This 2023 has been a great year in terms of funding received by the public research institutes, centres and groups at the Barcelona Science Park, which mobilised 69.9 million euros, of which 57.1 million came from public funds. This figure is 39.8% higher than in 2022. The resources raised enabled the centres to make a quantitative and qualitative leap in the generation of knowledge and technology. They also served to advance in a management approach based on the valorisation and transfer of results that is committed to a model of open innovation to take on the health challenges of the 21st century from a global perspective. 

The public R&D&I ecosystem at the Science Park of the University of Barcelona achieved indicators of excellence in 2023, both in terms of input – funding, scientific talent and infrastructure – and output – scientific production, transfer, innovation and internationalisation – that consolidate its international positioning as a model of leading, cutting-edge research.  

The institutes, centres and research groups present at the Park have significantly increased their capacity to attract resources, both nationally and internationally. This has allowed them to make a quantitative and qualitative leap in the progress of their activity. All together, in 2023 they mobilised 69.9 million euros, between public capital (57.1 million) and private capital (12.8 million). This figure represents an increase of 39.8% over 2022, when they reached 50 million euros. 

The Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona) -occupying 5.576 m² in the Park in 2023, with 30 research groups, 8 scientific platforms and over 451 people dedicated to research- raised 34.2 million euros (6.8 million in private capital).

The Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC) -occupying 4.022 m² with 23 research groups and 339 researchers- achieved a total of 17.5 million euros (2.5 million in private capital).

The National Centre for Genomic Analysis (CNAG) -occupying 1,474 m² with 17 groups, and a scientific team of 111 professionals- obtained 9.9 million euros (2.8 million in private capital). On 1st January 2023, CNAG became a legal entity in its own right, as a recognition of its relevant trajectory during these past 14 years, and the significant contribution the institute has made in cancer and rare diseases, consolidating CNAG as the largest genomic analysis center in Spain and a worldwide reference on the international stage.

The Molecular Biology Institute of Barcelona (IBMB-CSIC) -occupying 1,961 m² with 36 research groups and 100 researchers- raised a total of  4.9 million euros (0,1 million in private capital).  

As for the University of Barcelona centres and groups located at the Barcelona Science Park, it is worth highlighting Creatio, the UB’s centre for the production and validation of advanced therapies, which raised 1.7 million euros (0.6 million euros in private capital); the Technology Unit of the Institute of Cosmos Sciences (ICCUB-Tech),with 807,000 euros (€21,000 in private capital); the Biomolecule NMR Group (BioNMR Group), part of the UB Department of Inorganic and Organic Chemistry, which received €422,146 in public funds; and, finally, the Laboratory of Metabolic Dynamics in Cancer, which obtained €341,250 (€60,000 in private capital), and the Molecular Structure of Nuclear Receptors Group, which raised €15,000 in private capital, both of whom belong to the Institute of Biomedicine of the University of Barcelona (IBUB).

“We are extremely satisfied with the results achieved in 2023. They reflect the collective effort and dedication of all the institutes and research groups present at the Barcelona Science Park. The 70 million in funding, 40% more than the previous year, is a clear indicator of our public research’s ability to attract both public and private resources, so we are talking about solid lines with a great future outlook. The Barcelona Science Park is already a benchmark in the field of health in Europe and we will continue to work on a model of open innovation that allows us to face the challenges of the 21st century, generating knowledge and technology that benefits society”, said Maria Terrades, director of the Park.

Intellectual property and spin-offs  

During 2023, the public centres and groups in the Barcelona Science Park community maintained their firm commitment to the valorisation of knowledge and technology, and their transfer to the productive fabric.  

In terms of intellectual property, a total of 24 priority patent applications and extensions were filed: IBEC,12; IRB Barcelona, 6; and the IBMB-CSIC, 6. In addition, in 2023, IRB Barcelona signed four licensing contracts for its patented technologies and the IBEC, three. 

