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The Xartec Salut network, led by CREB UPC, is made up of more than 80 research groups that belong to 23 different institutions. It aims to be a catalyst for R+D+I in the field of HealthTech by fostering the exchange of knowledge between research groups, institutions, hospitals and companies, promoting company creation and new career opportunities, and offering more efficient instruments for technology transfer.
The Global Neuropsychological Congress was held from July 3rd to 5th in Porto, Portugal. Some of the most important figures in neuropsychology, such as Barbara Wilson, Antonio Damasio, and Jon Evans, participated in this congress.
Dr. Margarita Torrente, Dr. Luis Heredia, and Ms. Nerea Carrión, researchers of the Neuropsychology and Emotions Area of the Laboratory of Toxicology and Environmental Health attended the conference as representatives of TecnATox. Nerea Carrión presented the poster entitled "Connections Beyond Cognition: A Comprehensive Study of Neuropsychiatric Symptoms, Emotional State, Life Stressors, and Lifestyle in the Elderly", where she highligthed some results from the DEM-BIOTA project.
This year, the event was focused on the presence of microplastics in food, an emerging risks for the whole population. Dr. Sierra's presentation was entitled Microplastics as emerging pollutants: Environmental behavior and health effects, while Dr. Rovira talked about the Analysis and characterization of microplastics in bivalves cultivated in Catalonia: Effect of the debugging process.
The workshop was held in the meeting room of the Salvany building (Public Health Agency of Catalonia) last June 19.
Recently, several PhD students of TecnATox are receiving awards after their presentations in PhD Days. After Shubh Sharma's success at the ETSEQ Doctoral Day, Nil Novau Ferré has achieved the second award for the best oral short communication at the IISPV PhD Day, held on June 6 at URV's Faculty of Medicine.
His presentation, entitled Exploring the Gut-Brain Axis: Nutritional Modulation of the Microbiota in ADHD and ASD, demonstrates significant differences in gut microbiota between children with ADHD and ASD, identifying specific bacterial taxa associated with each condition. These findings, derived from a collaboration between the Nutrisam and NuMeH research groups, suggest that probiotic supplementation could be a promising therapeutic avenue by modifying the gut microbiota composition.
Congratulations, Nil!
Dr. Montse Marquès is delving into the impacts of harmful chemical exposure on pregnant women, with a focus on endocrine disruptors. This study, currently implemented in Columbia University and funded by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowships, aims to link these exposures to gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Utilizing advanced spectrometry and mathematical models, the project will analyze biological samples from the INSULIN cohort. The final phase includes a pilot prevention program at Joan XXIII Hospital to raise awareness among pregnant women about chemical exposures.
For more details, visit URV Digital News.
Prof. Mònica Bulló, director of TecnATox, has been elected as a new member of the Executive Committee of the European Association for the Study of Obesity (EASO) to lead the Working Group on Nutrition for the next 3 years.
Congratulations for this new achievement!
Dr. Montse Marquès chaired the session titled "Unveiling the Chemical Exposome: Insights From Human Biomonitoring and Its Influence on Adverse Health Outcomes”, and she also presented two pivotal posters:
- Holistic determination of the prenatal exposome for a comprehensive overview of placental barrier: This research provides a holistic view of the prenatal exposome, offering valuable insights into the intricate dynamics of the placental barrier and its interaction with environmental factors.
- Identification of exogenous organic compounds in blood plasma, seminal plasma, and urine, and their association with human semen quality: This study delves into the association between exogenous organic compounds and human semen quality, offering crucial insights into potential impacts on reproductive health.
Dr. Joaquim Rovira was invited by the AIRENET neighborhood group to give a talk about the environmental situation of the area surrounding the municipal solid waste incinerator of Sant Adrià de Besòs. The event took place in April 26 at 18:30 h at Sala Maria Aurèlia Capmany (Centre Cívic Pati Llimona), Barcelona.
Researchers of TecnATox, led by Prof. Mònica Bulló, director of the Nutrition and Metabolic Health research group (NuMeH) and TecnATox, have discovered the mechanism that links consuming a diet rich in saturated fats with Alzheimer's disease. The results of this project, made in collaboration with the Institute of Pere Virgili Health Research (IISPV), CIBERobn and the University of Barcelona, have been published in the journal Nutrients.
According to Prof. Bulló, "the results obtained in this study represent an advance in the knowledge of the mechanism that would explain the relationship between obesity, type 2 diabetes and the development of Alzheimer's [disease]. Furthermore, they offer new targets for the possible prevention and treatment of the disease”.
The full content of the article can be found at https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/16/7/955
