The Palau Firal i de Congressos de Tarragona is hosting from Monday the 48th International Congress of the Spanish Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (SEBBM), gathering over 600 researchers. The event, co-organized by the Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology of the URV with the collaboration of researchers from IRB CatSud and EURECAT, focuses on the latest advances in the study of molecular and cellular processes that explain the body's functioning and the origin of numerous diseases.
Over four days, leading specialists will present new research lines on topics such as the relationship between biological rhythms, nutrition, and metabolic health; the molecular mechanisms of aging; the influence of gut microbiota; or cellular processes related to cancer, obesity, and neurodegenerative diseases.
The congress also analyzes new therapeutic strategies, such as the use of extracellular vesicles, the identification of compounds to limit protein aggregation associated with diseases like Parkinson's, and the application of artificial intelligence in drug design. Researchers emphasize that this technology complements, but does not replace, experimental laboratory work.
One of the inaugural lectures was given by Isabel Fariñas, from the Institut Universitari de Biotecnologia i Biomedicina of the Universitat de València, focusing on the mechanisms regulating adult brain stem cells and their quiescence, key aspects for understanding brain aging and nervous system repair.
The program will also cover the modulation of aging through nutrition, the connections between gut microbiota, metabolism, and the brain, and the use of artificial intelligence for drug design. The limitations of computational models and the need for experimental validation will be discussed.
The congress will conclude with a lecture by John F. Cryan, from APC Microbiome Ireland, on how the study of intestinal microorganisms can help understand mental health issues.
The event highlights the growing interdisciplinarity of biochemistry and molecular biology with medicine, nutrition, pharmacology, computing, and neuroscience, facilitating knowledge exchange and the promotion of new collaborations.
In addition to scientific activities, outreach events have been organized. This Tuesday, the Biblioteca Pública de Tarragona hosts 'La ciència de la xocolata' (The Science of Chocolate), and at the Antiga Audiència, Lluís Montoliu (CSIC) and Pere Estupinyà will discuss the importance of communicating science.
