LimbLab: a tool to visualise development in 3D
Researchers at EMBL Barcelona have developed an open-source tool that makes working with complicated volumetric imaging data easier.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY2026
science-technology
A lab away from home
Now in its third year, EMBL's sabbatical fellowship programme is attracting non-traditional allied scientists. The participants see opportunities for collaboration, top-notch technology, and leapfrogging research.
CONNECTIONS2026
connections
From static papers to living models: turning limb development research into interactive science
LimbNET is a new online platform that integrates computer modelling, experimental data, and 2D live simulations.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY2025
science-technology
Expanding the biological world through microscopy
EMBL researchers have been using a powerful technique called ultrastructure expansion microscopy to peek deeper inside living organisms and understand how they function.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY2025
science-technology
A human placenta model to protect pregnant women and their babies
EMBL researchers were awarded a BII foundation grant to support Model-MI – an in vitro model that mimics the maternal-fetal interface.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY2025
science-technology
The hidden life of pericytes: understanding how cerebral malaria breaks the blood-brain barrier
Researchers built a 3D human blood-brain barrier and discovered a key role of brain pericytes in cerebral malaria.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY2025
science-technology
Cerebral malaria: new study shows how the malaria parasite opens the way to the brain
EMBL Barcelona researchers shed light on how the blood-brain barrier is damaged during severe malaria.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY2025
science-technology
Spotting stealth multiplets for better single-cell experiment design
Researchers at EMBL Barcelona have quantitatively evaluated the risk of undetected artefacts in single-cell RNA sequencing experiments.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY2025
science-technology
A new boost for CryoZoo, Barcelona’s animal cell biobank
The Barcelona CryoZoo has received a grant from the international organisation Revive & Restore to advance research on stem cell reprogramming in wild animal species.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY2025
science-technology
We are EMBL: Marta Cherubini on understanding maternal-fetal communication
Marta Cherubini, a Senior Researcher at EMBL Barcelona, is developing a new 3D in vitro model of the human placental barrier to study pregnancy complications. She enjoys crafting and repairing broken items through careful observation and problem-solving, skills that carry over from her lab…
PEOPLE & PERSPECTIVES2025
people-perspectives
Metabolism shapes life
EMBL Barcelona and MPI-CBG Dresden researchers reveal how glycolysis drives early embryonic cell decisions.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY2025
science-technology
How video games inspired a new way to visualise limb development
EMBL Barcelona researchers developed a computational method that reconstructs embryonic development.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY2025
science-technology
Metabolic activities are not global modulators of developmental tempos
A new study from EMBL Barcelona researchers shows that metabolism is a selective modulator of developmental tempo, contributing to our evolutionary understanding.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY2025
science-technology
Cute molecules and the scientists who adore them: Maria Costanzo
Maria Costanzo, former predoc at EMBL Barcelona, talks about YAP, her favourite protein in the shape of a heart. This is part of a series of stories about EMBL scientists and quirky, charming proteins that make them smile.
PEOPLE & PERSPECTIVES2025
people-perspectives
We are EMBL: Laura Marin on moving back to Barcelona, success, and the colour blue
Laura Marin, Head of Administration at EMBL Barcelona, talks about how finding joy at work is true success, and how she feels in her new role.
PEOPLE & PERSPECTIVES2024
people-perspectives
Stopping severe malaria by harnessing natural human antibodies
The findings of the study provide insights into vaccines or treatments to protect people from severe malaria.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY2024
science-technology
From head to tail: how cells give rise to our body plan
Researchers from the Trivedi Group at EMBL Barcelona unveil how cells can act autonomously during early development.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY2024
science-technology
EMBL Barcelona celebrates EMBL’s 50th anniversary with Spanish community
EMBL Barcelona observed EMBL’s 50th anniversary with a scientific celebration that attracted alumni and other leading life scientists.
CONNECTIONS2024
connections
Machine learning discoveries honoured with 2024 Nobel Prize for Physics
The prize was awarded to John J. Hopfield, Princeton University, USA, and Geoffrey Hinton, University of Toronto, Canada, for their seminal contributions to the foundational methods that enabled the development of machine learning.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY2024
science-technology
The importance and limitations of organoids
Cell biologist Hans Clevers will discuss organoids as 'avatars' for human organs in research and medicine at the 2024 Kafatos lecture.
PEOPLE & PERSPECTIVES2024
people-perspectives
We are EMBL: Iguaracy Pinheiro-de-Sousa on organoids and nanorobot ‘highways’
EMBL-EBI Postdoctoral researcher Iguaracy Pinheiro de Sousa is using bioinformatics to support the development of better organoids.
PEOPLE & PERSPECTIVES2024
people-perspectivesperspectives
Spanish dignitaries meet EMBL leaders to uplift cooperation for future research synergy
A delegation from Spain’s Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Universities visited EMBL to strengthen ties and discuss future opportunities.
