Invivo26 by IRB Barcelona

in vivo April 2014 | Issue 26

NEWSLETTER OF THE INSTITUTE FOR RESEARCH IN BIOMEDICINE

Postdocs have their day Postdoctoral scientists from IRB Barcelona

Raise your glass for ’Vi Per Vida’

and beyond gathered on 3 April for the first IRB Barcelona Postdoc Day. The event, organized by the Postdoc Council, provided a forum for young scientists to showcase their science and exchange tips on how to make the most of this critical time in their careers. Experts like Sir Tim Hunt were on hand to share their experience and advice, Young scientists celebrate the first IRB Barcelona Postdoc Day on 3 April. (Photos: O. Martorell)

and activities included talks covering a range of disciplines, poster sessions and more. On page 2.

When Catalan wine expert Xavier Ayala was a child, he lost his father to lung cancer that had spread to his bones. As a tribute to his dad, Xavier has launched a new initiative called Vi per Vida (Wine for Life) that aims to bring people together for a celebration about what he knows best, wine. At the same time, he plans to raise funds for important research being done in the fight against cancer and metastasis at institutes like IRB Barcelona.

The wicked ways of p38

Vi per Vida will organize regular wine tasting events across Catalonia throughout the year. The first session is set to take place

Angel R. Nebreda and his team have iden-

once a tumour has formed, p38 is required for the

tified a dual role of the p38 MAPK protein in

survival and proliferation of colon cancer cells,

colon cancer. On one hand, p38 is important to

thus favouring tumour growth.

effectively maintain the epithelial barrier that

The study appears in April in Cancer Cell, a

protects the intestine against toxic agents, thus

journal with one of the highest impact factors in

helping limit tumour development. On the other,

cancer research. Find out more on page 3.

on 31 May 2014, to coincide with World No Tobacco Day, in Xavier’s hometown of Mollerussa (Lleida). Read more on page 5.

Calling all chemical biologists! Looking for a great opportunity to set up your lab in a thriving, multidisciplinary environment? IRB Barcelona invites applications from outstanding investigators, both junior and senior, for independent Group Leader positions in the Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology Programme. Candidates will be expected to develop cutting-edge interdisciplinary research in the field of chemical biology. Details at www.irbbarcelona.org.

Researching rare diseases

Asummeramong test tubes

New student council-ers

High school prize winners

Great science, great advice at 1st IRB Barcelona Postdoc Day

f you ask your average postdoc about what life is like at this particular stage of their careers, they will likely tell you it’s a time of high expectations. You’re no longer in training and you need to step up your game. You’re expected to publish and publish well. Supervise students. Prepare grant applications. Build your international reputation and collaborate with other researchers. Teach. Manage projects. Devise long-

term strategic research plans. And all of this often with little or no support. That makes initiatives like Postdoc Day, organized by IRB Barcelona’s

Postdoc Council on 3 April, all the more important. It’s a chance for postdocs to get together to share not only their science but also their ideas about how to successfully navigate this critical time. Sir Tim Hunt, Nobel Prize winner, IRB Barcelona External Advisory Board member and one-time postdoc, was on hand at the event and sat down with the postdocs to share his perspective. Postdoc Day is a day of science from many

So, how you say it is as important as what you

field. The truth is, when I’m asked to evaluate

fields and disciplines. Now that you have re-

say?

people’s science, I do look up their Impact Fac-

tired, do you find yourself freer to enjoy science

In many ways, yes. There are lots of things

more and attend lectures from fields different to

about science that are very difficult, and if you

your own?

don’t do them well you’re not doing yourself

I always think of science as entertainment.

any favours. To write a really good paper, to as-

There is so much to be learned. I think the key

semble a story, find something out and then be

to enjoying them is making an effort to under-

able to report it accurately

stand. During my early days in Cambridge, I

and succinctly is amazing-

remember Francis Crick would go to lots of

ly difficult. But obviously

seminars. He’d show up, whether he under-

well worth it when your

stood the topic or not, and ask lots of ques-

reviewers can see clearly

tions. That was his way of learning, and that

what you’ve discovered

was a great lesson for me. It’s easy to get the

and how important it is.

wrong end of the stick in something that is new for you. Asking questions helps tremendously. Now that said, not all of the talks I hear are necessarily entertaining! Here’s the advice: It’s absolutely critical to develop your skills to give a great talk, so that you are understood. We often find no difficulty in understanding our own stuff. The key is spending the time to learn how to communicate so that others do, too.

tors. Then I throw them away. Part of your success as a scientist can be attributed to the fact that you have had an open mind, that you’ve been able to see things you weren’t looking for.

