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:

Petrović, Mira

Institut Català de Recerca de l'Aigua (ICRA)

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Petrović, Mira
Research Professor at
Institut Català de Recerca de l'Aigua (ICRA)
Experimental Sciences & Mathematics
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Research interests

My main expertise is in the field of analytical environmental chemistry, specifically analysis of trace organic contaminants, such as pharmaceuticals, endocrine disrupting compounds and surfactants by advanced mass spectrometric techniques (liquid chromatography-tandem and hybrid MS) and the study of their fate and behaviour in the aquatic environment and during wastewater and drinking water treatment. Specific research lines are: (i) suspect screening, non-target analysis and fingerprinting of organic substances in wastewater and receiving environment, (ii) the study of biotic and abiotic transformation of emerging contaminants, identification of transformation products, elucidation of transformation pathways; (iii) the study of occurrence and distribution of emerging contaminants in aquatic environment and environmental risk assessment and (iv) sustainable wastewater management; application of innovative wastewater treatment technologies; innovative practices for reuse of reclaimed waters.

Key words
Analytical Chemistry; Environmental Chemsitry; Fate and behaviour of pollutants; Sustanable water management

ORCID
: 0000-0001-9734-1933

RESEARCHER ID
: L-1789-2014
Poater Teixidor, Jordi

Universitat de Barcelona (UB)

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Poater Teixidor, Jordi
Research Professor at
Universitat de Barcelona (UB)
Experimental Sciences & Mathematics
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Research interests

My research takes off from two main lines, which are interconnected and reinforce each other. First, the study of aromaticity in organic and metal systems, with tools derived from the electron-pair density, with the purpose of analyzing the electronic structure and molecular bonding in a wide range of molecular systems. The main focus now is the 3D aromaticity of boron clusters. I have also become an expert in the application of Kohn-Sham molecular orbital theory complemented with quantitative bond energy decomposition analyses to the analysis of non-covalent interactions. In particular, the study of DNA related systems has become my main research line. I have got closer to experiment by studying the selectivity in DNA replication mechanism taking into study the steric shape, hydrogen bonds, pi-stacking and solvent effects in natural and artificial DNA bases.

Key words
DNA replication, aromaticity, biomolecular recognition, Density Functional Theory, organic molecules, metal clusters

ORCID
: orcid.org/0000-0002-0814-5074

RESEARCHER ID
: B-5028-2009
Pol, Albert

Fundació de Recerca Clínic Barcelona-Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (FRCB-IDIBAPS)

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Pol, Albert
Research Professor at
Fundació de Recerca Clínic Barcelona-Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (FRCB-IDIBAPS)
Life & Medical Sciences
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Research interests

Lipids, such as cholesterol or fatty acids, are essential molecules for building bilayers and the way eukaryotic cells store nutrients. Lipids are 10% of a cell’s weight and 50% of the cell membranes. However, in excess, lipids can be toxic molecules. Indeed, lipotoxicity gives rise to, or aggravates, obesity, diabetes, atherosclerosis, cancer, and neurodegeneration. Statistics show that 100% of Europeans will develop at least one of these diseases during their lifetime. Our group strives to understand how cells solve this biological dilemma: store large amounts of nutrients while reducing lipotoxicity. Since 2001 we have studied the cell biology and physiology of lipid droplets (LDs); organelles designed for eukaryotic cells to achieve this key adaptative advantage. We study LDs from the time they are formed to the time they are consumed. We are also interested in the role of LDs in physio-pathological situations such as obesity, liver regeneration, cancer, and immunity.

Key words
lipid droplets, mitochondria, caveolin, liver, cholesterol, fatty acids.

ORCID
: 0000-0002-1750-1085

RESEARCHER ID
: M-1865-2014
Postigo, Antonio

Fundació de Recerca Clínic Barcelona-Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (FRCB-IDIBAPS)

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Postigo, Antonio
Research Professor at
Fundació de Recerca Clínic Barcelona-Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (FRCB-IDIBAPS)
Life & Medical Sciences
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Research interests

Our group studies the molecular mechanisms that regulate cell plasticity in health and disease with a particular focus on transcriptional regulation. Ongoing projects investigate gene regulation in inflammation, cancer initiation and progression, stem cell determination and differentiation, and tissue injury and regeneration. We use a wide range of technical approaches that include unique conditional transgenic mice, ex vivo culture and manipulation of normal and malignant primary cells, differentiation of human embryonic stem cells, and high-throughput techniques (e.g., RNAseq, scRNAseq, proteomics). As molecular models, we use the EMT transcription factors ZEB1 and ZEB2 which play key roles in the regulation of cell plasticity.

Key words
Gene Regulation / Cell Plasticity / Stem Cells and Differentiation / Cancer Initiation and Progression / Muscle biology & disease / EMT by ZEB1 & ZEB2 / Transcription

ORCID
: 0000-0003-4605-2634
Prieto Simón, Beatriz

Institut Català d'Investigació Química (ICIQ)

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Prieto Simón, Beatriz
Research Professor at
Institut Català d'Investigació Química (ICIQ)
Engineering Sciences
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Research interests

Her research aims to deliver versatile nanoarchitectures to build bespoke diagnostics, by harnessing high-precision fabrication methods, and advances in engineering surface functionalities. Their assembly in hierarchical structures, with tuneable electrochemical properties and surface chemistry, and displayed bioreceptors, is strongly intertwined with the material’s functions. Her interest lies in gathering new knowledge on the relationship between nanoarchitecture/displayed functionalities and function, to design sensors underpinning personalised clinical management of infections. The next generation of diagnostics is expected to meet the needs for host-immune response assessment, pathogen-associated and antibiotic resistance biomarkers detection, and monitoring of antibiotic levels. The potential of these tools to guide antibiotics choice is foreseen as a key driver toward effective treatment, protecting patients from antibiotics adverse effects, and dwindling antibiotic resistance.

Key words
Diagnosis of infectious diseases, bioinspired nanochannel platforms, biosensors, nanoporous materials, chemical functionalisation, novel electrochemical transducers, wearable biosensors

ORCID
: 0000-0001-8016-1565

RESEARCHER ID
: B-1508-2017
Prieto Vives, Pilar

Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF)

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Prieto Vives, Pilar
Research Professor at
Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF)
Humanities
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Research interests

My main research goal is to understand the role of prosody and co-speech gestures in human communication from a crosslinguistic, developmental, and cognitive perspective. Three important strands of this research include: (a) to incorporate this knowledge into semantic models of language that model the interface areas with other components; (b) to empirically investigate how humans process prosodic and gestural patterns in combination with speech; and (c) to investigate the cognitive and developmental benefits of prosody and gesture in different areas, such as first and second language acquisition, as well as communication training for language impaired and non-impaired populations. The social significance of this research topic is high, as ICT training procedures based on prosodic and gestural awareness can be proven valuable to improve language abilities in populations with neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by impaired social interaction.

Key words
Prosody, Gesture, Semantics, Acquisition

ORCID
: orcid.org/0000-0001-8175-1081

RESEARCHER ID
: E-7390-2013