing the laws that govern the world of molecular recognition. As we improve our understanding of the

PharmaMar handed over thiocoraline to Albericio some years ago. Isolated from a soft coral collected off the coast of

molecular bases of disease, the possibilities of

Mozambique in an expedition

intervening with chemical tools are multiplying. We need a XXI-century chemistry, a type

the same structural characteristics as baringolin on the market and it is used in veterinary medicine to treat skin infections. Nothing is available for humans yet,” says Alvárez. Through the analogues being prepared, these scientists seek to overcome two major drawbacks for drug de-

of chemistry that is subtle and complex and

velopment, namely low solubility of the natural

that will be able to design any type of mol-

molecule and an excessive molecular size.

ecule. One that is not limited to what we cur-

Both studies, and the synthesis of natural

rently have to see if it works, but that will be able to tailor specific molecules from natural

products in general, have a double justifica-

products with the ad hoc addition of groups

tion, says Albericio. “One is environmental, to

that target specific protein-protein interac-

protect species that hold substances of phar-

tions. In other words, a chemistry that is ca-

macological interest, and the other is com-

pable of pushing the limits of the complexity

mercial, as manufacturing a drug on a large

of synthesis and our understanding of the details of molecular recognition. This was the goal of the congress, “Chem-

Scientists Núria Bayó, Miriam Góngora and Judit Tulla contributed to the Thiocoraline study. (Photo S. Armengou)

istry for life sciences,” which IRB Barcelona

are working side-by-side with biologists to tackle cutting-edge biomedical problems, scientists who have the vocation to further our understanding (basic research) and to dominate these processes (applied research). In

other words, what we do successfully at IRB Barcelona every day. The five Angewandte Chemie articles are there to prove it.

ensured on an industrial scale.” (sa)

SCIENCE BITES

co-organized in Barcelona on 10-12 June. We gathered the best chemists in the world, who

scale is viable only if its production can be

➲

Two more papers in Angewandte Chemie Nuria

Aiguabella in Riera’s lab has led efforts to successfully modify the well-established Pauson–Khand reaction, a process that allows the synthesis of cyclopentenones, a common cyclic molecule in many natural products and drugs, including the elegant

α-cuparenone, with important chemical properties. In another paper, scientists have obtained a 100-nanometer sensor based on small DNA fragments. It can detect the activity of the human enzyme hAGT, crucial in cancer research. Carme Fábrega, from IRB Barcelona and member of R. Eritja’s CSIC group, coordinated the research.

in vivo

July 2013 | Issue 23

Side effects under the spotlight

he adverse effects of drugs are one of the main causes of hospital admission in the west and are among the ten principal causes of death worldwide, according to information from the World Health Organisation. “These effects are dif-

ficult to predict and are often not discovered until the drug has been launched,” explain

EXCHANGES

“My stay in Berlin? Magnetic”

iotechnologist by training, Catalan-born Albert Escobedo had never visited Berlin, “the

ICREA researcher Patrick Aloy and his lab member Miquel Duran. These scientists

capital of Europe,” as he defines it. But this PhD

have performed an exhaustive bioinformatics study of the molecular bases of the 1,600

student in Maria J. Macias’ Protein NMR Spec-

known side effects that around 1,000 commercialised drugs cause. “Until now, no study

troscopy lab took the opportunity to spend five

has focused on the adverse side effects instead of the drugs themselves, mainly because

months in the Leibniz-Institut für Molekulare

of a lack of information and analytical tools,” say the

Pharmakologie (FMP) in the frame of a collabo-

researchers. Through this study, they have now

ration project between his lab and this German

been able to reveal what produces the side effect

scientific institute focussed on protein research.

and provide recommendations to allow medicinal

“We are developing a partnership with the lab

chemists to design safer drugs and anticipate

where I stayed,” he says, “because they are a ref-

the potential side effects.