❝ It's absolutely critical

to develop your skills to give a great talk.❞ Sir Tim Hunt, Nobel Prize Laureate

You sit on many evaluation panels. As future evaluees, what advice do you have for us? How much importance should we give to things like Impact Factors? I think it’s very hard to escape from these quantifiable indicators. The problem with them is that the number of citations depends on the number of people in the field, so you need to know where you stand in the hierarchy of that

I suppose that’s one of my virtues – I’ve been able to spot the exceptions. Often scientists today have great expectations of the new technologies and instrumentation

available. It’s as if you can run a bunch of DNA sequences or a mass spec, and the machines will give you all the information you need to make your conclusions. Yes, there’s lots of information in there to be had, but it’s not always so straightforward! Being open to nature and where it can take you is critical. For the future Nobel laureates among us, how does winning the Prize change your life? Practically speaking, you’re in much greater demand. You travel in the front of plane rather than the back, you get to stay in nicer hotels... But it’s also very difficult. At first you think why me? I felt inadequate. It doesn’t really change your science, though. What convinced you to accept our invitation to come to Postdoc Day? My rule is that if I get an invitation from groups like yours or graduate students, if I can come, I will. I get invited to give plenary lectures at all sorts of meetings that I have no problem not accepting. I feel a certain responsibility with young scientists, though. I see it as my duty – but it’s also a pleasure. I love travelling, meeting new people. I may be getting a bit

The first Postdoc Day took place at IRB Barcelona on 3 April 2014. Clockwise from top left: Sir Tim Hunt chats with organizer Jordi Duran, researchers from IRB Barcelona and beyond gave inspiring talks on a range of fields to a full house, poster sessions provided a chance for exchange and interaction. (Photos: O. Martorell)

in vivo

April 2014

| Issue 26

older, but as long as I have the chance to talk to young scientists, I stay young myself. (interview by Jordi Duran)

Unveiling the wicked ways of p38

nce upon a time there was a corrupt molecule, p38. This protein,

withdrawn, the tumour starts to grow again. “p38 inhibitors may have clini-

present in all the cells of our body, is responsible for transport-

cal applications, but probably – and this forms part of the medicine of the

ing information from outside the cell into the nucleus to ensure

future – these will be in combination with other drugs. Now we'll look at

that the cell responds appropriately to the extracellular context. p38 is what

which molecules we can combine p38 inhibitors with so that the tumour,

is known as a signalling molecule. Researchers headed by Angel R. Ne-

which is now smaller, will finally disappear,” explains Nebreda.

breda, ICREA research professor and BBVA Foundation Cancer Research

The inevitable question is whether it would be wise to use an inhibitor

Professor, have revealed the dual role of p38 in colon cancer in a study

of p38 inhibitor, given the dual function of this protein as a suppressor and

published in the journal Cancer Cell.

promoter of colon cancer tumours. The researchers believe so, although

After six years of rsearch and having obtained a PhD based on this study, scientist Jalaj Gupta describes how p38 protects us against the devel-

they indicate that it is essential to determine for which patients and in which contexts it would be most beneficial.

opment of colon tumours. Once

“Our study highlights

cancer is established, however,

the complexity of p38 func-

the tumour cells use the same

tions, both in cancer and in

molecule to survive and prolif-

the maintenance of normal

erate. The good news is that p38

tissues,” summarizes Gupta,

inhibitors are available and they

“and shows why an inhibi-

have been tested in clinical trials

tor of this molecule could

for other diseases. The IRB Bar-

effectively have undesirable

celona scientists administered

side effects. But these do not

these inhibitors to mice with

exclude it from being a tar-

colon cancer and managed to re-

get against cancer.” Nebreda

duce their tumours considerably.

goes on to add, “All drugs

Do these results have a practical application in the near future? “Physicians could be able

currently used to treat cancer Angel R. Nebreda and Jalaj Gupta discover a dual role for the signalling molecule p38 in colon cancer. Their work appears in Cancer Cell in April. (Photo: S. Armengou) Above: a cross section of colon cancer tissue.

to use p38 inhibitors to reduce

have side effects and in this regard p38 inhibitors would be no exception.” As for all

the size of the tumour a few days before surgical intervention, thus facilitating its removal,” explains Nebreda.

anti-cancer drugs, the pros and cons have to be weighed up carefully.

