Author: Jesus Acapulco

Affiliation: Centre for Genomic Regulation, Barcelona, ES

Keywords: Reprogramming and Regeneration

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In our group, we are investigating the mechanisms controlling the reprogramming of somatic cells, and our final goal is to determine if this reprogramming contributes to tissue regeneration in higher vertebrates.

Differentiation from zygotes has been considered as a unidirectional route in all cells of the body. Recently, however, it has become clear that the reverse path is also possible: the reprogramming of somatic nuclei, i.e. the de-differentiation of somatic cells into pluripotent stem-like cells. To date, reprogramming has been induced in vitro by transferring somatic nuclei into enucleated oocytes, by fusing embryonic stem cells (ESCs) with somatic cells, and by transferring specific factors into different types of somatic cell.

Whether reprogramming can occur in vivo in higher vertebrates and what the molecular mechanisms and genes driving reprogramming are remain to be defined. We have recently shown that activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathway enhances reprogramming of somatic cells after their fusion with ESCs. Remarkably, the activation of this signalling pathway also controls regeneration in response to damage in lower and higher vertebrates; furthermore, cell fusion is one possible mechanism of regeneration in vertebrates. Our main goal is to determine whether in mice activation of Wnt/β-catenin signalling controls tissue regeneration by enhancing cell-fusion-mediated reprogramming.

Affiliation: Radboud University Nijmegen, NL

Keywords: Neuroscience

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In our research group, we leverage modern neuroimaging techniques such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and magnetoencephalography (MEG) to investigate brain systems that support transformation of experience into enduring memories. We seek to understand how mnemonic networks help us to map and navigate our geographical and memory landscapes and to assemble our rich inventory of knowledge.

Affiliation: Helmholtz Zentrum München, DE

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Affiliation: Potsdam Institute for Climat Impact, DE

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0000-0003-4869-3013

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Development of impact functions that allow for probabilistic projections of regional climate changes in the occurrence of extreme events in terms of global mean temperature change (see PRIMAP)

Affiliation: Centre for Genomic Regulation, Barcelona, ES

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I’m biochemist and molecular biologist by training (Universities of Valencia and Mainz). After several years working on a molecular biology lab, and attracted by the emerging fields of genomics and bioinformatics, I moved to the comparative genomics group of Martijn Huynen in 2001 (NCMLS), NL). In 2005, I obtained a PhD in the Medical Sciences (Radbout University Nijmegen), and then moved to the bioinformatics department at CIPF (Valencia). In September 2008 I started my own group at CRG. I have always used an evolutionary perspective to address different biological questions. I am not only interested in understanding how complex biological systems work, but also how they have came to be as they are.

Affiliation: University of Amsterdam, NL

Keywords: Cognitive Psychology, Neuropsychology, Cognitive Science

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0000-0003-0324-0619

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Affiliation: University of Bern, CH

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“Good” and “bad” gut bacteria – the notion of how much both influence human health has marked a new era of Microbiology.

The intestine gives home to trillions of friendly bacteria and battles disease-causing bacteria. The intestinal immune system reacts to all species that inhabit us. Millions of years of co-evolution formed it to become a learning bio-containment system that allows the disease-free coexistence with the broadest possible diversity of microbes. Our human-microbial health depends on it.

Our beneficial bacterial “partners” and disease-causing pathogens require entirely different treatments. We would like to better understand which bacterial features and behaviors tell the immune system what to do.