Invivo27

in vivo July 2014 | Issue 27

NEWSLETTER OF THE INSTITUTE FOR RESEARCH IN BIOMEDICINE

Alzheimer’s experts unite Alzheimer’s Disease causes a progressive

Alzheimers’ experts gather at the Barcelona BioMed Conference organised in collaboration with the BBVA Foundation on 9-11 July. (Photo: L.T. Barone)

Aznar receives Bank of Sabadell honour

loss of memory and thinking and reasoning

Salvador Aznar Benitah has been

skills, and is one of the greatest challenges facing

awarded the IX Bank of Sabadell Prize for

today’s aging population. One of the hallmarks

Biomedical Research. Selected from among

of Alzheimer’s is the presence in the brain of ab-

more than 65 candidates, the jury recognised

normal accumulations of the amyloid-ββ protein,

“his contributions to the field of stem cell

which was the focus of the last Barcelona BioMed

research, and in particular, for discovering

Conference, Amyloid-ββ and Alzheimer’s Disease:

the influence of the circadian rhythm on

From Fundamental Principles to Therapeutic

the behaviour of adult stem cells, a finding

Strategies, held on 9-11 July. More on page 2.

which has important implications in the fields of ageing and cancer.” The 38-year-

1-2-3 in Nature Cell Biology

old scientist heads IRB Barcelona’s “Stem Cells and Cancer” group.

“This prize is one of the most important in Spain and among the biggest

Colon cancer, metastatic cancer, and micro-

ranked journals. The articles arise from research

internationally. It represents recognition at

tubule biology in cell division are the focus of

by the groups of Roger Gomis (1 June), Eduard

the highest level,” explains Carlos López-

three articles appearing in advanced online edi-

Batlle (22 June) and Jens Lüders (29 June). The

Otín, chair of the jury.

tions in June of Nature Cell Biology. With an

Batlle team’s work was chosen for the cover of

impact factor of 20, NCB is one of the highest

the July print issue. More on page 3.

When maths meet life This summer, IRB Barcelona has opened its doors to several scientists from areas that have traditionally been at arm’s length from the life sciences: mathematicians, physicists, and statisticians.

They’re all part of a new training programme for University students called Maths4Life, aimed at opening new opportunities to merge these fields. More on page 4.

p5

CERCA showcase

p5

A new website for IRB

Salvador Aznar Benitah received the IX Bank of Sabadell Prize for Biomedical Research from Bank President Josep Oliu at a ceremony on 1 July. (Photo: Banc Sabadell)

p6

A letter from camp

p7

A trip to Tel Aviv

Chris Dobson: “Alzheimer’s is a curable disease”

A

lzheimer’s Disease (AD) is a brain dis-

the rest of their lives looking after my generation

ral defences to work longer.”

ease that causes a progressive loss of

The three-day Barcelona BioMed Confer-

and perhaps the next one,” adds the British sci-

memory and thinking and reasoning

ence, the 24th of the series, was organised in col-

entist. “The cost to care for people with AD is

skills, and represents one of the greatest chal-

laboration with the BBVA Foundation and saw

already enormous for society and will continue

lenges facing today’s aging population. One of

the participation of about 150 top scientists from

to increase without effective treatments!”

the hallmarks of AD is the presence in the brain

basic research, clinical neurology and pharma-

of abnormal accumulations of the amyloid-β

ceutical companies.

protein. This protein was at the centre of the last

The aggregation of proteins and formation

Barcelona BioMed Conference, Amyloid-β and

of amyloid deposits is what

Alzheimer’s Disease: From Fundamental Prin-

gives rise to AD. Normally,

ciples to Therapeutic Strategies, held from 9-11

says Dobson, “we have de-

July at the Institut d’Estudis Catalans.

fence mechanisms, chaperones

Christopher Dobson (University of Cam-

and quality control systems,

Fortunately, Dobson thinks, “a lot of things are now coming together. We are at a turning point in AD research. Scientists are beginning to

❝ Alzheimer’s is something

we can deal with... We don’t have to accept that it is part of our future.❞ Chris Dobson, University of Cambridge

understand what the agents causing the disease are, and finding that there are testable biomarkers.”