Such use of the inhibitors could be an interesting application for surgery, but what about a possible treatment to eradicate colon cancer? As

tinues through an ERC Advanced Grant that Angel Nebreda has until 2017. In addition, the lab will extend the study to breast and lung cancers. (sa)

the authors note, while p38 inhibitors reduce the size of the tumour, when

IN BRIEF EACR award for Eduard. The European Association for Cancer Research (EACR) has awarded Eduard Batlle the Pezcoller Foundation–EACR Cancer Researcher Award. Batlle will travel to Munich in July to collect the prize, which is given biennially to young researchers in recognition of their academic excellence and achievements in the field of cancer research. ICREA stamp of approval. As of April, the Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA) has a new Academia research-

In the meantime, basic research into the function of p38 in cancer con-

er. Antonio Zorzano, IRB Barcelona Group

This VALTEC technology valorization grant is

Leader and Professor at the University of Bar-

a new resource to motivate research centres to

celona, received the accolade as part of ICREA

conduct projects of technological value and to

Academia Programme, which aims to motivate

offer them tools to compete in the market.

and retain university faculty with outstanding careers. More than half of all IRB Barcelona Group Leaders now have the ICREA stamp of approval.

BioMedTec programme continues. IRB Barcelona’s BioMedTec programme, a transversal initiative to detect and accelerate projects with high potential to be transferred to industry

...and ACCIÓ! In March, ACCIÓ, the

has just received the nod from its funding entity

Catalan Government’s agency for business

”la Caixa”. They have now extended their sup-

competitiveness, has awarded Roger Gomis a

port for a third call, allowing more groups from

€90,000-grant to develop his technology trans-

across the five research programmes to partici-

fer project, New markers for bone metastases.

pate.

in vivo

April 2014

| Issue 26

Using crystallography A target for sarcopeto understand life nia and cachexia?

crystallography, his group obtains 3D information about the macromol-

debilitating symptom seen in patients with cancer, AIDS, and other in-

ecules that form life, and how proteins and nucleic acids are organized at

fectious diseases. No effective treatment is currently available for either

the atomic scale. This year, Coll’s group has achieved a breakthrough using

condition.

he UN has proclaimed 2014 the Year of Crystallography, a science widely taken advantage of by structural biologists. One international expert in this field is IRB Barcelona’s Miquel Coll. Using

crystallography and crystal X-ray diffraction; their study, first-authored by Roeland Boer, appeared in the March edition of Cell.

hese two conditions with complicated names cause muscle wastage. Sarcopenia affects the elderly and leads to reduced mobility or a decrease in strength. Cachexia is an extremely

IRB Barcelona Group Leader Antonio Zorzano, who works on diabetes and obesity, has associated a protein studied in his lab, called DOR,

Five years ago, the group began to collaborate with a team at the Uni-

with muscle atrophy. While examining the function of DOR in animal

versity of Wageningen, in the Netherlands. The Dutch team studies the

models of type 2 diabetes, David Sala, a predoc in Zorzano’s group who is

role of development of plants, in particular how auxin hormones regulate

now at Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute in La Jolla, Califor-

development through proteins known as ARF transcription factors. The

nia, observed that the animals overexpressing this protein showed a great-

idea of the joint project was to shed light on how ARFs interact with

er loss of muscle mass than those in which it was genetically suppressed.

DNA to allow plants to extend roots, mature fruit, flower, grow in a given direction, and so on.

Faced with these results, the researchers postulated in the Journal of Clinical Investigation – one of the main journals in experimental medi-

Using the nearby ALBA synchrotron and the ESRF in Grenoble, the team of structural biologists at IRB Barcelona solved the puzzle.

cine – that DOR could be a valid target for the development of a drug to prevent or stop muscle loss.