Scientists Miquel Duran (left) and Patrick Aloy. (Photo S. Armengou)

erence lab in NMR. Their magnets are equipped

Duran and Aloy collated all the drugs

with cryo-probes and they have expertise in solid-

that cause each known side effect. Next,

state NMR, where the protein samples analysed

they studied their chemical structure and

are microcrystalline. We work more on proteins

their protein targets. Of the 1,162 side ef-

in solution. Plus, we are beginning to analyse pro-

fects for which they have found a molecu-

teins with more than 50 amino acids.”

lar description, 446 can be explained solely on the basis of biology and 68 only on the

Albert found FMP not too different from IRB

basis of chemistry, while for 648 (56%) both biological and chemical considerations

Barcelona. “They are smaller, but their organisa-

are required. “We are providing the scientific community with lists of proteins and the

tion is similar to ours. They also believe very

chemical features associated with side effects. We refer to these as ‘alerts,’ and they can

much in cross-fertilisation between chemistry,

be used by drug design experts to avoid certain interactions and/or structures in order

molecular biology and structural biology, and,

to develop safer drugs,” says Aloy. The results of the study were published in Chemistry

like here, they offer a wide variety of seminars,”

and Biology, a journal of the Cell group. (sa)

he explains. The possibility of learning more

The ideal science institute? Something like IRB Barcelona

about the technical part of his job was very enriching for him. “There are many post-docs and senior researchers who know a lot about the magnets. I had the opportunity to spend time with the magnet and with the developers, and I learnt a lot

from them,” notes Albert.

ow can research in European Universities become more competitive and what measures should be taken to achieve this? To tackle this thorny issue, Gottfried

In a way, the city itself was ‘magnetic.’ “I dis-

Schatz, author of numerous books on research policy and former Head of the Biozen-

covered much about German history,” he says,

trum at the University of Basel, was invited to give a plenary lecture at the 38th FEBS

“and in general about the history of the XX centu-

(Federation of European Biochemical Societies) Congress, an event held in July in Saint

ry. In my free time, besides practising sport as I do

Petersburg, Russia, which I attended.

here, I enjoyed visiting hidden corners of the city

I was especially impressed by his talk because it rang a bell. He stressed the importance of having a tenure track system in place, a system in which a defined and permanent career pathway is offered for outstanding postdocs after passing an evaluation

and reading about what happened there. Fascinating. As is its very diverse night life”. (ltb)

period. He also believes that a key element is to offer an international PhD recruitment programme, through which the best international students can be attracted. This way, the bad habit of ‘endogamy’ can be avoided, he says. I was surprised when I reflected upon the fact that IRB Barcelona fulfils all of the

conditions proposed by Professor Schatz. Now that I am planning my next career step as a postdoctoral fellow, I am looking for places with these characteristics to guarantee my scientific success. (Isabel Sáez, PhD student)

in vivo

July 2013

| Issue 23

PhD student Albert Escobedo after running a competition in Berlin, where he spent five months earlier this year. (Photo R. Subiros)

Joint BBVA Foundation - IRB Barcelona Oncology Research Programme renewed

n 3 July in Madrid, on the occasion of the renewal of the agreement between the BBVA Foundation and IRB Barcelona for the development of the joint Oncology Research Programme, IRB Barcelona

Adjunct director Joan Massagué explained in a conference dedicated to metastasis the work carried out in this collaboration since 2006. Besides allowing the identification of new metastatic markers, which are currently being used to search for therapeutic targets, the programme sponsors the Barcelona BioMed Conferences, which gather nearly 500 international top scientists in Barcelona each year. Mas-

sagué, together with the directors of the BBVA Foundation, Rafael Pardo, and of IRB Barcelona, Joan Guinovart, announced the incorporation of the BBVA Foundation onto IRB Barcelona’s Board of Trustees.

Joan Massagué gives his talk in Madrid. (Photo BBVA Foundation)

A new acting manager for the Biostatistics Unit

“N

ever been as productive as in this past month and a half.”

to work with real data, not simulations. That is what I really liked.”

Camille Stephan Otto Attolini (Mexico City, 1978) is the

During the three years she worked side-by-side with David Rossell, she

new acting manager of the Biostatistics/Bioinformatics

says, “I learned to wear statistical glasses every time I looked at a set of data.

Unit, where she worked for more than two years as Senior research officer. “It’s a strange phenomenon, the more you are expected to do, the more effective you are,” she notes.