Dobson thinks that

bridge), who co-organised the conference with

that pick up the beginnings of

IRB Barcelona’s Natàlia Carulla, is “completely

these aggregation events and

the work carried out in

convinced that, contrary to widespread public

prevent them or degrade the species that would

one of the absolutely key issues in the AD field,

belief, Alzheimer’s is a treatable disease.”

otherwise become toxic. This process works in-

namely the nature and structure of the key spe-

IRB Barcelona “addresses

“Fifty years ago,” explains this scientist,

credibly well – in fact, so well that up to the age

cies involved in pathology, that future drugs

“people thought cancer was incurable. Now we

of 60 the risk of suffering from AD is very low.

could target.”

know that’s not true. Another interesting parallel

But as we grow older, the protective mechanisms

is with AIDS. After 20 years of massive invest-

start to be less efficient.”

What are especially toxic, and can initiate the subsequent neurodegenerative events, in

ment, at least in the developed world you can live

In one sense, it could be easier to tackle than

fact, are the species that form before fibres and

being HIV positive. I am sure AD could become

other diseases. “The nature of the species giving

plaques, not the proteins themselves. These spe-

like that. We will be able to live with it without

rise to AD,” explains this chemical biologist, “is

cies are generally called oligomers, and can be

experiencing such debilitating symptoms. We

much simpler than viruses or bacteria. In fact,

made of several molecules. Because they are rela-

only need to find the drugs that enable our natu-

they are really junk. They are by-products of

tively small, they can move around and cause the

protein production and function that are normal-

spread of the disease.

Christopher Dobson opened the Barcelona BioMed Conference on Amyloid-β. (Photo: L.T. Barone)

ly cleared out of your system. Amyloid deposits

Meetings like the Barcelona BioMed Confer-

are not going to fight back, they are not going to

ence help to catalyse new research. As Dobson

mutate to evade drugs. We have to find a way to

puts it, “I am optimistic that these multidisci-

reduce their occurrence or to clear them out. I

plinary roots will bring us to lots of new ideas

am quite sure drugs capable of doing this can be

that will completely transform this field. We

developed soon.”

must get the message across that AD is some-

.

The key for the change of paradigm is to in-

thing we can deal with, it’s not the end of the

vest more money. “If people in their 20s, 30s and

world. We don’t have to accept that it is part of

40s don’t think about this disease, they will spend

our future.” (ltb)

eral processes such cellular proliferation, se-

cells that regulate the consumption of energy

nescence, and cancer progression.

stores and its depletion reduces fly lifespan in

SCIENCE BITES

➲

A shape coupling A

for

perfect

study performed in

collaboration between IRB Barcelona’s Raul Méndez and Frédéric H.-T. Allain from the Institute of Molecular Biology and Biophys-

➲

No food? p53 to the rescue! p53 is a well known tu-

flies under starvation conditions. The paper has been published on 10 July in Cell Reports.

ics in Zurich and published in Genes and De-

mour suppressor gene conserved from humans

velopment on 1 July has revealed the structure

to flies. Now, Milan’s lab has unveiled a new

➲

that allows CPEB proteins to bind RNA with

role for p53 in Drosophila during starvation as

proteins exist.” This is the claim of the article

high fidelity. CPEB proteins are essential for

it contributes to metabolism adaptation. p53

published by Xavier Salvatella and Modesto

translation control and are implicated in sevp2 in vivo July 2014 | Issue 27 p2 in vivo July 2014 | Issue 27

seems to modify the metabolism of specific

Orozco in Nature Communications on 12

Molecular highways

“In-

formation transfer pathways inside

1-2-3 in Nature Cell Biology Colon cancer, metastatic cancer, and microtubule biology in cell division are the focus of three articles appearing in advanced online editions in June of Nature Cell Biology. With an impact factor of 20, NCB is one of the highest ranked journals. The articles arise from research by the groups of Roger Gomis (1 June), Eduard Batlle (22 June) and Jens Lüders (29 June). The Batlle team’s work was chosen for the cover of the July print issue.

