1
BioMed - Biomedicine
The main focus of BioISI research in the Biomedicine thematic line (BioMed-TL) is to gain a better mechanistic understanding of diseases, with an emphasis on those with a genetic basis. To this end BioISI researchers will use the advances resulting from the knowledge of the human genome by analysing how each individual gene contributes to processes associated with diseased states.
BioMed-TL research will thus range from basic biomedical research in genetics and genomics, molecular & cell biology and Omics to more translational areas such as addressing fundamental challenges in personalized medicine for better diagnosis, prognosis and therapies. The latter coincides with the health streamline priority of H2020 of personalising health and care.
Research Groups mainly involved in the BioMed – TL
FunGP | GER | BTR
Key Actions
1. Translating genes and genomics into personalized and systems medicine
2. Elucidating mechanisms of disease
3. Development of innovative therapeutic strategies and drug discovery
4. Pharmaco-genetics and pharmaco-resistance tests
2
BioTech - Biotechnology
The research to be performed in the Biotechnology thematic line (BioTech-TL) is framed by the H2020 societal challenges: Health and Wellbeing [Functional foods for disease prevention, environmental rehabilitation, new drugs from marine organisms], food security and sustainable agriculture; and by the H2020 key enabling technologies: Advanced materials [nutraceuticals], Biotechnology.
Research will be conducted to acquire knowledge and develop modular tool kits that will enable rapid responses to unforeseen challenges, such as the emergence of new plant or diet-related diseases, changes in the distributions of plant pathogens and vectors, the emergence of new environmental conditions or the impact assessment of new bio-based products.
Research Groups mainly involved in the BioTech – TL
PFG | M&B | CBS
Key Actions
1. Plant health and crop improvement
2. Plants as Biofactories
3. Phytoremediation
4. Microbial pharmacogenomics
5. Marine microbial biotechnology
6. Wine microbial biotechnology
3
BioPhys - Biophysics
The thematic line BioPhysics (BioPhys-TL) merges together the expertise of experimental condensed matter physicists and theoretical biological physicists and takes advantage of the unique research opportunities offered by the multidisciplinary environment of BioISI to foster interdisciplinary work through tailored interactions among members of these two Physics teams and members of all Biology groups.
Research Groups mainly involved in the BioPhys– TL
Bio-PhysNano | PFG | FunGP | CBS
Key Actions
1. nanostructured magnetic systems with potential applications in biomedicine and sensors technology
2. protein folding, misfolding and aggregation
3. dynamics of electronic structure of complex supramolecular systems
4. development of innovative atomic force microscopy methodologies targeting the study of biological systems.
4
BioInf - Bioinformatics
The main scientific goal of the Bioinformatics Thematic Line (BioInf-TL) is to promote the development and use of methods and software tools for understanding large datasets, fostering the generation of molecular and systems-level models that help to describe and predict the behavior of complex biological systems.
The BioInf-TL integrative approach aggregates BioISI research on molecular, biophysical, biological, and biomedical systems, nurturing the development of computational methods and tools that bridge all thematic lines.
Several BioISI research groups (indicated in each key action) have activities that converge into BioInf-TL. In common, all work with numerical and algorithmic models of molecular or living systems for which computational implementations are fundamental.
Research Groups mainly involved in the BioInf – TL
GER | MAS
Key Actions
1. Pre-processing pipelines for data analysis
2. Data mining tools and data analysers
3. Development of new computational tools to manage, integrate and interpret the data
5
BChem – Biological Chemistry
The thematic line Biological Chemistry (BChem) aims at using chemical knowledge at the molecular level to design better drugs, understand structural changes triggered by the environment (such as pH or binding of a substrate), or determine mechanisms involved in enzyme functionality and bioenergetics. These integrating (bio)chemical approaches converge in many projects related with understanding and solving health problems and environmental safety.
The BChem line contributes to i) the development of new bioactive molecules, by organic or inorganic synthesis or by extraction from natural sources (mainly marine organisms and plants); ii) the computational (quantum-chemical and molecular modeling methods) and experimental study of systems ranging from the (in)organic to biochemical and cellular levels.
Research Groups mainly involved in the BChem – TL
CBS | BioPhysNano | M&B
Key Actions
1. Development of bioactive molecules
2. Molecular mechanisms of (bio)chemical systems
3. Bioenergetics