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leaD reSearcher
Blanco Fernández, Jerónimo
Agencia Estatal Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas
Instituto de Química Avanzada de Cataluña
C/ Jordi Girona, 18-26 08034 Barcelona
(+34) 93 400 61 00 ext. 5022 [email protected]
GROUP MEMBERS
Staff members: Meca Cortés, Óscar Manuel
Associated members: Borrós Gómez, Salvador | Ramos Romero, Sara | Rubio Vidal, Núria | Sánchez Cid, Lourdes
Contributors: Aguilar Bohorquez, Elisabeth | Alieva Kraseninnikova, María
Main lines of research
• TISSUE ENGINEERING: Study of interactions between cells and biomaterials implanted in live animals for tissue regeneration. We use an analysis platform based in bioluminescence and fluorescence procedures, that allows rapid and comparative analysis of biomaterials to optimize individualized applications.
• TUMOUR CELL THERAPY: Development of optimized cell therapies against brain tumors and other types of incurable cancers. The therapy strategy is based on the use of stem cells with tumour homing capacity, that are genetically modified to express a cytotoxic gene (e.g., thymidine kinase) that can transform a harmless pro-drug into a cytotoxic agent, inducing localized cell death in the tumour proximity (bystander effect).
• INTERACTION BETWEEN TUMOUR AND THERAPEUTIC CELLS: The objective is to understand the interactions between therapeutic and tumour cells, that lead to the elevated tumour killing effect in our model of bystander therapy. Bioluminescence and fluorescence imaging procedures are used to monitor the fate of therapeutic cells and tumours.
• MONITORING CONVENTIONAL TUMOUR THERAPY. The non invasive imaging platform permits the measurement of tumour response to therapeutic strategies during time, in the same experimental animal, improving data consistency and reproducibility, as well as, savings in animal resources.
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PROGRAMMES
Biomaterials & Advanced Therapies