Natural protection of the colon Eduard Batlle’s team are a step closer to understanding the evolution of colon cancer. They found that the colon has a safety mechanism that restricts the formation and rapid development of adenomas. Between 30% and 50% of people over 50 years develop adenomas, benign tumours that, over time, can turn into cancer, and this safety mechanism is automatically activated when these pre-cancerous lesions appear.

“The formation of an adenoma in the colon is accompanied by an increase in the production of a molecule called BMP (bone morphogenetic protein). This molecule limits the self-renewal capacity of adenoma stem cells, thus impeding the rapid development of the lesion,” says Batlle, ICREA Research Professor who leads the Colorectal Cancer Lab. The study, whose main author is Gavin Whissell, has revealed a safety circuit to eliminate the tumours, or at least control their development. “Colon cancer is a disease that develops slowly, and this is possibly thanks to this mechanism,” he points out.

The mechanism may not be equally effective in every person. Genetic variations in the population determine that some people have more robust safety mechanisms to respond to polyp formation than others. “We provide a plausible explanation of why certain genomic variations are associated with a greater risk of colon cancer.” The study opens the door to strengthening strategies to fight this dis-

ease, one of the most prevalent cancers, with 1,600,000 cases diagnosed annually and a mortality rate of 50%.

Metastases of metastasis First-authored by Jelena Urosevic and Xabier Garcia-Albéniz, a study on the new concept of metastases of metastasis appears in Nature Cell Biology’s July issue. The team led

by ICREA Research Professor Roger Gomis explain why colon cancer metastasis always follows the same invasive pattern, first establishing itself in the liver and then in the lung.

The study reveals that the metastatic lesion in the liver is necessary for later metastasis to the lung, making the liver a platform from which the cells prepare the lung niche to be

risk of colonisation,” explains Gomis.

Spotlight on microtubules Jens Lüders’ most recent paper is the third to be published in NCB, appearing in

colonised.

The researchers observed that tumour cells

the August print issue. With the help of Ju-

in the liver release PTHLH. This molecule af-

lien Colombelli and IRB Barcelona’s state-

fects the cells of pulmonary blood vessels,

of-the-art Advanced Digital Microscopy fa-

which respond by triggering a remodelling pro-

cility, Lüders solved a long-standing mystery

cesses, causing the previously impermeable ves-

in the microtubule field - how to track the

sel walls to form gaps. When a tumour cell es-

starting points of microtubules. These pro-

capes from the liver to travel towards the lung,

tein filaments assemble the mitotic spindle, a

it exploits these gaps to enter the lung.

complex structure that distributes the chro-

“The tumour cells gain capacity to produce

mosomes correctly when cells divide.

PTHLH when the levels of p38 are decreased.

“We have finally been able to label the

Our results suggest that the administration of

starting points of thousands of these fila-

p38 inhibitors to certain patients with advanced

ments, which are extremely dynamic and

stages of colon cancer or with metastases could

variable, and follow their distribution and

be counterproductive and may increase their

movement during the assembly of the mitotic spindle,” say Nicholas Lecland and Lüders, the authors of this study. “For more than 10 years scientists have been able to track only the growing ends of microtubules but not the starting points. We lacked essential information about the dynamic architecture of the

June. The authors demonstrate the trans-

IRB Barcelona, with the collaboration of

mitotic spindle and how it contributes to cell

fer of information in all proteins containing

Joan Massagué in the MSKCC, has demon-

division,” says Lüders.

beta-sheets. “If our hypothesis is correct, we

strated that a loss of RARRES3 in estrogen

The researchers describe for the first time

would be able to find many sites within the

receptor-negative breast cancer is enough to

where most microtubules form inside the

structure of a protein that would be equally

promote the cancer cell colonization into

spindle and how they are transported to op-

or more efficient at interacting with a drug,”

the lung. The paper published online in

posite poles. “We now have a more complete

says Salvatella.

EMBO Molecular Medicine on 27 May also

➲

.

suggests that RARRES3 expression could be

RARRES3 must be there

useful to identify patients with greater sus-

Research headed by Roger Gomis at

ceptibility to lung metastasis.

understanding of the mitotic spindle and can

.

use our novel labeling strategy to test old and new hypotheses about cell division,” says the German scientist. (sa)

Maths come to IRB

O

n any given day you will see lots of different types of researchers walking in and out of labs at IRB Barcelona: molecular biologists, chemists, structural biologists, to name just a few.

