Emeritus Professor (Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Dept. - UB)
Born in 1947, (Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain,) Dr. Joan J. Guinovart served as director of IRB Barcelona from its foundation in 2005 until 2018. At present, he is an IRB Barcelona Emeritus Professor, guiding, advising and representing the Institute in a variety of events.
Education
Graduate in Chemistry and Pharmacy (1969) from the University of Barcelona. Doctorate in Biochemistry (1973) from the same university. Specialist (Board certified) in Clinical Biochemistry and Clinical Analysis. Post-doctoral stage in the Dept. of Pharmacology, University of Virginia (1974–75).
Appointments
Assistant Professor of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Barcelona (1975–1983) and Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Autonomous University of Barcelona (1983–1985). Full Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) (1986–1990). Associate Dean Faculty, Veterinary Medicine, UAB (1984–1987). Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Barcelona (1990–2017). Visiting Professor, Dept. of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California San Francisco-UCSF (1992–1993). Head of Dept. of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Barcelona (1995–2001). Director of the Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona) (2005–2018). Head of the Metabolic Engineering and Diabetes Therapy laboratory at IRB Barcelona (2005–2021). Emeritus Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Barcelona (2017–present). IRB Barcelona Emeritus professor (2021–present).
Advisory Committees
Coordinator of Molecular and Cellular Biology of the National Agency of Evaluation and Prospective Studies (ANEP) (1988–1991). Member of the study sections of the DGICYT (1988–1991), FIS (1988–1997) and CICYT (National Health Programme)(1997). Member of the Commission on Basic Sciences and Clinical Laboratories of the CCECS, Generalitat de Catalunya (1993–2003). Member of the Science and Technology Advisory Committee of the Generalitat de Catalunya (1999–2003). Member of the Advisory Council on Science and Technology, Spanish Ministry of Education and Science (2006–2008). Member of the Advisory Council on Science and Technology, Spanish Ministry of Research and Innovation (2008–2011).
Services to societies
President of the Spanish Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (SEBBM) (1996–2000). FEBS Meetings Counsellor and Member of the Executive Committee of the Federation of European Biochemical Societies (FEBS) (1997–2005). Member of the Nomination Committee (2000-2003), the Education Committee (2000–2005) and the Symposia and Interest Groups Committee (2005–present) of the International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (IUBMB). President of the Confederation of Spanish Scientific Societies (COSCE) (2004–2011). Member, FEBS “Science and Society” Committee (2009–2012). Treasurer, IUBMB (2009–2012). President, IUBMB (2015–2018).
Editorial experience
Editorial Adviser, Biochem. J. (London) (1992–1998). Chief Editor of SEBBM journal (1997–2012). Editor IUBMB Life (2006–present). Ad Hoc reviewer for Arch. Biochem Biophys., Biochim. Biophys. Acta, Cell Metabolism, Cell Reports, Eur. J. Biochem. (FEBS J), FEBS Letters, Diabetes, Diabetologia, and others.
Research activity
His research focused on glycogen metabolism, with a special focus on the alterations in carbohydrate metabolism in diabetes and Lafora disease. He directed 34 doctoral theses and published over 170 articles on the subject.
Awards
"Leandre Cervera" (1979 and 1985) and "August Pi i Sunyer" (1983) from the Institut d’Estudis Catalans (Catalan Academy of Arts and Sciences). "Novo-Nordisk" in Basic Diabetological Research from the Spanish Society of Diabetes (1996). “Narcís Monturiol” Medal from the Generalitat de Catalunya for scientific and technological merit (1999). Honorary Member of the Spanish Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (2005). Corresponding Member of the Chilean Academy of Sciences (2006). Full Member of the Spanish Royal Academy of Pharmacy (2006). FEBS Diplôme d’honneur (2007). “Prat de la Riba” Award, Institut d’Estudis Catalans (2009), Member of the Institut d’Estudis Catalans (2010), Member of the “Academia Europaea” (2011), St. George’s Cross (Creu de Sant Jordi). Generalitat de Catalunya (2014), Doctorate “Honoris causa” Andrés Bello University, Chile (2016).