"Drug Delivery and Targeting Unit"
Simó Schwartz Jr
Identification of new disease biomarkers and therapeutic targets, with special focus on cancer molecular pathways and in Applied Nanomedicine with a particular interest into new drug delivery and targeting strategies for biomedical clinical applications. We are working on the identification of new molecules that could be used for the diagnosis and prognosis of several cancers and rare diseases. Analysis of molecular pathways should also provide new potential target candidates and therapeutic leads. Also for developing targeting strategies needed to biofunctionalyze nanoparticles against them to deliver traceable particles (imaging) and therapeutic drugs (drug delivery). Pharmacological redesign of known drugs by linking them with nanocarriers from different nature (polymeric carriers, liposomes or magnetic nanoparticles among others) should be regarded as a new instrument to modify their pharmacological properties including therapeutic activity and sensitivity, pharmacokinetics and toxicology.
"Molecular Oncology Unit"
Principal Investigator: Diego Arango del Corro
e-mail: darango@vhebron.net Phone: 34-93-274-6739
The main focus of this unit is the use of new high throughput technologies applied to the identification of new markers of prognosis and response to therapy in colorectal cancer patients. Lines of research: 1.- Identification of profiles of expression with prognostic value, 2.- EPH receptors in colorectal cancer, 3.- Functional role of RhoA in colorectal cancer.
"Immunobiology Unit"
Principal Investigator: Juan Sayós Ortega
e-mail: jsayos@ir.vhebron.net. Phone: +34-93 4893000 ext 3753
Our main interest is the study of the CD300 family of immune receptors. The two ongoing lines of research are: The molecular and functional characterization of the family of immunoreceptors CD300. 2) The analysis of the functional role of the CD300 immunoreceptors in the tumour associated macrophages in colorectal cancer.
"Genetics and Functional Genomics Unit"
Principal Investigator: Julián Cerón Madrigal
e-mail: jceron@ir.vhebron.net ,Phone: +34-93 4893000 ext 3754
In our lab we are taking advantage of C. elegans genetics and genomics tools (RNAi library) to study basic cellular mechanisms whose misregulation may be related with the human diseases. We have two main research lines ongoing: 1) Functional roles of specific SWI/SNF complex subunits in worms and humans and 2) Functional Genomics of Spliceosome or Splicing machinery components.
"Aging Basic Research Unit "
Principal Investigators: Francesc Miró / Jaume Alijotas Reig / Simó Schwartz Jr
e-mail : fmiro@ir.vhebron.net Phone: +34-93-4893000 (x4058)
Our research focus into the analysis of the associations and correlations of cell aging, epigenetic alterations and telomeric instability, and into inmunological alterations as basis of inmunosenescence in aging.
"Biomaterials And Applied Nanotechnology Unit"
Principal Investigators: Simó Schwartz Jr and Jaume Alijotas Reig
e-mail: jalijotas@vhebron.net
We are collaborating with several nanotechnology expert groups helping them to design and validate appropriate diagnostic devices based on ultrasensitive biosensors and imaging tools (i.e, nanodiagnostics for common bacteria and virus infections or cancer disease). We also study the use of new biomaterials in the biomedical field and in particular the potential associated citotoxicity and inmunological induced responses.
"Functional Validation and Preclinical Studies Unit"
Principal Investigators: Ibane Abasolo Olaourtua
e-mail: iabasolo@ir.vhebron.net Phone: +34-93-4893000 (x4058)
One of our aims is to provide the Industry and other research groups with an optimal in vivo validation platform for preclinical studies of new nanotechnology biomedical developments: cancer drug delivery treatments, diagnostics and imaging tools for biomedical applications and “nano-targeting“ of solid tumors, by using animal models for addressing validation and toxicity analysis.