They managed to crystallize two distinct ARF proteins, both alone and

DOR participates in autophagy, an internal cleansing mechanism that

bound to DNA. The complexes fi-

all cells have to keep them healthy. Eliminating DOR does not impair

nally allowed the researchers to

autophagy because it is not an essential component for this process, but

understand the mechanism that

acts more as an accelerator. The scientists believe that a drug capable of

activates or represses the

modulating DOR activity would allow cells to maintain a healthy level

genes responsible for plant growth. “Our studies have revealed the final action of the main hormone that controls plant development on DNA, that is to say, on genes, contributing a key point in our

knowledge about basic molecular biology,” explains Coll. (sa)

Atomic structure of an ARF/DNA complex. Auxins control the growth and development of plants through ARF (Image: R. Boer, IRB Barcelona/CSIC)

of autophagy. “This finding can now be taken a step further by pharmaceutical researchers who can determine whether a drug targeting DOR would provide an effective treatment for these patients,” says Zorzano. Also, in the same study, the IRB Barcelona researchers explain why patients with type 1 diabetes lose more muscle than those with type 2. Analyzing biopsies from patients, they have observed that DOR is natu-

rally repressed in the latter. Yet another example of how nature adapts itself to prevailing circumstances. (sa)

SCIENCE BITES

➲

Useful interactions

Can you

interactions between proteins and dismantle

genomic instability in tumorigenesis and dis-

imagine all the possible interactions

parts of its molecular machinery,” explains

sipates doubts about the role of those tumour-

Aloy.

suppressor processes during Drosophila DNA

between proteins inside a cell just in one single map? That is what Roberto Mosca and Patrick Aloy set out to achieve in a collaborative study

➲

Blocking

tumorigenesis

damage-induced tumorigenesis. “The molecular cascades that regulate these processes in

Apoptosis, cell cycle arrest and DNA

Drosophila are well characterized. This allows

in Nature Biotechnology. The interactome map

repair are essential to prevent DNA damage-

us to study the contribution of each of these

show 25% of all binary protein-protein inter-

induced tumorigenesis. This is the main con-

processes independently,” explains Lara.

actions in E. coli and includes more than 70%

clusion that Andres Dekanty and Lara Bar-

of the proteome. “This map allows us to de-

rio from Marco Milan’s Lab published in

sign antibiotics, understand pathologies, break

Oncogene. Their study supports the role of

led by the Craig Venter Institute and published

in vivo

April 2014

| Issue 26

➲

The shape of a HAT

An in-

ternational team formed by Manuel

The Olivera winery, Costers del Segre. (Photo: Bodega Olivera)

Vi per Vida

hen he was a child, Catalan wine ex-

with World No Tobacco Day, in Xavier’s home-

pert Xavier Ayala lost his father to

town of Mollerussa (Lleida).

through their website. Xavier’s story is an example of personal mo-

lung cancer that had spread to his

The event will bring together 500 participants

tivation and a desire to give back to society, two

bones. After reading in the press about the dis-

to taste seven different wines from the Costers del

elements that are especially important in the fight

coveries that Joan Massagué and his team at the

Segre DOC, under Xavier’s expert guidance.

against diseases such as cancer. “It’s not necessarily

Sloan Kettering Institute have recently made about

The City Hall of Mollerussa, the Catalan In-

just a matter of pulling out your wallet and mak-

the causes of metastasis, he made a decision. He

stitute of Vineyards and Wine (INCAVI), several

ing a donation,” he says, “but looking at what I

contacted Massagué with a very clear proposal: or-

local wine distributors, and

ganize a wine tasting event and donate the benefits

a number of local celebrities

to research against metastasis.

have also lent their generous

“It was hard to grow up without my father,”

support to the initiative, in-

says Xavier. “I have always wanted to help some-

cluding world renowned res-

how in the fight against cancer. This is my chance”.

taurateurs the Roca brothers

And thus Vi per Vida (Wine for Life) was born. Vi per Vida is a charitable organization that Xavi-

❝ I have always wanted to

help somehow in the fight against cancer. This is my chance.❞ Xavier Ayala, wine expert

and artist Pilarín Bayés, who created the Vi per Vida logo (see cover).

as an individual had to offer and how I could contribute. It didn’t take much at all to convince my friends and colleagues to help out. All I had to do was ask,” he smiles.