CONNECTIONS2024
connections
We are EMBL: Jia Le Lim on zebrafish, temperature, and Johann Sebastian Bach
Jia Le Lim talks about contributing back to society through science, finding inspiration in the way birds fly in the sky, and winning a recent international piano competition.
PEOPLE & PERSPECTIVES2024
people-perspectives
Celebrating 50 years of infinite curiosity
What makes EMBL unique? Among many things, it’s the infinite curiosity of its community.
LAB MATTERS2024
lab-matters
Unveiling the vulnerabilities of pulmonary neuroendocrine tumours
A new organoid model mimics the behaviour of neuroendocrine tumours (NETs), providing a novel and invaluable tool to study the disease in the lab.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY2023
sciencescience-technology
The Barcelona Collaboratorium hosts its first event since its opening
The Barcelona Collaboratorium celebrated a milestone as it hosted the EMBO Practical Course ‘Computational modelling of multicellular systems'.
CONNECTIONS2023
connectionsevents
Genes, cells, and embryos in development and evolution: Pere Alberch, 25 years on
Scientists from the MELIS department at UPF and EMBL Barcelona have organised a symposium to discuss the work of the visionary Catalan scientist Pere Alberch, who passed away 25 years ago.
CONNECTIONS2023
connectionsevents
EMBL in Spain: Molecules to Ecosystems
EMBL in Spain 2023 was held in Bilbao on Friday 9 October, hosted at the Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC bioGUNE).
CONNECTIONS2023
alumniconnections
The speed of life: a zoo of cells to study developmental time
Researchers from the Ebisuya Group at EMBL Barcelona have used an unprecedented stem cell zoo to compare six different mammalian species and their developmental time.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY2023
sciencescience-technology
IMAGINE-ing next-generation technology to help biologists
EMBL researchers and collaborators have begun an impactful innovation-development journey, thanks to a European Commission ‘IMAGINE’ grant.
CONNECTIONSLAB MATTERS2023
connectionslab-matters
After EMBL: Thomas Graf
Alumnus Thomas Graf reflects on his time at EMBL, offering an update on his whereabouts and advice for young scientists.
PEOPLE & PERSPECTIVES2023
alumnipeople-perspectives
Welcome: Alejandro Torres-Sánchez
The new group leader is setting up the first purely theory-focused research group at EMBL Barcelona. He aims to understand fundamental biological principles using mathematical models and computer simulations, in close collaboration with experimental researchers across EMBL.
LAB MATTERSPEOPLE & PERSPECTIVES2023
lab-matterspeople-perspectives
EMBL Barcelona: Five years down the road
EMBL’s site by the sea completed its fifth year of operations. We look back at some key milestones and achievements since 2017.
LAB MATTERS2023
lab-matters
Vikas Trivedi from EMBL Barcelona receives ERC Synergy Grant
The group leader, together with three other principal investigators, has been awarded the ERC Synergy Grant, one of the most prestigious public grants in Europe.
EMBL ANNOUNCEMENTSLAB MATTERS2023
embl-announcementslab-matters
Spotlight: Zebrafish embryos to make this season jolly
Zebrafish embryos during gastrulation, a very early stage of development, to study the effect of temperature on vertebrate embryo development.
LAB MATTERSSCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY2022
lab-matterspicture-of-the-weekscience-technology
EMBL in Spain: from EvoDevo to Tissues
More than a hundred scientists from across Spain and Europe met at the Andalusian Centre for Developmental Biology (CABD) for the 2022 “EMBL in Spain” event.
2022
alumni
Welcome to EMBL: Talya Dayton
The new group leader in Barcelona aims to understand how cells behave in health and in disease, and approaches her favourite hobby, cooking, very similarly to her work in the lab.
LAB MATTERSPEOPLE & PERSPECTIVES2022
lab-matterspeople-perspectives
The power of light: folding 3D tissues
EMBL Barcelona researchers have developed a tool that can use light to control the shape of cells .
2022
science
EMBL Barcelona and CRG kickstart new era of digital biology in Barcelona
The institutes have launched a joint new initiative which aims to make biology as engineerable as an aeroplane or a bridge.
CONNECTIONSLAB MATTERS2022
connectionslab-matters
Building the ideal limb
EMBL researchers use a “fearless” computer reconstruction and a two-centuries-old mathematical approach to study limb bud growth.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY2022
sciencescience-technology
A summer of scientific exchange in Barcelona
EMBL’s site by the sea hosted a trio of conferences this summer, covering topics ranging from vascular biology to engineered living systems to evolution.
CONNECTIONSLAB MATTERS2022
connectionslab-matters
Three EMBL scientists elected as EMBO Members
Cornelius Gross, Miki Ebisuya and Nassos Typas join EMBO, the prestigious organisation for the life sciences.