In transfer, IRB Barcelona achieved an unprecedented milestone in 2023, as one of their breakthroughs led to a diagnostic device reaching the market for the first time, through the work of one of its spin-offs. The device is Inbiomotion’s MAF-TEST for breast cancer prognosis, which is now available to oncologists and pathologists and is estimated to benefit around 24,000 patients each year in Spain. Another of IRB Barcelona’s spin-offs, Nuage Therapeutics, raised €12 million in seed funding headed by Sofinnova Partners and Asabys to drive forward its main programme for castration-resistant prostate cancer (targeting intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs)) and validate its drug discovery platform. The IBEC’s market-potential discoveries led to the founding of Nanobots Therapeutics in 2023, a spin-off of the IBEC and the Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA). The company will work on developing and marking the MotionTx technology platform, based on nanobots with unique tumour-penetrating capabilities to deliver drugs directly to cancer cells. The company closed a pre-seed fundraising round of €478,000, headed by BStartup Health. Nanobots will initially focus on non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer, one of the most recurrent and difficult-to-treat cancers. 

Expanding the frontiers of knowledge

In 2023, the public RDI and PCB ecosystem strengthened its commitment to its open innovation model by combining scientific talent, cutting-edge technology and cooperation with public institutions and national and international private companies. The aim is to boost interdisciplinary projects that generate market value and have the potential to solve health challenges from a global perspective.  

During 2023 they launched a total of 1,702 national and international collaborative projects with various public and private organisations around the world, 248 % more than in 2022. The organisations involved were National Centre for Genomic Analysis (CNAG) 1,115 projects; IRB Barcelona, 271; IBEC, 166; Creatio, 54; IBMB-CSIC, 72; the Technology Unit of the Institute of Cosmos Sciences of the UB (ICCUB), 10; the UB Biomolecular NMR (BioNMR) Group, 8; the IBUB Laboratory of Metabolic Dynamics in Cancer, 4; and the IBUB Molecular Structure of the Nuclear Receptors Group, 2. 

Strengthening scientific and technological capabilities 

In 2023, the new 1.0 GHz nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer was inaugurated at the Biomolecular NMR Laboratory (ICTS R-LRB), the only such NMR infrastructure in Europe, and the second in the world (after Japan) to use high-temperature superconductors to generate magnetic fields in a 1 GHz NMR instrument. The facility was optimised with the acquisition of a triple resonance TXI probe. 

In 2023, the CNAG continued to renew its sequencing infrastructures and complementary equipment, with ERDF co-funding through the CTS agreements with the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities and the Government of Catalonia. Of particular note are the CosMx™ Spatial Molecular Imager, a high-multiplex in situ analysis platform that provides spatial multi-omics with formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) and fresh (FF) tissue samples at both cellular and subcellular resolution; the Bruker Vutara VXL Super-Resolution Microscope, an industry-leading microscopy technology specifically designed for single-molecule localisation; and the expansion of the CNAG computing cluster in both computing nodes and storage disks. 

The IBEC set up a biomodule in the BioImaging Facility, a unique scientific technological infrastructure that provides imaging tools for the in vivo, ex vivo and in vitro study of different experimental models. It also created the Common Core Basics, which provides routine laboratory and other types of equipment necessary for the IBEC groups to carry out their research. 

The IBMB-CSIC has added a new super-high-resolution confocal microscopy device, the Stellaris 8 FALCON to the Molecular Imaging Platform. This allows the study of biological systems by applying a wide variety of fluorescence techniques to investigate cellular physiology and explore the dynamics of living and complex biological samples. 

Creatio added a new biochemical analysis machine to its research infrastructure, and a 3D bioprinter with GMP compliance, the only one certified in Spain for the manufacture of bioprinted products for clinical use. With this disruptive technology, the center will be able to manufacture artificial human tissues that will help cure diseases that currently have no treatment. In June 2023, Creatio acquired UTOX, the experimental toxicology platform of the Barcelona Science Park. This acquisition will allow the center to offer support and services throughout the entire drug development chain, from basic research to the production of advanced therapy drugs. 

Attracting innovative talent

Throughout 2023, the institutes, centres and public research groups in the PCB continued to focus on attracting and retaining scientific and innovative talent, and setting up new research groups to develop disruptive projects with a high potential and impact on health.  

During the year, the CNAG added two new teams to the organisation: Functional Genomics, led by Anna Esteve, and Spatial Genomics, led by Anna Pascual-Reguant. The IRB Barcelona opened the new Innate Immune Biology laboratory, led by Stefanie Wculek.  