“We congratulate Xavier for this important initiative and look forward to strengthening these

er has set up to raise funds and awareness about

Participants in the wine tasting event will

kinds of collaborations in the future,” says IRB

cancer and metastasis, and highlight the progress

make a small contribution for their attendance,

Barcelona Director Joan J. Guinovart “We are

being made in the lab in the fight against it. Vi

and all proceeds will be donated to IRB Barce-

honoured that he has chosen IRB Barcelona as a

per Vida will organize regular wine tasting events

lona research in cancer and metastasis. Those who

partner. Salut i Vi per Vida!” (ams)

across Catalonia throughout the year. The first ses-

can’t make it to Mollerussa for the event itself can

sion will take place on 31 May 2014, to coincide

still participate – Vi per Vida accepts donations

Reservations at http://vipervida.blogspot.com.es or through the IRB Barcelona homepage.

Palacín’s lab at IRB Barcelona, the University

such as aminoacidurias and various types of

they have drawbacks: they attack all cells in-

of Bern in Switzerland, and computational bi-

cancer, and are extremely difficult to crystal-

discriminately and they have a short lifespan.

ologists from the Joint BSC-CRG-IRB Pro-

lize. The study, performed by Albert Rosell

Ernest Giralt and his colleagues have now

gramme in Computational Biology has ob-

and Elena Álvarez-Marimon, has been pub-

obtained a stable transporter that carries the

tained the structure of a human HAT protein.

lished in PNAS. “Now the search for a HAT-

venom inside the cells where the toxic mol-

“HAT proteins are mini-machines that are in-

specific drug is closer,” concludes Palacín.

ecule is activated by tumour-specific enzymes.

serted into the membrane and are in constant

Therapeutic venoms The use

tracellular space and releasing them in the cy-

➲

toplasm or vice versa,” explains Palacín. These

an increasingly active field. Natural venoms

proteins are associated with multiple diseases,

include powerful cell-killing molecules, but

movement, engulfing amino acids from the ex-

of natural venoms in cancer therapy is

Published in Journal of Controlled Release, the

study has now entered a new stage which will determine how innocuous and effective this venom-delivery system is in vivo. (om)

in vivo

April 2014

| Issue 26

Summer holidays among test tubes

“S

pend the Summer in the Park!,”

the programme changed my life. I had the op-

am doing my PhD today. During my stay, I had

the internship programme that

portunity to work in a leading research labora-

the chance to synthesize and characterize pep-

brings university students closer to

tory for the first time and that experience en-

tides to see if they could cross the Blood Brain

the world of research, has launched its call for

couraged me to start a career in science. In part

Barrier, and that is what I decided to work on

2014. The programme is open to undergradu-

thanks to ‘Spend the Summer in the Park!’, I

for my thesis!” (jl)

ate students of universities worldwide and gives

them an opportunity to participate in research projects of institutes and companies in the Barcelona Science Park. Students and tutors alike consider this short stay an exciting and fruitful experience, and many students maintain links with the research group once the internship is over. Over the past five years, IRB Barcelona’s 23 research labs and seven core facilities have welcomed more than 50 students doing their degrees in biology, chemistry, biochemistry, physics, biophysics and pharmacy degrees in universities across the globe. According to Pol Arranz, who participated in the 2010 edition and is now a PhD candidate Ernest Giralt’s laboratory under the supervision of Meritxell Teixidó, “being accepted to

Former Spend the Summer in the Park! participant Pol Arranz (right) and mentor Meritxell Teixidó (left) in the Design, synthesis and structure of peptides and proteins laboratory at IRB Barcelona.(Photo: O. Martorell)

PhD students call

he annual call for the ”la Caixa”-Severo Ochoa/IRB Barcelona International PhD Programme has once again come to a successful close. The fellowships, which offer

the opportunity for 10 excellent graduate students to join the Institute, are highly competitive – more than 200 applications were received from a total of 39 countries. “The bar is very high in this selection process. Most of the candidates who make it to interview have excellent profiles,” highlights Patricia Nadal, coordinator the call and selection process. “The Group Leaders have now made their first selection and candidates will be invited to visit IRB Barcelona in May. These visits not only allow the candidates to defend their application in person, but also give them the opportunity to get to know what life is like for students at IRB Barcelona, meet our researchers and see our facilities,” she adds.