EMBL ANNOUNCEMENTSLAB MATTERS2022
embl-announcementslab-matters
EMBL and CSIC join hands to discuss microbes in a changing world
Researchers from EMBL and CSIC came together to discuss microbial communities, diversity, and behaviour, in the context of One Health.
CONNECTIONS2022
connectionsevents
What do stem cell aggregates and whipped cream have in common?
EMBL researchers revise the old problem of sintering droplets to understand the mechanical properties of tissues.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY2022
sciencescience-technology
Unravelling the origins of the human spine
Scientists at EMBL Barcelona have created for the first time a 3D in vitro model that recapitulates the periodic formation of human somites – structures that give rise to the spinal column.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY2022
sciencescience-technology
Putting Cryptococcus in context
EMBL’s imaging technology helps researchers gain insights in the fungus’ journey from the lung to the brain.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY2022
sciencescience-technology
Kristina Haase from EMBL Barcelona receives ERC Starting Grant
Kristina Haase, Group Leader at EMBL Barcelona, will receive €1.5 million over the next five years to develop her project on 3D vascularised in vitro cardiac tissues.
EMBL ANNOUNCEMENTSLAB MATTERS2022
embl-announcementslab-matters
Building a 3D placenta on a chip
A new model could serve as a platform to investigate critical placenta barrier phenomena, including defence against bacteria, viruses, and parasites.
LAB MATTERSSCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY2021
lab-mattersscience-technology
The secret life of baby octopuses
Some of the most amazing creatures live in the deep blue sea. The Mesoscopic Imaging Facility (MIF) at EMBL Barcelona was recently involved in studying one unique feature of the octopus: the ephemeral structures on the surface of their skin called Kölliker’s organs.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY2021
sciencescience-technology
A flip book for biological systems
In the Mesoscopic Imaging Facility (MIF) at EMBL Barcelona, researchers study the details of biological systems in the context of organs, body parts, or entire organisms. This image shows OPTiSPIM1, one of the custom light-sheet microscope setups available at the facility.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY2021
sciencescience-technology
Barriers against malaria
The Bernabeu Group aims to increase our knowledge of cerebral malaria, using in vitro engineered networks of human blood vessels and brain cells.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY2021
picture-of-the-weekscience-technology
EMBL group leader Miki Ebisuya receives ERC Consolidator Grant
Funding by the European Research Council (ERC) will support research on the timing of developmental processes in mammals
EMBL ANNOUNCEMENTSLAB MATTERS2020
embl-announcementslab-matters
EMBL strengthens collaboration with Spanish research
On 9 October, EMBL and the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding that paves the way for stronger collaboration between these two leading research institutions.
CONNECTIONSLAB MATTERS2020
connectionslab-matters
Tracing the origins of cells
Researchers from the Sharpe group at EMBL Barcelona have published a method to track the developmental history of a cell using the gene editing tool CRISPR–Cas9, but without the need to create transgenic organisms.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY2020
sciencescience-technology
Tissue dynamics provide clues to human disease
EMBL scientists examine the molecular causes of a rare hereditary disease of the spine and ribs
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY2020
sciencescience-technology
Working with a view
EMBL has six sites in Europe and the newest is EMBL Barcelona. It opened in October 2017 and is still growing. Eventually, it will be home to eight research groups, all of them working to discover how tissues and organs function and develop. EMBL Barcelona is located in the Barcelona Biomedical…
LAB MATTERS2019
lab-matterspicture-of-the-week
Welcome: Jim Swoger
New head of the Mesoscopic Imaging Facility at EMBL Barcelona will help scientists visualise nature
PEOPLE & PERSPECTIVES2018
people-perspectivesscience
Welcome: Miki Ebisuya
New group leader at EMBL Barcelona creates artificial biological systems to study animal development
PEOPLE & PERSPECTIVES2018
people-perspectivesscience
New insights into Turing patterns
EMBL scientists extend Turing’s theory to help understand how biological patterns are created
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY2018
sciencescience-technology
The rise of GPU computing in science
Discover how EMBL scientists are using GPU computing to push biology forward
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY2018
sciencescience-technology
EMBL Barcelona co-organises first conference
James Sharpe, Head of EMBL Barcelona, co-chairs the morphogenetic engineering-themed conference
CONNECTIONS2017
connectionsevents
James Sharpe appointed Head of EMBL Barcelona
Inventor of OPT will be the first Head of EMBL’s new Barcelona site
EMBL ANNOUNCEMENTSLAB MATTERS2017
embl-announcementslab-matters
EMBL to open new site in Barcelona
Spanish government and EMBL sign agreement for new site
EMBL ANNOUNCEMENTSLAB MATTERS2017
embl-announcementslab-matters
Behind the scenes: Building EMBL’s Barcelona site
Silke Schumacher explains how the new EMBL site in Barcelona came into being
LAB MATTERS2017
lab-matters
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