Our science is a very interdisciplinary thing. This summer, you’ll also see several scientists from areas that have traditionally been at arm’s length from the life sciences: mathematicians, physicists, and statisticians – and they’re all part of a new training programme aimed at opening new opportunities to merge these fields.

Nowadays, biomedical research is increasingly demanding mathsrelated scientists. In the age of Big Data, our scientists generate such an enormous amount of information (in genomics, imaging, and so on) that we need specialists in data analysis. “Translating thousands of data into something that is understandable and manageable requires theory, methodology, and technology,” explains Camille Stephan-Otto Attolini, head of IRB Barcelona’s Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Unit.

For this reason, the Institute has organised a summer placement scheme for mathematicians, physicists, and statisticians interested in putting their knowledge to the service of biomedical research. “There is now a need for interdisciplinary groups with experts ranging from clinical settings to informatics, passing through biology and biostatistics. What’s more, among these professionals, we need people who can build bridges, people capable of combining other disciplines with the aim to better exploit the data,” continues Stephan-Otto, who holds a PhD in Mathematics.

This year IRB Barcelona has granted fellowships to three undergraduate students (two on a double degree of Maths & Physics, and another studying Biomedical Engineering) to spend three months

.

working in the groups of Modesto Orozco, Patrick Aloy and Camille Stephan-Otto Attolini. (om)

IN BRIEF Nijmegen exchange. 5 PhD students and the Academic Office’s Patricia Nadal attended the PhD Student Retreat at the RIMLS Institute in Nijmegen (Netherlands) in May as a follow up to their visit last year at our PhD Students Symposium in November. The students, selected by the Student Council, brought back some good ideas for the organisation of IRB Barcelona’s own 2-day PhD Student Retreat, which will take place for the first time in the Fall.

p4

in vivo

July 2014 | Issue 27

Ready to fly! The 2013 ”la Caixa”-IRB International PhD Programme students receive their fellowship certificate in a ceremony on 8 July (Photo: J. Domínguez)

”La Caixa” fellows honoured at ceremony in Madrid...

Salvador Guardiola, Rosa Pascual, Sandra Segura, Francisca Peixoto and Alexandra Balaceanu (not pictured), the IRB Barcelona PhD Students who joined the Institute as part of the ”la Caixa”-IRB International PhD Programme in September 2013 travelled to the CaixaForum in Madrid on 8 July for the ”la Caixa” Foundation awards ceremony where they received their fellowship certificates from Foundation president, Jaume Lanaspa and Secretary of State Carmen Vela.

...and awards for other IRB Barcelona researchers follow ERNEST GIRALT received the European Peptide Society’s Josef Rudinger Memorial Lecture Award, which he will receive in Sofia, Bulgaria on 31 August

• FERNANDO ALBERICIO received the Research Excellence Prize

of Spain’s Royal Chemical Society on 21 May as well as being appointed permanent member of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts in July. He will be formally inducted in March 2015

• JORDI CASANOVA

was elected numerary member of the Biological Sciences section of the Institut d’Estudis Catalans, Catalonia’s National Academy, on 17 June

• Former PhD student ELISA ESPINET (Batlle lab) received the UB’s extraordinary doctorate award for her thesis on 26 June • Former PhD

student XAVIER JUST BARINGO (Albericio lab) was named finalist of the Reaxys PhD Prize.

PhD Recruitment Day. 25 prospective

to talk about the due diligence process for po-

PhD students came on 22 May to meet the IRB

tentially licensable projects. The Innovation

Barcelona scientific community. After hearing

Workshop Series is meant to foster entrepre-

a presentation of the Institute, the group had

neurship among the IRB Barcelona community.

a chance to visit some laboratories and have a

The next session will take place in October and

lunch with Group Leaders. Most students came

will be dedicated to improving business presen-

from biomedical faculties, from within and out-

tation skills.

side Spain.