The IBMB-CSIC also set up three new research groups: Structural Glycoprotein, led by Marcelo Guerin; Chromatin Folding and Nanoscopy, led by Victoria Neguembor; and Epigenetics and Single-Cell Dynamics, led by Irene Hernando. 

Advances in R&D&I    

In terms of scientific production, the indicators used by the PCB public institutes, centres and groups showed the high global impact of their pioneering research, with a total of 586 articles indexed in high-impact international journals: IBEC, 214; IRB Barcelona, 177; CNAG, 107; IBMB-CSIC, 50; ICCUB-Tech, 21; Creatio, 8; the UB BioNMR Group, 5; the IBUB Molecular Structure of Nuclear Receptors Group, 3; and the IBUB Metabolic Dynamics in Cancer Group, 1. 

This scientific output was reflected in research projects at the cutting edge of innovation and technological development, with a significant impact on science, the economy and society. 

• In 2023 the CNAG made a major contribution to planetary biodiversity, by helping to generate reference chromosomes for 39 species, providing valuable data for their analysis and conservation. It was also involved in studies that significantly advanced understanding of our evolution, becoming the genomic sequencing and analysis centre for the largest primate catalogue in history. One of the few special issues of the journal Science edited in Spain (doi: 10.1126/science.abn8197) published the genomes of 86% of primate genera and all the families, totalling over 809 individuals from 233 species, the most complete catalogue of primate genomic information ever produced. Eight out of ten of the species were sequenced at the CNAG. Another team at the centre created innovative software to identify genetic modifications in DNA, a key tool for understanding how certain diseases are regulated and develop (Bioinformatics Advances; doi: 10.1093/bioadv/vbac101). The centre also published the first DNA library of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, with the genomic profile of nearly 500 bacteria, revealing the mechanisms that cause them to acquire, develop and transmit drug resistance. This online database, called InCREDBle, is complemented by other scientific studies and clinical, geographical and microbiological data, making it the most comprehensive resource for studying this class of bacteria (Microbial Genomics; doi: 10.1099/mgen.0.001132). Use of next-generation sequencing technology for applications in rare diseases is one of the CNAG’s priority areas, where it continued to work closely with national and international institutions, clinicians and patient associations to end patients’ diagnostic odyssey and develop new therapies. In 2023, it analysed the genomes of over 1,000 patients with rare diseases and hereditary cancer, 17% up on the previous year, in initiatives such as Solve-RD, iGenCO and Senegene. The RD–Connect Genome–Phenome Analysis Platform (GPAP), developed and coordinated by the CNAG, which enables secure genomic and phenotypic data integration, analysis and sharing between authorised clinical and research teams, was an essential step for some of these projects. For more information, visit the CNAG website [+]

• The IBEC was once again outstanding in its excellent RDI in bioengineering, placing it at the cutting edge of knowledge in areas such as nanomedicine, cell and tissue engineering and ICT for health. The year saw numerous achievements in the fields of early diagnosis, state-of-the-art therapies in regenerative medicine, improved quality of life in the ageing population and new technologies to increase efficiency and sustainability in healthcare. An IBEC and a UB team managed to grow highly mature neurons from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) of human origin, using synthetic material, opening new possibilities in biomedical research into neurodegenerative diseases and traumatic injuries (Cell Stem Cell; doi: 10.1016/j.stem.2022.12.010). Another study, also led by the IBEC and the UB, discovered a key mechanism in the recruitment of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF), which are crucial for the development of lung adenocarcinoma, the most common type of lung cancer. The study identified an inhibitor drug that could prevent the migration and accumulation of these cells, thus hindering tumour growth and metastasis (British Journal of Cancer; doi: 10.1038/s41416-022-02093-x). Researchers from the Nanobioengineering group led research describing the development of an organ-on-a-chip that functions as a model of the human blood-brain barrier. The system facilitates the study of how the barrier functions with regard to drugs and permits much more effective screening. In addition, patients’ cells could be added to provide a personalised study of neurodegenerative diseases (Journal of Nanobiotechnology; doi: 10.1186/s12951-023-01798-2). Another IBEC-led team designed an innovative treatment to eliminate chronic wound infections, based on the use of enzyme-optimised silver nanoparticles and two antibiotics in combination. This is a highly effective approach against biofilms, complex structures by which bacteria protect themselves from antibiotics (Frontiers in Microbiology; doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.959156). Pioneering work led by the IBEC in collaboration with the Institute of Photonic Sciences (ICFO) revealed a method for controlling brain activity in living organisms using infra red-light activated drugs. This finding opens up new avenues for research in neurobiology and the development of non-invasive light-based neuromodulation therapies (Angewandte Chemie International Edition; doi: 10.1002/anie.202311181). For more information, visit the IBEC website [+]

