Budget cuts hit Barcelona’s Centre for Regenerative Medicine and Izpisúa resigns

Barcelona (ACN).- The Director of Barcelona’s Centre for Regenerative Medicine (CMRB), world-famous scientist Juan Carlos Izpisúa, has resigned due to the lack of financial and political support from both Spanish and Catalan Governments. Such news was first published by Spanish newspaper ‘El País’ and then confirmed by sources in the research centre. Internationally, Izpisúa is considered to be one of the most esteemed and learned scientists in the field of stem cells. With the Director stepping down, the CMRB could well lose most of the projects it is currently working on. Indeed, 18 of the 21 projects are the intellectual property of Izpisúa and might no longer be carried out in the Barcelona-based research centre if Izpisúa quit.

In July 2004, the Spanish Ministry of Health approved the creation of the Centre for Regenerative Medicine in Barcelona. This research centre is dedicated to investigating human embryonic stem cells, as well as various animal models. Its main objective is to understand the basic mechanisms of their early development and the organogenesis and application of cell lines derived from stem cells (regenerative medicine) to degenerative diseases (characterised by a loss of cells).

The CMRB is one of the main research institutions based in Barcelona and working in the field of biomedical research. In the last decade, thanks to this project and to many others, the Catalan capital has built itself an international reputation in the field of biomedical research. However, the severe austerity measures to reduce public deficit are seriously endangering the accumulated effort of the past years, since many research projects are facing a significant decrease of funds.