Blindness, plant proteostasis, and epigenetics and cancer, the forthcoming scientific debate topics in Barcelona
In September, CaixaForum will host a B·Debate session, a joint initiative of Biocat and Obra Social “la Caixa”, while the two other events will be held at CosmoCaixa
On September 6 and 7, Barcelona’s CaixaForum will be the venue of a new scientific debate hosted by B·Debate, a joint initiative of Biocat and “la Caixa” Foundation. Led by the scientific director of the Barcelona Macula Foundation, Dr. Jordi Monés, the event will address the topic of blindness and explore the potential of new therapeutic approaches to deal with retinal dystrophies.
The debate, which is organized by B·Debate and the Barcelona Macula Foundation in conjunction with the Genomic Regulation Center (CRG) and the LEITAT Foundation, will explore new therapies which combine nanotechnology, regenerative medicine, stem cells, gene therapy, genomics, bioengineering, optogenetics, and photonic sciences. Basic and translational researchers, along with world leaders and experts in all of these fields, will participate in the program so that knowledge can be shared among the different sectors of innovation.
In addition to registering for the debate, participants can also present a poster on their own avenue of research. To apply for a poster session, an abstract must be submitted by July 31.
Another B·Debate event will be held in September on plant proteostasis. This one will be held in Barcelona’s CosmoCaixa on September 27 and 28. As the first debate on the topic, the organizers want to bring a positive impact on how research on plant proteostasis can help to enhance the creation of innovative industrial products and facilitate the transition towards a sustainable economy which is not dependent on fossil fuel derivatives.
The program highlights knowledge on the molecular processes that control the agronomic characteristics of plants (proteostatis) related to crop productivity and the quality of the biomass.
The debate, which will be led by L. Maria Lois and Núria Sànchez-Coll from the Agrigenomic Research Center (CRAG), will explore the application of proteomic approaches to improving plant yields. These events are organized by B·Debate, the Agrigenomic Research Center, and the COST Proteostasis action. Registration is now open.
Looking ahead to October, the scientific community will be invited to attend a new edition of the Barcelona Conferences on Epigenetics and Cancer (BCEC), a continuation of the three previous events held in 2013, 2014, and 2015. The preliminary program will present world experts in the fields of epigenetic regulation, RNA processing and translation, stem cell biology, and the microenvironment of tumors, fields which are helping us to understand cell reprogramming during the progression of cancer and to personalize patients’ treatment.
This year it will be held at CosmoCaixa on October 13 and 14, and the organizers are B·Debate and the Institute of Biomedical Research (IRB Barcelona), in conjunction with the Molecular Biology Institute of Barcelona (IBMB,CSIC), Institut de Medicina Predictiva i Personalitzada del Càncer (IMPPC), Cancer Epigenetics and Biology Program (PEBC; IDIBELL) and the Center for Genomic Regulation (CRG). The IRB Barcelona researchers Eduard Batlle, Salvador Aznar-Benitah, and Raúl Méndez will lead the debate.