•  The IBMB-CSIC made highly significant progress in the study of the molecular and genetic mechanisms involved in biological processes, a field relevant to the development and physiology of living organisms. A team at the institute identified an unconventional mechanism of action for an intracellular vesicle-localised receptor, TNFR-Wergen, and its role in the development of terminal cells in the Drosophila tracheal system. This research could provide the basis for the study of numerous respiratory diseases (Nature Communications; doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-41549-3). Another group described a new mechanism for the regulation of dynein, a kind of molecular motor for cell division and neuronal development, opening up an innovative avenue for research in diseases such as cancer, central nervous system disorders and organ malformations (Nature Communications; doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-38116-1). A collaboration between the IBMB-CSIC and CIB-MS characterised the three-dimensional structure of the RepB protein, which is essential to initiating replication of bacterial plasmid pMV158 containing a tetracycline resistance gene. This discovery could lead to new strategies for combating antibiotic resistance (Nucleic Acids Research; doi: 10.1093/nar/gkac1271). Researchers at the IBUB and the BMLS in Germany deciphered the structure and function of the P116 protein, which enables the bacterium Mycoplasma pneumoniae (the cause of 30% of out-of-hospital pneumonias) to obtain cholesterol and other lipids it needs for its survival. This research could provide new therapeutic possibilities to block the infectious capacity of this pathogen (Nature Structural & Molecular Biology; doi: 10.1038/s41594-023-00922-y). Another breakthrough by the IBMB-CSIC in 2023 was designing a disruptive technology (applying techniques from structural biology, computational physics and artificial intelligence) to improve the development of the antibody regions that provide the specificity needed to neutralise an external molecule. This contribution opens the door to designing tailored antibodies (Nature Communications; doi: 10.1038/ s41467-023-41717-5. For more information, visit the IBMB-CSIC website [+]

•  At the IBUB, the Molecular Structure of Nuclear Receptors Group, led by Dr Eva Estébanez, made significant advances in their field using various biochemical and biophysical techniques, such as X-ray crystallography and surface plasmon resonance. Of particular relevance is a study revealing the great structural plasticity of the androgen receptor when there are pathology-associated mutations and post-translational modifications. This has great potential for designing more selective drugs for prostate cancer with fewer side effects (Science Advances; doi: 10.1126/sciadv.ade2175). In 2023, Dr Estébanez’s team also participated in an international study that showed that γ-linolenic acid (GLA), an omega-6 fatty acid present in breast milk, is a ligand of the RXR receptor, a key regulator of the metabolism, development and function of the newborn heart. This finding opens up unexplored pharmacological avenues for treating diseases where maternal-foetal harmony is disrupted (Nature; doi: 10.1038/s41586-023-06068-7). For more information, visit the Molecular Structure of Nuclear Receptors Group website [+]