So much so that I am going to begin a Master in statistics next fall.” The nomination was “unexpected and quick,” as she puts it. “This is going to be an extraordinary challenge for me. But what is more exciting about

Mathematician by training, Camille has been trying to find a field where

this is that I am looking at it as a new learning opportunity. And once this

she could apply her mathematical background since she left university.

crazy settlement period is over, I hope I can give my vision to the Unit. I

“During my PhD in Vienna I applied math to the origin of life and evolution.

would like to strengthen the methodology development, focussing on the

But it was still a very theoretical approach. The same thing occurred during

cutting-edge biomedical research performed at the Institute. Like David,

my postdoc in Leipzig, Germany. My life changed when I went to work at

my approach is going to be to involve all of my team in all decision-making

the Memorial Sloan–Kettering Cancer Center in New York. There I started

processes.” (ltb)

Camille Stephan-otto Attolini, the new Core Facility Manager of the Biostatistics / Bioinformatics Unit (Photo L.T. Barone)

SCIENCE BITES

➲

Shape

matters

Promoters,

consortium to validate new treatments against

to identify the molecular mechanisms behind

DNA regions that regulate gene ex-

colorectal cancer, the third most frequent kind

the natural aging of stem cells and the conse-

pression, can also be defined by their struc-

of cancer worldwide. The objective is to find

quences of this process, and also to propose

ture. The study that reached this conclusion,

therapeutic antibodies directed exclusively

biomarkers to combat age-related diseases.

published in the June issue of Nucleic Acids

against colorectal cancer stem cells, the cells

The idea is to put forward new approaches to

Research, was conducted by Modesto Oro-

responsible for promoting tumor growth.

combat these diseases. This project is also part

zco in collaboration with the Barcelona Su-

The consortium will receive a 6-million euro

of the 7th Framework of the European Union

percomputing Centre and the Centre for

funding package from the 7th Framework

and is supported by 6 million euros of fund-

Genomic Regulation. Traditionally, promoter

Programme of the European Union. Eduard

ing until 2017. Patrick Aloy’s group, one of

sequences have always been considered to de-

Batlle’s team will be in charge of carrying out

the ten involved in SyStemAge, will identify

termine their function. Characterised by an

the initial study of the samples taken from pa-

molecular components, genes and cell signal-

unusual physical deformability, promoters

tients and after for testing whether the anti-

ling pathways and integrate the biological and

may favor transcription factor recognition.

bodies work in mice.

clinical data to build dynamic maps of genes

➲

Batlle’s group enters SUPPRESSTEM... Europe

has

given the go ahead to the SUPPRESSTEM

...and Aloy’s group enters SyStemAge Headed by EMBL in

and proteins involved in the processes addressed in this study.

Germany, the consortium SyStemAge seeks

in vivo

July 2013

| Issue 23

A set of new ”la Caixa” PhD students joins in

Taking care of the future of PhD students After completing their PhD, students have to face the most important decision of their life: what next? Like every year, IRB Barcelona in collaboration with the PCB organised the Career Progression in Science Day - options beyond the bench, held on 27 June. High school teacher Óscar Blanco, scientist and communicator Daniel Closa,

Joan J. Guinovart is surrounded by the 2012 class of ”La Caixa” PhD students at the CaixaForum the day they received their certificate in July. (Photo L.T. Barone)

Montse Cruz Gatell, from the CETEMMSA Technology Centre, Marc Ramis Castelltort, CEO at

he ”la Caixa” - IRB Barcelona International PhD Programme is now five years old. The first students who began their doctorate five years ago have already turned in their theses. Over these years, 50 PhD students from 23 countries, half of them

females, joined the Institute through this visionary sponsorship of the ”la Caixa” Foundation. The ten students who started their doctorate in September 2012 received their certificates in the award ceremony which took place on 16 July in CaixaForum, Barcelona, and was chaired by the Secretary of State for Research, Development and Innovation, Carmen Vela, the director of ”la Caixa”, Juan Maria Nin, and the director of the ”la Caixa”

