A new era of research in cancer genomics Blog Post

A study published in the prestigious journal Nature Communications –led by the Centro Nacional de Analisis Genómico (CNAG-CRG), located at the Barcelona Science Park (PCB), and the  German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ)– revealed a high degree of heterogeneity in how cancer genome sequencing is done at different institutions across the globe. The results of this work –carried out within the framework of the International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC)– lay the foundation for the coming era of cancer genomics by creating guidelines and providing new tools for achieving higher quality data, for better diagnosis and precision medicine.

IBUB research group identifies GLUT2 protein’s role in zebrafish brain development Blog Post

Researchers from the University of Barcelona (UB) and the Institute of Biomedicine of the UB (IBUB) –located at the Parc Científic de Barcelona– have first described the key role that GLUT2 protein plays in embryonic brain development in zebrafish. A new article —highlighted on the cover of the January issue of the Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow & Metabolism— proves that this molecule depletion alters the development of brain basic structures involved in glucose sensing.

The PCB adds a new multiple sclerosis research laboratory Blog Post

Barcelona Science Park has added a new neuro-immunology laboratory connected to the August Pi i Sunyer Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBAPS: Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer). The new facility is led by researcher Pablo Villoslada, a PhD in neurology from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. This group’s activities centre on two lines of research: the first studies the origin of multiple sclerosis via the use of computational and mathematical tools; the second explores new treatments and methods of diagnosis for this and other auto-immune illnesses. The team is made up of 8 people and is currently installed in the Hèlix Building and the Philosophy Building.

Researchers at the IRB-PCB demonstrate the link between stem cells and tumors Blog Post

Scientists at the Institute of Biomedical Research of the Parc Científic de Barcelona ( ) have performed a study that indicates that some cancer tumors may originate through defects in stem cell division. The study, directed by Cayetano González, ICREA researcher and head of the Cell Division Group at the IRB-PCB, has focused on the division of the neuroblast, the cell fated to become a neuron, in models of the fly Drosophila . The results from this research have been published in the 4 September online edition of the scientific journal (doi:10.1038/ng1632).