Batlle at Primera Plan@. Group Leader

Due diligence. On 16 June, Javier García,

Eduard Batlle was invited on 27 May to the

biotech consultant and professor at IE Univer-

Forum Primera Plan@, organised by the news-

sity, was invited by the Innovation Department

paper El Periódico de Catalunya with the sup-

Innovators network at home and away art of the strategic initiatives of the Innovation Department are

P

A few weeks later, IRB Barcelona and Iproteos delegates met again

to strengthen bonds with leading entrepreneurial networks and

at the Entrepreneurial Tech Fair organised by the IESE Business School

showcase the top quality research performed at the Institute.

(University of Navarra) in Barcelona on 9 July. In each edition of this

Once again, IRB Barcelona took part in BIO International Con-

Fair, IESE chooses early-stage technology-based projects promoted by

vention, the biggest biotech convention worldwide that has been taking

research centres and universities in Catalonia and seek to establish col-

place for the last 20 years. This year’s event was entitled “Connect, Part-

laborations between them and current and former IESE students.

ner, Innovate” and took place on 23-26 June in San Diego. The magni-

IRB Barcelona was one of the institutions invited to this event, while

tude of the BIO International Convention and the profile of the par-

Iproteos was one of the six companies presenting their projects, with

ticipants guarantee that the companies and research organisations present

the view to attracting possible investors. Iproteos’ goal was to raise the

will be provided with multiple opportunities to license their products

300,000 euros needed for the pre-clinical development of the first cogni-

and establish collaborations.

tive enhancement drug for schizophrenia.

Iproteos, IRB Barcelona’s spin-off company founded in 2011 by

The company has also launched the first Equity Crowdfunding for

Teresa Tarragó and Ernest Giralt, was also in San Diego to present its

a biotech company in Spain. They hope to raise a third of the total, and

research on new therapeutic agents for the treatment of diseases of the

have already collected 25,000 euros. This system, common in other Eu-

central nervous system. IRB Barcelona and Iproteos attended as part of

ropean countries, allows small investors to obtain a percentage of the

the Catalan Biocompanies and Institutions cluster, under the BIOCAT

shares of the company they invest in. More information about this initia-

umbrella.

tive here: www.creoentuproyecto.com.

.

CERCA showcases research

I

RB Barcelona Director, Joan Guinovart, Head of Research and Academic Administration, Jorge Domínguez, and Head of Innovation, Cristina Horcajada, ventured across town on 28 April to attend the 1st CERCA Conference, held in the Born Centre Cultural. The event brought to-

gether the 47 research centres that belong to the Catalan Government, with a view to bringing about synergies whilst simultaneously boosting their international visibility.

The gathering included presentations of 3 technology transfer projects in CERCA’s “Prova’t” initiative, including Ernest Giralt’s project, BBBSHUTTLE mAb, a collaboration with Joan Seoane at VHIO. This joint project seeks to develop a new treatment for brain cancer.

CERCA, which stands for Catalan Research Centres, is commissioned with following up, sup-

.

porting, and facilitating the activities undertaken by research centres in Catalonia, which are characterised by an independent management model and the application of evaluation protocols—which together culminate in the development of outstanding science.

What in the WWW? port of the Bank of Sabadell. These conferences are attended by managing directors, academics, lawyers, researchers, and representatives from the financial and social sectors, and trade unions.

organisations and the business sector.

AMBER Alert. Where do you go to learn the latest developments of the AMBER molecular dynamics software? The 10th International AMBER workshop, which took place in Barce-

Coffee for Research. Joan J. Guinovart

lona in June and was organised by IRB Barcelo-

and Josep Samitier, IBEC Director, inaugurated

na and the Barcelona Supercomputing Center.

the first Café amb Recerca, a new networking

50 students from all over the world gathered

initiative launched by the Catalan Founda-

for the week-long meeting to learn new func-

tion for Research and Innovation (FCRI). The

tions and tools of this package. Instructors in-

events aim to provide an informal setting in

cluded Federica Battistini and Pablo Dans from

which to promote dialogue between research

Modesto Orozco’s lab.

After seven years of reputable service, IRB Barcelona’s digital image needed a brush up.