Tech & Business Innovation, and IRB Barcelona’s Teresa Tarragó, Research Associate and founder of Iproteos, offered the audience some possible stimulating prospects for life after a thesis. The discussion continued over a coffee, with many of the students curious to know how to take the right decision. For those who want to move on to a postdoc, Sònia Saborit (IRB Barcelona Research

Foundation, Jaume Lanaspa. IRB Barcelona Director, Joan J. Guinovart, introduced the students and proudly

Grants Coordinator), Agustí Lledó (Juan de

emphasised the hard selection process they had to undergo. “This programme is necessary

la Cierva Fellow in Riera’s lab), Oriol Gallego

to be able to attract young talent from all over the world to biomedical research centres in

(Ramon y Cajal Fellow in Méndez’s lab), and

the country and bring them onboard,” he said. Clara Morral (Eduard Batlle’s lab) addressed

Research Associate Natàlia Carulla (Juan de

the audience in the name of all IRB Barcelona students, acknowledging the importance of

la Cierva Fellowship evaluator) were joined

this programme to foster scientific excellence.

by Donatella Banti, expert evaluator for Marie

As of this year, the name of this successful programme will change to ”la Caixa” -

Curie Action Fellowships (Kingston University,

Severo Ochoa/IRB Barcelona International PhD Programme. In this year’s call, we

UK) in the workshop How to be successful in

received 283 applications from all over the world. Twenty of the applicants visited the

your postdoctoral fellowship application? held on

Institute in April and defended tooth and nail their candidatures. Five of them, from four

17 June. The many attendees greatly appreciated

countries, have finally been selected and will join IRB Barcelona after the summer. (jl)

the valuable tips for future career steps.

PhD students retreat in the land of tulips

n 16 May, nine IRB students landed in Amsterdam to

highlights a notable difference to learn from, “here students have to be

participate in the annual PhD retreat of the Nijmegen Centre

pushed to participate. There, every PhD student has to prepare a poster

for Molecular Life Sciences (NCMLS). “We were warmly

(they are 100 students!) and all 4th-year students have to give a talk.”

welcomed,” says Sabine Klischies, one of the participants. “We had the

Sabine’s contribution received the prize for the best IRB Barcelona

opportunity to compare institutes and learn from each other. Having a

presentation. “I get really nervous about talks, but I had an advantage

more clinical focus, for example, their animal house is impressive. On

because the previous week I had attended a course on presenting science

the other hand, our microscopy facility is

organised by Esteve for IRB Barcelona PhD students!” she says laughing.

especially advanced and when you have a problem, there are experts on hand to help.” As far as the conference goes, Arzu Öztürk comments, “we were on a really tight schedule. It was hectic because we had only 90 minutes to go round 70 posters!” While their retreat could be compared to IRB

in vivo

Barcelona’s Students’ Day, Michela Candotti

July 2013

Michela Candotti gives her talk at NCMLS. (Photo E. Kamburova)

| Issue 23

Arzu, Michela and Sabine now have the NCMLS marked as “a potential place to apply to after completing our PhD studies.” In November, some of their students will participate to the PhD Student Symposium Clock of Life. “We’re looking forward to see them and we hope they appreciate the quality of the speakers and enjoy the event,”

says Michela, member of the Organising Committee. While we cannot offer them fields of flowers, autumn will no doubt bring them a respite from the weather in Northern Europe and a taste of Barcelona. (ty)

The EAB visited IRB Barcelona in May

n May 6-7, IRB Barcelona received the members of the External Advisory Board. This is the fourth time they have visited the Institute. As always, their agenda was very full. This time they had to evaluate the

Molecular Medicine, Chemistry, and Oncology Research Programmes, and the predoctoral programme. With the latter in mind, they met the PhD Student Council and asked them to provide their genuine view on the challenges of the Institute. The EAB received a positive impression of the PhD student community and consider them well integrated in the scientific life of IRB Barcelona. According to the Board, the next

goal for the Institute must be to foster collaboration between Chemistry, Biology, and Structural Biology researchers. In this regard, the commitment of staff at all levels to Adjunct Director Joan Massagué with EAB members Luis Parada, Karen Vousden and Gertrud M. Schüpbach (Photo L.T. Barone)

achieve this goal was considered a positive sign.

