The Barcelona Institute for Biomedical Research (IIBB-CSIC) has actively participated in Science Week 2024, which takes place from November 8 to 17. This event, which aims to bring science and research closer to society, has allowed a total of 243 students from different fields to learn about the latest advances in biomedicine and the pioneering work carried out at the IIBB.
During the 12th and 13th, the IIBB has organized a series of activities, talks and practical workshops that have been developed mainly at the facilities of the Hospital Clínic de Barcelona. The conferences and workshops were attended by students from Olot (La Garrotxa), Hostalric (La Selva), Alella and Mataró (Maresme), Terrassa (Vallès Occidental), Barcelona and Hospitalet de Llobregat (Barcelonès). All of them were able to interact closely with the Institute's researchers and professionals.
Among the highlighted topics were research into neurodegenerative diseases, cancer and the development of personalized therapies, areas in which the IIBB has made significant progress in recent years.
Interactive workshops on biomedical research
One of the most eagerly awaited moments of Science Week at the IIBB was the interactive workshops organized by the IIBB, which offered a practical and educational experience on various biomedical research techniques. The participants, students in their second year of high school and higher education, have had the opportunity to delve deeper into the work carried out at the Institute, with workshops that have covered topics such as:
• Cell cultures: Attendees have explored how cells are grown and manipulated in the laboratory, a fundamental process for the study of diseases and the development of new treatments.
• Advanced microscopy: This workshop has allowed participants to observe cells and tissues using advanced microscopy techniques, which has given them a unique view of the microscopic world and its relationship with biomedicine.
• Protein determination: In this workshop, participants have learned about the methods used to quantify proteins in biological samples, a key tool in disease research and in the development of therapies.
Conferences by experts in biomedicine
The IIBB has also organized a series of conferences given by leading experts in various areas of biomedicine, who have offered attendees an in-depth view of cutting-edge topics in scientific research. The conferences were as follows:
• Anna Moles: "Regeneration and cancer, two sides of the same coin"
Dr. Moles addressed how cell regeneration processes can have a direct relationship with cancer, exploring the similarities and differences between the two.
• Sandra Torres: "Mitochondria also get stressed!"
Dr. Torres gave a talk on mitochondrial stress, a key factor in various diseases, from neurodegenerative disorders to cancer, and its relevance in modern biomedicine.
• Anna Serrano-Mollar: "Development of a cell therapy: from the laboratory to the hospital"
Dr. Serrano explained how a cell therapy is taken from the laboratory to clinical application, highlighting the challenges and advances in this promising field. • Elia Ivars and Margalida Puigròs: "Mitochondrial DNA, your cell's best kept secret"
PhD students Ivars and Puigròs gave a fascinating talk about mitochondrial DNA, a fundamental component for cellular function that continues to be the subject of intense research in biomedicine.
Education and Social Awareness
The fundamental objective of these activities is to foster interest in science and research from an early age. "It is essential that society learns first-hand how science and research directly impact our daily lives. We want people to understand the effort and potential of biomedical research to improve global health," said Dr. Roser Cortés i Colomé, director of the IIBB.
A continuous commitment to science
This is the 15th time that the IIBB has participated in Science Week, thus reaffirming its commitment to scientific dissemination and its leadership in biomedical research. The Institute continues to be a benchmark in the field of biomedical research, constantly working to offer new solutions that can improve people's quality of life.
Science Week, organized by the Department of Research and Universities of the Generalitat in Catalonia and by the CSIC (Science and Technology Week at the CSIC) has brought together institutions from all over Spain to promote scientific and technological knowledge among the general public. This event has provided a unique opportunity for citizens to interact with scientists and experts in various areas of knowledge.
For more information on the activities carried out by the IIBB during Science Week, those interested can contact info@iibb.csic.es.