The new web site, launched at the end of this month, combines a more visual appearance with a different concept in navigation, which is now not only hierarchical, but also horizontal, to facilitate exploration through themes, key words and associations. We have added new sections and reorganised old ones, to better emphasise our strategic goals.

Check it out at www.irbbarcelona.org.

in vivo

July 2014

| Issue 27

p5

A letter to Mom from summer camp July 1, 2014 Dear Mom, Greetings from MónNatura Pirineus! We arrived on Tuesday and everything here is really neat. We are in the middle of a national park — who knew the Catalan countryside was so beautiful and green! The camp facilities are great. We have real science labs set up in the middle of the woods! Fundació Catalunya-La Pedrera, the people who organise the camp, really know what they are doing...

The kids at camp are the greatest. The 50 who were selected to attend from high schools all over Catalonia are incredibly bright – and so passionate about science! It’s really fun and inspiring to work alongside them. I’m one of 15 counsellors who came to the camp to lead the students through 2-week long science projects. We explain our research and then work through lots and lots of experiments. My session is called “From DNA to disease; a journey through the three-dimensional biology of proteins.” Together with Oriol Marimon and

Mariano Maffei, former IRB researchers, we

I’m sad for camp to be ending in a few days,

work really hard with the students to clone, ex-

and I’ll miss the kids I’ve met here. But I am

press and purify proteins. Then we visualise the

looking forward to getting back to IRB Bar-

3D structure and try to understand why a mu-

celona and starting my new job as the Public

tation in DNA can totally change the protein

Engagement and Scientific Education Officer

structure and function leading to disease. Im-

where I’ll get to continue to do all sorts of cool

pressive stuff, and the kids are really up for the

stuff communicating science.

challenge! They are so excited about the chance they have to roll up their sleeves and dig into

Love,

real research. Lots of them have already told

Helena (González)

me that they are totally psyched about getting a

P. S. Send marshmallows if

headstart on their careers in science.

you can.

When we’re not in the labs, there’s plenty of time for us all to get to know each other and do regular camp stuff, like field trips and football. If the truth were told though, I’ve actually had to go in to the labs and drag some of the kids out. They are really committed to learning!

The Brazilian way

A

scientist of the 21st century is one who is not only busy with her next publication or research grant. We are worried also about how we interact with our community

and how we affect policy and change lives. Those of us who are involved in public engagement activities know we don’t only do it by choice, but also because these activities are part of sound scientific policies.

The 13th International Conference on Public Communication of Science and Technology (PCST 2014), held in Salvador de Bahia, Brazil, was the ideal platform to get in touch with the best science communication professionals in the world. The contrast of a cruel history with the beauty of the exultant Brazilian population was the perfect setting for this event, focused on social inclusion in science communication.

Over 4 days, almost 500 participants networked in the halls of the venue, where more than 100 simultaneous presentations where taking place: posters, workshops, seminars and performances, giving the state of the art and conducting new approaches in communicating science. IRB Barcelona established fruitful interactions with international organisations that will help the Institute

.

to develop new communication strategies. UNESCO and CERN offer good examples of engagement policies that really do have an impact on society. (hg)

p6

in vivo

July 2014

lab ria at a f bacte o ll fu s lez) ir plate ow the . Gonzá udly sh hoto: H ro (P p . rs ly e u s camp mp in J Pirineu mer ca Natura ce sum My Món ring the scien du session

A host of summer training activities

M

ost people associate summer with beaches and relaxation, but not everyone: some school kids eagerly wait for summer to enter the world of science. Over the summer months, IRB

Barcelona labs often “adopt” students to train them and help nurture their scientific spirit. “Now, I’m convinced that my future is in scientific research,” affirms Alejandra de la Rosa, an intern in Zorzano’s lab. “At school, you have a book with all the answers – here you write the book.”

This year, two students awarded the “2013 Extraor-

dinary Baccalaureate Prize” also came to the Institute in July. They spent a week visiting 5 different labs to experience hands-on research.