Kids’ Day at IRB Barcelona gathered sixty little scientists

assion for science is a common feature among kids. On 28 June, the halls of the Institute were invaded by a flood of happy children who were welcomed for the third Kids’ Day by two science

clowns. After a science show that culminated with the collective drinking

of a colourful juice, the kids got a taste of the science done at IRB Barcelona. PhD students Berta, Aida and Joana talked about bacteria, which the children collected and took home to grow; Jordina, Eulàlia and Laure introduced them to our Xenopus laevis frog colony - and the kids had the chance to collect their eggs; and finally Cristina, Sònia, Julia, Ivan and Pau played with the fascination of chemistry and of its unexpected, flashy reactions. Finally, the oldest kids got the opportunity to meet Jessica and construct their own

DNA strand with sweets, and the youngest ones were offered our brand-new colouring bookWhat colour is science?

Science can be fun, as reflected by the faces of the kids who took part in the Kids’ Day. (Photo L.T. Barone). On the left, the cover of the new colouring book by science illustrator Xiana Teimoi.

IN BRIEF Accepted in the association In

Designing drugs in public On 23-25

Peace, relax... and science PhD

March, IRB Barcelona became a member of the

April, Gaudí’s La Pedrera hosted the 11th edition

students Irene Amata, Helena González, Oriol

ASEBIO, the Spanish Bioindustry Association,

of the Live Research Fair, an initiative that gives

Marimon and Mariano Maffei spent 13 days of

formed by companies and institutions. This new

the public an insight into research carried out in

their holidays at the E2C3 science summer camp

affiliation is especially relevant for the Institute

Barcelona. This year, Josep Garcia, Sílvia Vilap-

sponsored by the Catalunya-La Pedrera Foun-

because it will increase the possibilities of net-

rinyó and Laura Mendieta, from the Peptides and

dation. In the magnificent valley of Valls d’Àneu,

working, participating in working groups and

Proteins lab, kept IRB Barcelona’s flag flying with

they taught 16 year-old students the secrets of the

strengthening bonds with the private sector.

their talk “Where is medicine headed?”

molecular and biochemical bases of diseases.

Business in Chicago For the fourth con-

Science in the park Once again, Bar-

Funds against cancer The project

secutive year, IRB Barcelona took part in the BIO

celona’s Ciutadella Park was invaded for a week-

“Molecular characterization and targeted elimi-

International Convention in April in Chicago.

end in June by the Science and Technology Fair.

nation of the TGF-β-driven metastasis niche by

Involving more than 16,000 people from 65 coun-

Among the guests were IRB Barcelona research-

colorectal cancer stem cells” by Enza Lonardo,

tries, this 3-day event allowed IRB Barcelona to

ers, who guided the public through cancer stem

postdoc in Batlle’s lab, has been granted funds

significantly increase the visibility of its research

cells, peptide chemistry, molecular medicine and

from the Spanish Association Against Cancer.

and to foster international collaborations

cell biology using Drosophila flies to study cancer.

in in vivo vivo

July July 2013 2013

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NEW AT IRB BARCELONA

SPOTLIGHT From IRB Barcelona to success

IRB Barcelona has a new Head of the Histology Service.

Nuno Sendas Vasconcelos (Guimarães, 1983) is already working full-speed to organise the Service. After studying pathological anatomy at the CESPU of Oporto, he worked in the histology lab of the University

avid Vilchez did not need the help of the superheroes of the comics he is so fond of. Becoming a group leader at the age of 34

in the Max-Planck Institute and publishing two articles in Nature and one in Nature Neuroscience, all as first author, seemed beyond belief when he was just a PhD student at IRB Barcelona. But, indeed, David is the first IRB Barcelona PhD student to get a Group Leader position. His beginnings were not heroic though. Dragged

of Minho, then at the CRG as a lab technician (where he focussed on Down Syndrome and Panic Disorder), and then two more years at the IMIM, again in Barcelona, as a lab researcher. There he compared post surgical hyperalgesia in mice and humans. In 2011 he studied a neuroscience master on this same theme. In the months before joining the Institute in July, Nuno spent some time in his native Guimarães, European capital of culture. “I had a great chance to do theatre, radio, and performances with high social impact.” When the chance to work at IRB Barcelona arose, it was impossible to say no. “It’s an excellence centre, and my background was perfect, combining the management of a service platform and research. It was a marvellous opportunity to get more responsibility in something I liked,” he concludes.

