October 24th 2012 Public presentation of the Achucarro Basque Center for Neuroscience project
- 1. Achucarro Basque Center for Neuroscience Knowledge to cure Carlos Matute Scientific Director
- 2. Synopsis 1. A brief history of its generation 2. Strategic Concepts and Organization 3. International Scientific Advisory Board 4. Research Groups 5. Infrastructures and Facilities 6. Contact 2
- 3. The proposal to create the Center Initial talks and discussions (July 2008) Submission of initial proposal (November 2008) Assessment by an international panel (November 2010) Revision and final approval (March 2011) Agreement between Ikerbasque and UPV/EHU (May 2012) First meeting of Board of Trustees (June 2012) Beginning of operations (July 2012) 3
- 4. Mission Achucarro Basque Center for Neuroscience is ► a research center fostered by Ikerbasque and the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), ► devoted to fundamental and translational research in neuron-glial biology, ► for the discovery of new therapies for brain diseases, ► in cooperation with the local community and networked with the international institutions in the field of neuroscience, ► with the aim of contributing to the training of future neuroscientists. 4
- 5. Vision & Motto The Achucarro Basque Center for Neuroscience will strive to lead and coordinate neuroscience research in the Basque Country, by: ► Establishing a world-class research center, with internationally recognized research groups and state of the art equipment and facilities, ► Contributing to the understanding of the human brain in the field of neuron-glial biology, ► Generating knowledge that ultimately improves the quality of life of our Society. “Knowledge to cure” 5
- 6. Research Objectives To study neuron-glia interactions in health and disease To investigate the organization and information processing in neuronal circuits To characterize genetic, molecular and cellular alterations relevant to neurodegeneration, neuroprotection and tissue repair To develop new therapies to treat CNS diseases undergoing tissue damage (Alzheimer´s, Multiple Sclerosis, Stroke,…) 6
- 8. Board of Trustees Supervised by the Department of Education, Universities and Research of the Basque Government. Ikerbasque, the Basque Foundation for Science; Universidad del País Vasco – Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea (UPV/EHU); and Fundación Vasca de Innovación e Investigación Sanitarias / BIO Eusko Fundazioa (BIOEF) 8
- 9. Scientific Advisory Board Geoffrey Burnstock University College London (UK) Bruce Ransom U. Washington USA Helmut Kettenmann Max-Delbrück Centrum (DE) Christian Giaume Ecole Normale Supérieure (FR) Jorge Oksenberg UCSF USA Frank Kirchhoff University Saarland (DE) Jesús Ávila CBM Severo Ochoa Spain Anna Planas IDIBAPS Spain Isabel Fariñas U. Valencia Spain Jose A. Obeso CIMA Spain
- 10. Staff Scientific Director ► Carlos Matute Almau Group leaders ► Alexei Verkhratsky ► José Julio Rodríguez Arellano ► Koen Vandenbroeck ► Jose Luis Zugaza ► Amanda Sierra ► Juan M. Encinas ► Florence Perrin ► Carlos Matute 10
- 11. Research Groups (I) Alexei Verkhratsky (Ikerbasque & Manchester) Adjunct Scientific Director Research focus: Neuronal-glial signalling in physiology and pathophysiology José Julio Rodríguez Arellano (Ikerbasque & UPV/EHU) Group: Functional Neuroanatomy Research focus: Neurogenesis and glia in Alzheimer´s disease 11
- 12. Research Groups (II) Koen Vandenbroeck (Ikerbasque & UPV/EHU) Group Name: Neurogenomics Research focus: Biomarkers for conditions with neuro-inflammatory components Jose Luis Zugaza (Ikerbasque & UPV/EHU) Group Name: GTPases and Neurosignalling Research focus: Signalling of small GTPases of the Rho family in neurodegenerative disorders 12
- 13. Research Groups (III) Amanda Sierra (Ikerbasque & UPV/EHU) Group Name: Glial Cell Biology Laboratory Research focus: Role of microglia cells in the healthy and diseased brain Juan Manuel Encinas (Ikerbasque & UPV/EHU) Group Name: Neural Stem Cells and Neurogenesis Laboratory Research focus: Neural Stem Cells and Neurogenesis in the Adult Hippocampus 13
- 14. Research Groups (IV) Carlos Matute (UPV/EHU) Group Name: Laboratory of Neurobiology Research focus: Molecular and cellular mechanisms of neurodegeneration and neuroprotection Senior members of the group: E. Alberdi F. Cavaliere M. Domercq S. Mato F. Pérez A. Pérez MV. Sánchez
- 15. Visiting Professors (Current) Robert Zorec University of Ljubljana (Slovenia) Host laboratory: Functional Neuroanatomy Research activity: Exocytosis in astrocytes Rogelio Arellano UNAM – Querétaro (México) Host laboratory: Laboratory of Neurobiology Research activity: Relevance of adenosine receptors in oligodendrocytes to health and disease 15
- 16. Location Bizkaia Science and Technology Park, Building 205 6 laboratories Conference Room, Core Research Facilities, Laboratory Space and management offices Future location at the Animal Biotechnology Centre in the Scientific Park of the UPV/EHU (Campus of Leioa) 16 2015
- 17. Core Facilities: Imaging Unit Super-resolution microscope ► First of its kind in Spain ► Spatial resolution below 100 nm ► Fast acquisition of images ► Microscopy in live preparations ► White laser which provides high versatility ► Equipment Reference Person: • Asier Ruiz, PhD • Alberto Pérez, MD, PhD 17
- 18. Planned Core facilities: 2013-2016 Two-Photon Microscope to monitor molecular and cellular events both in life tissue slices and in animals in vivo ► 3-D imaging of biological specimens in vivo ► deeper tissue penetration and less photodamage Fluorescence-activated cell sorter and analyser ► separate and analyse cell populations in experimental models of neuroinflammation and to study neurogenesis Preclinical optical molecular imaging system ► to monitor whole brain in experimental animals Cellular bioenergetics set-up ► To assay mitochondrial function in neurodegeneration
- 19. Outreach You can follow us and be informed about our news at: Website www.achucarro.org Twitter @Achucarro_BERC Linkedin and Facebook Achucarro Basque Center for Neuroscience 19