And, as every year, IRB opened its doors to 50 baccalaureate students who performed the practical work toward their high-school research projects, mentored by our PhD students. “Mentoring high school students is mutually beneficial. You teach them how to think like scientist and they come up with great ideas that you may

.

have never contemplated,” says former tutor, Helena González. (om)

| Issue 27

High-school students Alba Bossoms and Guillem Font visited IRB Barcelona for a week during July. (Photo: O. Martorell)

EXCHANGES

Miquel Duran goes to Tel Aviv

“I

block more that one enzyme at the same time.”

was looking for a scientifically

oping genomic scale metabolic models. “They

challenging country, but more ex-

do something very similar to what we did in

Three months for this stay were just

otic than a usual European state.”

our lab with proteins, but with metabolites.

enough to learn the techniques. “I might join

Miquel Duran, a PhD student in Patrick Aloy’s

And, most importantly, they can make quanti-

them again to finish up my projects,” says

Structural Bioinformatics lab, thought that Is-

tative predictions.”

Miquel. “But they are all moving to Maryland

rael was the best choice for his 3-month stay.

“Israelis are very competent scientifically,

He just left a very critical war situation to land

their education and ambition are outstanding.

back in Barcelona. “We had to flee to refuges

His stay was an occasion for Miquel to get

But they have trouble attracting talent – that’s

in touch with a very different reality and way

what they say all the times,” says

of thinking. “It’s true that Tel Aviv has a very

many times in the past few days,” he recalls.

Miquel’s scientific goal is to understand

Miquel.

and predict secondary effects of drugs. “The

soon, so I will have to go the US next time.”

lively social life,” he says, “but what surprised

This 29-year-old chemist by

me the most was the criticism people made

Interactome, the frame that our lab uses

training worked on two proj-

towards their government, either for being

to understand how things work,” explains

ects during his stay in Israel.

too tough or too mild on the Palestine issue. I

Miquel, “is limited. It is a good descriptive tool, but not quantitative enough. We

“On one side, I concentrated on

witnessed many lively discussions while I was

60 cell lines for cancer metabolic

there. I visited the West Bank many times and

models. The other project

both sides are really fed up with the situation.

was looking for multi-

People from both sides, at least the sensible

need a systems biology approach that can make quantitative predictions.”

.

target therapies. I was

ones, know they have to reach an agreement.

Miquel joined Eytan Rup-

trying to understand

But they can’t seem to talk to and understand

pin’s lab at Tel Aviv University

what happens if with

each other.” (ltb)

whose main expertise is devel-

one molecule you can Miquel Duran (Photo: G. Battista/M. Minocri)

In aid of the Balkans

I

n May, floods unseen in the last 120 years of history of Balkans struck the area of Serbia, Bosnia and Croatia, killing people and forcing thousands out of their homes, devastating crops and de-

stroying infrastructures. IRB Barcelona researchers from the Balkancountries, Milica Pavlovic, Saska Ivanova, Ivan Ivani, Jelena Petrovic, Petra Miklocevic, Marko Marjanovic and Jelena Urosevic, came to-

.

gether in aid of their compatriots. They baked chupavzi and proya and raised 550 euros to send back to their countries to help those in need. (ss)

Sommelier Xavi Ayala promoted the initiative Vi per Vida to support research at IRB Barcelona (Photo: S. Armengou)

Tasting wine to fight metastasis More than 350 people gathered in Mollerussa (Lleida) on 31 May to raise their glasses to life and support IRB Barcelona research into metastasis. The first “Vi per Vida” Charity WineTasting event was organised by sommelier Xavier Ayala with the support of Generalitat de Catalunya, INCAVI, the Mollerussa town council, and other local organisations. The event, led by Xavier himself and journalist Elisabet Carnicé, offered two hours of fun tasting seven wines. Figures from the world of Catalan culture, gastronomy, music, and sport recorded video

.

messages of support, shown during the event. The “Vi per Vida” The community of IRB Barcelona researchers from the Balkan countries raise money to help their flood-stricken compatriots back home (Photo: M. Candotti)

Association is preparing new tasting sessions, the next one to be held in Calella (Barcelona) in December. (sa)

What to do with our doctorate?