into a doctorate he was not very convinced of and for which he had no grant, he finally decided to join Joan

When Jacopo Negroni (Bergamo, 1982) con-

J. Guinovart’s lab to study Lafora Disease and brain

cluded his PhD at EMBL in Hamburg, he was not

glycogen. That’s when his passion was aroused. Since

sure whether to stay in research or move into industry.

completing his PhD five years ago, he has worked at

With a background in molecular biotechnology and

the Salk Institute in California and at the University

bioinformatics, and a thesis dedicated to the validation

of California Berkeley, where he became an expert in

of crystallographic B-factors, “a parameter that gives

aging in the worm C. elegans.

you an idea about the coordinate uncertainties in a protein model, that tells you some-

Your career moved along quite quickly. Any tip

thing about the structural flexibility of a protein,” as he explains, Jacopo was certain of only one thing, namely that he was “interested in data analysis, model validation and

that you would like to give? Nothing really extraordinary. I have to say that I was lucky from the very start. My recommendation would be to work hard and to look for collaborations. For the rest, fortune favours the bold, as they say. So you need to be prepared for luck to help you. You are about to begin your own lab in Cologne, with the descriptive name of “Cluster of

structural bioinformatics.” After discovering Patrick Aloy’s lab, he decided he wanted to do his postdoc there. “Barcelona is the city I love, and Patrick’s approach is integrated, something I was looking for. In network biology, you try to put all the pieces of the puzzle together, structural information with protein interaction data. This convinced me to come to IRB Barcelona.”

ON THE MOVE

Excellence in Cellular Stress Response in Agingassociated Diseases.” What is it going to be like? I have spent a lot of time in many types of labs, so I have had time to think about what I want my own lab to be like. I like clear and open labs, where students and postdocs do not have to compete with each other

and where they have direct and frequent access to their advisor. (jl)

After more than five years,

David Rossell (Barcelona, 1977), Head of the Biostatistics/Bioinformatics Unit, and Maria Rovira (Barcelona, 1982), Human Resources & International Liaison Officer, left the Institute to move North. David will take up a new position as Assistant Professor at the Department of Statistics of the University of Warwick to “pursue my intellectual restlessness,” as he puts it, and Maria will pursue a degree in psychology. “This is a research university,” he explains, “so I only have to teach ten weeks. The rest of the time I can dedicate to my own research.” His experience at IRB Barcelona was important. “To set up a Unit from scratch was a major challenge for me, and I think the result was very good. Also, I very much value having been able to work in a multidisciplinary environment,” he states. “For a change, I will now be surrounded by statisticians from whom I will be able to learn a lot.” Besides the fact that, unlike in Warwick, in Barcelona he could bike to work without getting wet, there is one more thing he and

David Vilchez during his visit to IRB Barcelona few months ago. (Photo L.T. Barone)

Maria will not forget, “The human touch and the warmth we found at IRB Barcelona.”

In vivo, issue 23. Published by the Institute for Research in Biomedicine. Office of Communications & External Relations. Barcelona Science Park. c/Baldiri Reixac, 10. 08028 Barcelona, Spain.  Web: www.irbbarcelona.org - Facebook: www.facebook.com/irbbarcelona - Twitter: @IRBBarcelona Editorial committee: Luca Tancredi Barone (ltb), Sarah Sherwood (ss) (editors), Sònia Armengou (sa). Contributors: Jordi Lanuza (jl), Tanya Yates (ty). Graphic Production: La Trama. Legal deposit: MU-29-2012. This document has been printed on recycled paper. To subscribe or unsubscribe from in vivo, e-mail: info@irbbarcelona.org. © IRB Barcelona 2013.