New Student Council-ers

ach year half of IRB Barcelona’s 10-member PhD student council rotates off, allowing new members to join. Elections were held in March, and the PhD student body cast their votes, elect-

ing Artur Ezquerra, Júlia García, Marion Salzer, Daniel Byrom and Clara Suñer as their new representatives. The students will take up their roles effective immediately and will meet regularly to plan new activities and liaise between the PhD community and Administration. Why should students stand for election? “Simply put, to help the IRB Barcelona PhD community in our day-to-day lives,” says Júlia García. “Participation on the Council really improves the PhD experience,

and lots of great initiatives arise from our meetings,” adds leaving member Pablo Barrecheguren. “It’s an enriching and rewarding activity which I’m sure will also be useful for my future career.” (om)

The ”la Caixa” fellowships seek to help brilliant students from Spain and abroad get a great start to their life sciences careers in cutting-edge research environments such as IRB Barcelona, or one of the other Severo Ochoa Centers of Excellence working in the biomedical sciences. “When I received the fellowship I realized I

was starting a new stage of my life,” says Arzu Ozturk, recipient of a 2010 fellowship. ”la Caixa” opens the door,” she smiles, “but it’s up to us to make the best of a great opportunity.” (om)

in vivo

April 2014

| Issue 26

The newly-elected and currently-serving members of the PhD Student Council. (Photo: M. Minocri/G. Battista)

My, how did you learn to write so well?

he answer is clear: with lots and lots

veloping this critical skill. The most recent

and lots of practice. There are no two

edition took place on April 8, and was led by

ways around it.

Robin Rycroft, former scientific text corrector

For most of us, scientists or not, writing

can be a daunting task. It means finding the right words to capture the thoughts in your head, and put them down in such a way so that people will want to read them. Will I be understood? Will I be convincing? Will I be (gasp) eloquent? In many ways it’s like putting part of yourself down on paper for everyone to see. We all have to write in some way or form during our work days, whether it’s an email, a report, or a scientific paper. In the research laboratory, writing well can be a considerable challenge. Especially if you have been trained in the sciences, and words may not be as forthcoming as numbers and formulas. Especially if you are writing in English as a non-native speaker. Over the years, IRB Barcelona has orRobin Rycroft shares his tips and tricks on how to be brief, concise and economical at the Barcelona BioMed Workshop on Writing Clearer Papers, held on 8 April at IRB Barcelona.

ganized several courses to make sure our researchers have the opportunity to keep de-

at the University of Barcelona with more than 30 years’ experience revising scientists’ written English. He gave his insight into why the process of writing is important, and offered tips and tricks to ensure that what you write is clear, crisp and effective. “Writing helps us to learn,” surmises Rycroft. “Often we’re not forced to think through a topic properly until we have to write something down. It’s an opportunity: to question, to reason your way through sequential steps and to organize your thoughts. It’s a chance to convince and to persuade. Clear writing really boils down to logically arranging your thoughts,” he continues, “and if you can break them down, and follow a few simple guidelines

so that you’re clear, you’ll be just fine. Be brief, be concise and be economical! And yes, you do need to practice,” he adds with a wink. (ss)

Cancer research live

he Historic Building of the University of Barcelona hosted the 12th edition of the “Live Research Fair”, an initiative that brings the public in contact with cutting edge research per-

formed in the area of Barcelona. This year, Begoña Canovas, Ana Igea, Lorena Ramírez and Raquel Batlle, from Angel R. Nebreda’s Signalling and Cell Cycle lab carried the IRB Barcelona torch with their booth,

“How do we study cancer?”. They spoke with visitors about their research projects and walked them through them some of the experiments they do daily in their labs. (jl)

Creu de Sant Jordi for Guinovart The Government of Catalonia has awarded its most prestigious recognition, the St. Jordi’s Cross, to IRB Barcelona Director Joan J. Guinovart for his work on metabolic disorders associated with neurodegenerative diseases, his contributions to the education and projection of science in Catalonia. Guinovart, and the 26 individuals and 15 organizations who have been chosen this year, Begoña Canovas gets hands-on with cancer research at the Live Research Fair, held on 8-10 April. (Photo: O. Martorell)

received the honour in a ceremony on April 22, the eve of St. Jordi’s Day. (Photo: M. Minocri)

in vivo

April 2014

| Issue 26

Prize-winning research projects

very summer, IRB Barcelona labs fill up with talented students who come to perform the experiments for their high school research projects. It’s an insightful experience

which allows them to enter into a real lab, often for the first time, before starting their university studies.