P

hD students worried about their future employability had the chance to listen to Barthélémy Durette either at the Careers Progression in Science – option beyond the bench,

or at the Competency and Employability of PhD workshop – both held on 12 June and organised by IRB Barcelona’s Academic Office. The first event, an annual collaboration with the PCB, showcases the career choices of professionals from science who decide to work outside academia. The workshop focussed specifically on the career paths of recently graduated PhD.

NEW AT IRB BARCELONA “Where do I want to be in five years’ time?” When

Anna Merlos (Barcelona, 1974) asked herself this, she already had a solid scientific background. A biologist from the University of Barcelona, she completed her PhD thesis in 2001 at the Vall d’Hebron Hospital on protein ectodomain shedding, a regulatory mechanism for protein function, and then went on to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, USA, for a year. In 2003 she returned to the IMIM in Barcelona where she worked on pancreatic cancer, and landed in Eduard Batlle’s lab at IRB Barcelona in 2007. “After our 2011 paper in Cell Stem Cell, I began to think about the next step,” she says.

Her public engagement activities helped her identify a direction. “Fundraising for scientific research seemed an ideal match for me. It would

Durette, a Project Manager at Adoc Talent Management in

allow me to bring my passion for science outside the lab and involve

Paris, and a PhD himself, is convinced that “PhD graduates need

society.” ​Anna has just completed a Postgraduate degree on the topic and

to be aware of the numerous competences they acquire during

as our new Strategic Projects and Philanthropy Officer, she is developing

their doctorate, beyond the technical skills in their field.”

a comprehensive fundraising plan for the Institute.

“Once they stop and think about their skills, PhD holders quickly notice that they have acquired a broad range of transferrable competences, like skills in communication, project manage-

Goretti Mallorquí (Girona, 1976) has joined the Research and Academic Administration Office

ment, IT, innovation and administrative management. Some of

as Scientific Officer after a very lively and diverse

these cannot be formalised, like the ability to deal with complex

scientific career. A biologist from the University of

problems or to collaborate, the ability to lead or to have a broad

Girona, she studied metalloproteases of therapeutic

vision. Curiosity, resilience, dynamism, patience, honesty, learn-

interest during her PhD and postdoc at the CSIC in

ing or adaptation are also all valuable assets that people master

Barcelona. In 2007 she left for New York where she spent 2 years at the

during their PhD.”

Hospital for Special Surgery. She then became a senior scientist in protein

His best tip for current PhD students is to “look beyond

purification at ERA Biotech, in Barcelona, where she led a team of five

your nose. During a PhD we tend to focus on what we have to

scientists, while simultaneously completing a Masters degree in Science

do on the very moment. But you have to anticipate your future

Communication at the Pompeu Fabra University. She then moved back

career. We have data showing that people who have had a profes-

to the bench in Seville, researching enzymatic methods to develop renew-

sional project in mind before ending their thesis, have a 5% higher

able energy sources at Abengoa Bioenergies. Back in Barcelona in 2013,

chance getting a job one year after the discussion.” (ltb)

she worked in the Pompeu Fabra as a project manager for European

.

What the heck...

projects. “At IRB Barcelona I will help coordinate the Core Facilities’ needs, and serve as an interface between IRB Barcelona researchers and the Park’s platforms,” she explains.

ON THE MOVE Dutch national Roeland Boer (Ambon, Indone-

sia, 1972) spent nearly 10 years at IRB Barcelona in Miquel Coll’s lab before making the decision to move to the Alba Synchrotron to become a beamline scientist.

“This was a great opportunity for me to take the next step in my career and gain more responsibility,” he says.

A structural chemist from the University of Utrecht, Roeland in 2001 moved to Lisbon for 3 years, where he made the big jump “from small molecules to proteins,” as he puts it. In 2004 he moved to IRB Barcelona where he started working on DNA, on drug-like molecules and transcription. “IRB gave me a lot, many facilities and resources, and much freedom,” recognises Roeland.

...is going on at IRB Barcelona? Stay tuned to find out.

In his new role, he is putting together a group and in the meanwhile he shares the responsibility of maintaining and updating the beamline XALOC.

In vivo, issue 27. 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: Helena González (hg), Òscar Martorell (om). 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 2014.