•  In 2023, IRB Barcelona was once again at the forefront of biomedical research, making fundamental advances in understanding and fighting cancer and metastasis, and addressing the complex challenges of ageing and metabolism-related disorders. Harnessing the power of extensive research networks, it delved into the complex system of interactions that underpin health and disease, from cellular systems to patient care. A study headed by IRB Barcelona revealed how the MAF protein promotes breast cancer metastasis by influencing the oestrogen receptor. This discovery is a crucial step in understanding the molecular basis of metastasis and has significant clinical implications for its therapeutic approach (Nature Cell Biology; doi: 10.1038/s41556-023-01281-y). Another team at the centre discovered how the expansion of cell-to-cell communication plays a crucial role in the early stages of pancreatic cancer development, suggesting avenues for early detection and intervention (Science; doi: 10.1126/science.add5327). An international study, co-led by the IRB Barcelona, the Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine (VIMM) and the University of Padua, described the existence of different “variants” of the protein Mitofusin – a mitochondrial protein crucial for cell function – that play vital roles in organelle communication. The research provides new insights into the mechanisms underlying neuromuscular diseases, such as Charcot-Marie-Tooth neuropathy 2A, and metabolic diseases such as diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, while also offering new therapeutic alternatives (Science; doi: 10.1126/science.adh9351). A team led by IRB Barcelona and CNAG discovered the central role played by the IL-17 protein in skin ageing. The work opens new perspectives in developing therapies to improve skin health, delay age-related skin deterioration and improve skin recovery after surgery (Nature Aging; doi: 10.1038/s43587-023-00431-z). A group of scientists at IRB Barcelona and the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics and BC Cancer described a new strategy to target the androgen receptor, an essential factor in aggressive prostate cancer. This offers a new way to inhibit its activity and potentially revolutionise treatment approaches (Nature Structural & Molecular Biology; doi: 10.1038/s41594-023-01159-5). For more information, visit the IRB Barcelona website [+]

• The main advances of Creatio -the UB’s Center for Production and Validation of Advanced Therapies- during 2023 were the obtaining of a research project to obtain bioprinted human skin for a clinical trial; the transfer to clinical production conditions (GMP) of the human stem cell differentiation protocol into neurons; the establishment of neural progenitor selection protocols under GMP conditions, and the production of lentiviruses under clinical conditions for CAR T Cells clinical trials in different hospitals in Spain. For more information, visit the Creatio website [+]

• In 2023, the UB BioNMR Group carried out the first assays to characterise biological products of therapeutic interest (mainly nucleic acid model monoclonal antibodies) with the new 1.0 GHz nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer. Thanks to this Singular Scientific and Technological Facility, the team also made significant progress in the study of the regulation of c-Src, the oldest known human oncogene-linked protein, opening the door to new strategies to fight cancer. The results of this work were presented in leading scientific journals (Pure and Applied Chemistry; doi: 10.1515/pac-2022-1211 / Oncotarget; doi: 10.18632/oncotarget.28434 / Biomedicine and Pharmacotherapy; doi: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.117325) and have led to filing a patent (EP24382104). The novelty of the approach taken by Dr Miquel Pons’s group is the discovery of the regulatory role of the c-Src disordered region (Structure; doi: 10.1016/j.str.2017.02.011 / Oncogene; doi: 10.1038/s41388-021-02092-x). Drugs directed at this new therapeutic target act on the oncogenic potential of c-Src without affecting its physiological role in healthy cells. The team led by Dr Pons also developed a very innovative methodology, in collaboration with researchers from the United States, Japan and Australia, that provides greater structural and dynamic knowledge of the neurotensin 1 receptor (NTSR). This promises to be a highly fruitful pharmacological target for the treatment of pain, schizophrenia, obesity, addiction and various types of cancer (Nature Communications; doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-38894-8 / Cell Reports; doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112015). For more information, visit the BioNMR Group website [+]

• The ICCUB-Tech played a leading role in advancing such key international projects as the Gaia mission, the flagship initiative of the European Space Agency (ESA) to map the stars in our galaxy in detail. The discovery of half a million new stars in Omega Centauri (the largest and most massive star cluster in the Milky Way), the observation of 380 quasars by gravitational lensing and the definition of the position of more than 150,000 asteroids within the solar system were some of the findings by the GAIA mission in 2023, in which the ICCUB-Tech team participated. The unit also successfully completed the European project Galactic RainCloudS (cloud computing for Gaia data), as part of the European Union’s Open Clouds for Research Environments (OCRE)  subsidy programme. The combination of extraordinary volumes of data from the Gaia satellite with the ICCUB team’s extensive expertise in computational techniques, the flexibility of cloud infrastructures and data mining techniques made it possible to conduct a holistic study of the links between galaxy collisions and star formation. Finally, of particular note among the projects started in 2023 by ICCUB-Tech is its active participation in two of the latest ESA missions: Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA), the first scientific effort to detect and study gravitational waves in space; and PLAnetary Transits and Oscillations of stars (PLATO), which aims to find and characterise a large number of extrasolar planetary systems and their stars. For more information, visit the ICCUB-Tech website [+]