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This summer, IRB Barcelona opened its doors to a new cohort of talented students, offering them a unique opportunity to dive into the world of biomedicine. In collaboration with the Fundació Catalunya La Pedrera, the centre welcomed students aged 16 to 17, giving them their first hands-on experience in a cutting-edge research environment.
Youth and Science: cultivating talent
The "Youth and Science" programme is designed for bright young individuals eager to engage in real-world scientific research at leading institutions. This year, IRB Barcelona hosted six promising students who embarked on diverse projects under the guidance of our researchers.
Xènia Bellapart and Ariadna Acebedo explored chromosomal instability and its impact on health with Dr. Mariana Muzzopappa, while Aina Llurba and Clàudia Ten delved into the structure and function of L-amino acid transporters, working closely with Dr. Paola Chiara Bartoccioni.
Meanwhile, Ariadna Rognoni investigated the complex interplay between genetics and metabolism in cancer with researcher Kaustuv Ghosh, and Aina Vendrell gained hands-on experience working with 3D colorectal cancer organoids under the supervision of Mireia Artola.
Barcelona International Youth Science Challenge: global perspectives
As part of the 8th Barcelona International Youth Science Challenge (BIYSC), IRB Barcelona hosted seven international students for two intensive weeks in July. These students participated in the project "Drosophila as a Model Organism to Study the Intricate Paths of Tumorigenesis," under the expert mentorship of Dr. Mariana Muzzopappa, Elena Fusari (from the Laboratory of Development and Growth Control), and Dr. Panagiotis Giannios, from the Laboratory of Development and Morphogenesis in Drosophila.
During their stay, the students gained invaluable experience working with Drosophila flies as a model for cancer research, learning state-of-the-art techniques such as immunofluorescence and confocal image acquisition. Beyond developing technical skills, they also got an inside look at the daily lives of researchers, gaining insight into the inner workings of a lab.
As part of the BIYSC programme, they also participated in scientific conferences and debates, sharing their experiences and ideas with peers from around the world who were working on projects at other leading research institutes.
Crazy About Biomedicine: a year of exploration
Now in its 12th year, the "Crazy About Biomedicine" programme offers a year-long immersive experience for 25 exceptional students. Throughout the year, participants spend Saturdays in IRB Barcelona's labs working on experiments under the mentorship of experienced researchers.
This summer, 20 of these students chose to extend their research, developing individual projects in various labs at the Institute. Their research covered cutting-edge topics in biomedicine, including the use of gastruloids to study childhood cancer and the application of artificial intelligence to predict cancer mutations.
These projects will contribute to their "Treball de Recerca" for the Baccalaureate, accompanied by detailed reports of their experiments that will be evaluated by their schools.
Inspiring future scientists: part of our mission
Through these outreach programmes, IRB Barcelona is dedicated to inspiring and educating future generations of scientists. By providing young students with hands-on research experience and mentorship, we aim to spark passion for science and thereby further our mission of advancing knowledge and fostering scientific vocations.
As we wrap up this incredible summer, we want to sincerely thank all the enthusiastic students who joined us to explore the world of biomedicine. Your curiosity and energy have been nothing short of inspiring.
A special thank you also goes to the wonderful tutors at IRB Barcelona, who have been more than just mentors—they’ve been true guides on this journey of discovery. Together, you’ve made this summer unforgettable, and we’re excited to see where your passion takes you next!
Anna Fernández, under the supervision of Paula Sánchez (Complex Metabolic Diseases and Mitochondria Lab).
Júlia Pintor, under the supervision of Dr. Marianna Muzzopappa (Development and Growth Control Laboratory).
Nor Lhoda Falahi, under the supervision of Eleonora Barone (Stem Cells and Cancer Lab).
Student Queralt Solé, under the supervision of Nesma Abd El Rahman (Pediatric Cancer Epigenetics Lab).
Student Paula Solé, under the supervisión of Jordi Elvira at (Signalling and Cell Cycle Lab).
Student Daniela Yores, under the supervision of Nesma Abd El Rahman (Pediatric Cancer Epigenetics Lab).
Student Anna Hurtado, under the supervision of Gerard Llibre (Colorectal Cancer Lab).
Student Emma Rey, under the supervision of Natalia Castillo (Targeted Protein Degradation and Drug Discovery Lab).
Student Fiona Cuní, under the supervision of Eleonora Barone (Stem Cells and Cancer Lab).
Student Mariona Tugues, under the supervisión of Jordi Elvira (Signalling and Cell Cycle Lab).
About IRB Barcelona
The Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona) pursues a society free of disease. To this end, it conducts multidisciplinary research of excellence to cure cancer and other diseases linked to ageing. It establishes technology transfer agreements with the pharmaceutical industry and major hospitals to bring research results closer to society, and organises a range of science outreach activities to engage the public in an open dialogue. IRB Barcelona is an international centre that hosts 400 researchers and more than 30 nationalities. Recognised as a Severo Ochoa Centre of Excellence since 2011, IRB Barcelona is a CERCA centre and member of the Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST).