NEW AT IRB BARCELONA IRB Barcelona has welcomed its first Belarusian. New COFUND postdoc Liudmila Filonova (Minsk,

Belarus, 1982) joined Lluís Ribas’ and Travis Stracker’s labs in March. A biochemist by training (she did her PhD at the MPI for Biophysical Chemistry in Göttingen, Germany), Liudmila will study ADAT, an enzyme that modifies tRNA and has been suggested to play a role in the DNA damage response. Since her last project focused on kinetic studies of ribosomal complexes in test tubes, she’s looking forward to extending

The visits are framed within the “Recerca a Secundària” Pro-

her expertise and learning new techniques along the way. “I’m an expert

gramme, run by the Barcelona Science Park with the support of

in vitro,” she jokes, “and I hope I can now be one in vivo, too!” Scien-

the Catalunya-La Pedrera Foundation. Since the programme

tifically she is looking forward to taking advantage of the wide range of

started in 2005, close to 400 projects have been carried out, and

seminars IRB Barcelona has to offer. On the weekends, she hopes to hit

this year, IRB Barcelona scientists from across the research pro-

the hiking trails. “I used to go off with my backpack for weeks at a time

grammes supervised 34 students. As an added bonus, each year,

in the mountains of Northern Russia,” she smiles. “I might not have

the organizers select the top three projects to receive a prize at an

quite so much time to do that here, but I’m sure it will be beautiful.”

awards ceremenoy, held this year on 19 March at the iconic La Pedrera building in Barcelona. This year’s winners include two projects done in IRB Barcelona labs.

ON THE MOVE

One prize was awarded to Anna Sagrera (left) for a project

After six years heading up the Experimental Bioin-

entitled. “The hidden face of progesterone in breast cancer.” She

formatics Laboratory, Montse Soler (Manresa,

was tutored by Enrique Arenes, who works in Roger Gomis’ lab.

Spain, 1971) is returning to her first love: crystal-

The second prize was given to Martí Jiménez (right), who also

lography. In April she took up her new position as

participated in the first edition of the “Crazy About Biomedi-

research manager of the molecular biology lab at the

cine” programme. He worked under the supervision of Benjamí

European Synchrotron Facility in Grenoble, where

Oller from Ernest Giralt’s lab on a project entitled “Towards a

her experience at the interface between computational and wet biology

nanotheragnostic approach against Alzheimer’s disease.” And if

working to experimentally validate predictive models (not to mention

you’re keeping track, his research also garnered him a Certificate

her expert lab management skills) will be put to good use. “I’ve had an

of Award from the American Psychological Association, a Certifi-

incredible opportunity at IRB Barcelona to merge scales of information

cate of Outstanding Achievement for Ability and Creativity in In

and experimental approaches,” she says. “There are not many labs like

Vitro Biology, participation in the Young Researchers Certamen

this in the world.” Her new project, a collaboration with Patrick Aloy,

in Malaga, and a “Ciencia en Acción” prize.

will focus on protein-protein networks in Alzheimer’s disease. They’ve

“The opportunity to spend my afternoons in the laboratory-

identified genes they believe are implicated in the onset of the disease.

with Benjamí to complete this project has been great,” says Martí,

“We’ve formulated some hypotheses at the molecular level, and now I get

“His support has been crucial and it was nice that our experiments

to go back to crystallography to figure it out. I’m excited,” she smiles.

worked out – we got some great results. It has absolutely reaffirmed my desire to pursue a career in the biomedical sciences.” (jl)

Jordi Lanuza (Sant Quirze del Vallès, Spain, 1985) is moving on to greener pastures, literally. As of April, he’ll be at the Institute of Metabolic Science at green and grassy Cambridge University (UK), coordinating a new network of researchers working on metabolism. Jordi leaves IRB Barcelona with several badges on his sleeve: he began as an undergraduate student in Joan Guinovart’s lab, moved on to complete his PhD thesis in cell signalling with Carme Caelles, and rounded things off with a productive stint in the Office of Communications and External Relations, where he learned the ropes about institutional communications and outreach activities. Along the way, he played an active role in the Student Council and other PhD activities, such as helping to organize the first International PhD symposium. “I’m sure that everything I learned at IRB Barcelona will help me in my new role,” says Jordi. “What will I miss the most? The people – after all, they are one of the Institute’s biggest strengths.”

In vivo, issue 26. 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), Òscar Martorell (om), Anna Merlos-Suárez (ams). 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.