Oncocat network, driven by Biocat, to participate in CLARA forum for cancer research in Lyon
<p>The network, with its 38 members, is also launching a new website to project Catalonia’s R&D capabilities in oncology.</p>
By Biocat
The Oncocat network, driven by Biocat, as part of its commitment to international collaboration, is participating in the CLARA Scientific Forum, organized by Cancéropôle Lyon Auvergne Rhône-Alpes on 20 and 21 March in Lyon (France). Coinciding with this event, in which Catalan companies and research centers have participated, the network has published its new website (www.oncocat.org), which aims to be a meeting point for its members and, at the same time, a tool for the public projection of Catalonia’s R&D capabilities in oncology.
The mission of the Oncocat network, which was created in Barcelona in 2011, is to foster coordination among research centers, organizations and groups, hospitals and companies that carry out basic, translational and clinical research in oncology in Catalonia. Oncocat also works to make the most of available opportunities and foster joint projects and business based on clinical needs, as well as projecting Catalonia’s potential in this arena on an international level. To do so, they focus on identifying and starting up joint projects in research and development of new products. The network also aims to drive public events (conferences, roundtables, workshops, etc.) to share the results of work carried out and improve its development and applications.
The network’s objectives also include detecting training needs, designing exchange policies for researchers, research centers and groups with companies in the sector, establishing postdoctoral fellowships in companies and promoting international exchanges.
Oncocat is currently made up of 38 research centers and groups, hospitals and companies from the sector with different areas of activity that include bioinformatics, the environment, fine chemicals, human health, food and nutrition, among others. Its members work in different areas of research that range from in silico analysis, biophysics and biomaterials to genomics, nanotechnology, optics and photonics.
Lykera, Leitat and IBEC present projects at CLARA
As part of the Satellite Event driven by Biocat at the CLARA Forum, the Lykera company and Leitat technological center presented their projects today in order to scout for international partners. Lykera explained the biotechnology projects they are developing that focus on biological products to treat cancer, targeting not only tumor cells but also stromal cells and tumor angiogenesis. Their most advanced product is called LK-1, an antibody that has passed the pre-clinical in vivo process and is ready to go into pre-clinical stages.
The Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC) has also participated in the forum in order to present their research projects that cover a large part of the bioengineering field, from the most basic research through medical applications.
The BioNanoMed alliance, driven by Biocat and bringing together 23 Catalan research centers and companies in the field of nanobiomedicine, was also presented at the forum in Lyon