A review article in the frame of PHOTOTHERAPORT project has been recently published shedding new light on the cholinergic system. The article, titled «Light-Activated Pharmacological Tools for Exploring the Cholinergic System», highlights how photopharmacology is reshaping the landscape of neurological drug research. The cholinergic system, which plays essential roles in cognitive function, neuromuscular activity, and inflammation, is mediated by two receptor families: nicotinic (nAChRs) and muscarinic (mAChRs) acetylcholine receptors, along with two enzymes, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE), responsible for

PHOTOTHERAPORT researchers Pau Gorostiza and Rossella Castagna recently took part in different events aimed to help new EIC Pathfinder proposals to be successful, by sharing they experience and expertise. Every year several seminars and workshops are organized at universities and research institutions around Europe to assist researchers who wish to submit a proposal in the EIC Pathfinder Open, a very competitive programme managed by the European Innovation Council (EIC) that funds early-stage disruptive research projects, without thematic restrictions, with grants

On 14 February, Bia Moreno, the communication officer for PHOTOTHERAPORT at the Institute of Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), visited a school near Barcelona. She talked about the project, her previous career in science, and, most importantly, showed that science is not just for men! Since its official declaration by the United Nations General Assembly in 2015, 11 February has been observed worldwide as the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. This annual commemoration promotes full and equal access

A recent study led by PHOTOTHERAPORT researcher Valerija Groma at Riga Stradins University, has unveiled pivotal connections among joint inflammation, pain severity, and cognitive decline in osteoarthritis (OA) patients. Additionally, and very interestingly, they also identified promising urinary biomarkers that reflect disease burden. This new research not only deepens our understanding of OA’s broader effects beyond the joints but also opens pathways for more personalized monitoring and management strategies. Osteoarthritis is traditionally viewed as a degenerative joint disease, yet growing

On 27 September 2024, researchers from all over Europe took part in the European Researchers’ Night. Among them, Rossella Castagna, Esther Berrocoso and Núria Camarero presented PHOTOTHERAPORT and discussed the science behind the project. Additionally, PHOTOTHERAPORT was also highlighted on the event’s Catalan website. European Researchers’ Night is a major public event that takes place simultaneously in different cities across Europe. During the event, researchers present different scientific fields and their impact on everyday life through engaging and interactive activities.

Researchers from PHOTOTHERAPORT Project have developed light-activated derivatives of the anti-epileptic drug carbamazepine to treat neuropathic pain. These compounds, which show analgesic effects when activated by light, can inhibit nerve signals locally and on demand. A team of PHOTOTHERAPORT researchers at the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC) and the University of Cádiz have developed photoswitchable derivatives of carbamazepine, a widely used anti-epileptic drug in medicine for treating certain types of neuropathic pain, such as trigeminal neuralgia. The study was

The Youth and Science program from Catalunya La Pedrera Foundation in Barcelona puts together 15–16-year-old students with scientists from different fields and allow them to perform a small research project. Nayeli Pérez took part in this activity and hosted Iva Comar for 2 weeks at the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC). Nayeli Pérez, researcher at the Nanoprobes and Nanoswitches group from IBEC, led by Pau Gorostiza, coordinator of a PHOTOTHERAPORT, hosted Iva Comar, a 15 year-old student who spent two

The 17th Science Party (“Festa de la Ciència” in Catalan) took place last 7th – 9th of June in Barcelona, and researchers from the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC) and the Institute of Biomedical research from Barcelona (IIBB-CSIC) proposed a series of hands-on activities to explain PHOTOTHERAPORT project to a non-specialized public and to bring photopharmacology closer to the society.