The ICREAs

ICREA Research Professors form a vibrant community of scientists and researchers in all areas of knowledge that contribute to the advancement of humankind by exploring, interpreting and questioning. Have a look and learn about their amazing discoveries and findings here:

Puntes, Víctor F.

Vall d'Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR)

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Puntes, Víctor F.
Research Professor at
Vall d'Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR)
Experimental Sciences & Mathematics
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Research interests

Prof. Víctor Puntes works on the synthesis, characterisation and applications of engineered inorganic nanoparticles (NPs) in the fields of energy harvesting, environmetnal remediation and medicine. By controlling the size, structure and shape of the inorganic core, and manipulating the linking of organic molecules to the nanoparticle surface, the group aims to design nanoparticles that interact with a variety of systems (biological, medical, materials, etc.) providing controlled electromagnetic and molecular heterogenicities useful to manipulate materials and biological states at both, the molecular and the electron transport scales . This allows for the deliberate modification of these systems, or the use of NPs for manipulating and reporting states.

Key words
Nanotechnology, Nanoparticles, Synthesis, Conjugation, Nanotoxicology, Nanobiotechnology, Environmental remediation, Magnetic nanostructures, Nanoimmunology

ORCID
: 0000-0001-8996-9499

RESEARCHER ID
: F-8407-2013
Quer Villanueva, Josep

Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF)

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Quer Villanueva, Josep
Research Professor at
Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF)
Humanities
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Research interests

Research into natural language can no longer ignore sign languages as manifestations of the same innate human faculty realized in a different perceptual-articulatory modality. As a formal linguist, my research has focused on the analysis of a range of phenomena (negation, agreement, quantification, etc.) that hinge on the interaction between different grammar components (morphosyntax, semantics, prosody) both in spoken and sign languages. The goal is to better understand the division of labour across different grammar modules.

Key words
Formal linguistics, sign linguistics, language and cognition

ORCID
: 0000-0001-6466-2749

RESEARCHER ID
: H-7918-2015
Quian Quiroga, Rodrigo

Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques (IMIM)

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Quian Quiroga, Rodrigo
Research Professor at
Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques (IMIM)
Life & Medical Sciences
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Research interests

Given my initial background in Physics and Applied Mathematics, I have developed Signal Processing methods for the analysis of complex electrophysiology data. In particular, I developed a ‘spike sorting’ algorithm to identify the activity of single neurons that outperformed previous algorithms and that is currently used by several laboratories worldwide [Neural Comp 2004]. The use of this algorithm allowed me to discover a new type of neuron in the human brain, so called “Concept Cells” or “Jennifer Aniston neurons”, which fire selectively to specific concepts [Nature 2005]. In following studies, we showed that these neurons form and store memories [Neuron 2015; Nat. Comm. 2016; Nat. Comm. 2018; Cell 2019], and based on these data, I have proposed that memory coding in the human hippocampus is completely different to what has been described in other species and can be the basis of cognitive abilities uniquely developed in humans [Cell 2017; Science 2019; Cell 2019; TiCS 2020].

Key words
signal processing, neurophysiology recordings, computational neuroscience

ORCID
: 0000-0001-6534-3993

RESEARCHER ID
: IUO-0968-2023
Radjenović, Jelena

Institut Català de Recerca de l'Aigua (ICRA)

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Radjenović, Jelena
Research Professor at
Institut Català de Recerca de l'Aigua (ICRA)
Engineering Sciences
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Research interests

I am an expert in chemical and electrochemical advanced (waste)water treatment, with a focus on the fate of chemical and microbial contaminants and resource recovery. My research aims to increase the efficiency and resilience of water treatment and reuse through the development of sustainable, energy-efficient and renewable energy-driven technologies. My core expertise is the development of low-cost, nanostructured electrode materials, their implementation in electrochemical systems for (waste)water treatment, as well as elucidation of the mechanism of contaminant degradation at the nano-scale level. My group has developed several patented, low-cost nanostructured electrodes that overcome major limitations of existing, commercial electrode materials and are capable of efficient contaminant degradation and recovery of valuable byproducts.

Key words
water treatment, persistent contaminants, nanoelectrochemical systems

ORCID
: 0000-0003-4356-2110

RESEARCHER ID
: D-1262-2017
Ramón Azcón, Javier

Institut de Bioenginyeria de Catalunya (IBEC)

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Ramón Azcón, Javier
Research Professor at
Institut de Bioenginyeria de Catalunya (IBEC)
Engineering Sciences
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Research interests

My group ‘Biosensors for Bioengineering’ is focused on a new line of research that has become of extreme importance in the last years. My idea is to integrate biosensor technology and nanotechnology with stem cell research and tissue engineering. Engineered tissues are integrated with biosensing technology to obtain microdevices (microtissues and ‘Multi-Organ-on-a-Chip’ (multi-OOC)) to detect cellular responses to external stimuli, monitor the quality of the microenvironment, and support diverse cellular requirements. This research on 3D-functional engineered tissues is expected to develop tissue construction knowledge and their functions and relation to some human diseases. Integration of fully functional tissues with microscale biosensor technology allowed us to obtain OOC. These chips could be used in pharmaceutical assays. They could be a step toward the ultimate goal of producing in vitro drug testing systems crucial to the medicine and pharmaceutical industry.

Key words
Biosensors; Electrochemistry; Nanotechnology; Flow techniques; Peptides and proteins; Enzymatic reactions; Total synthesis; Biomaterials; Cell culture; Tissue culture

ORCID
: orcid.org/0000-0002-3636-8013

RESEARCHER ID
: A-2439-2014
Raya Chamorro, Ángel

Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge (IDIBELL)

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Raya Chamorro, Ángel
Research Professor at
Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge (IDIBELL)
Life & Medical Sciences
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Research interests

Our research work aims to understand the tissue, cellular and molecular mechanisms that determine the regenerative response in certain species of vertebrates, as well as the genetic and epigenetic mechanisms that control cellular reprogramming. This phenomenon provides a link between the traditional study of epimorphic regeneration and the induced pluripotency strategies of regenerative medicine.

Key words
Stem cells, pluripotency, regeneration, heart, cell differentiation

ORCID
: 0000-0003-2189-9775

RESEARCHER ID
: E-6205-2010