Map of Neuroscience Research in Catalonia

The UAB is the academic institute with the highest number of research groups in neuroscience, with a total of 30 groups carrying out research in this sector. The map was conceived and directed by scientists of the Institute of Neurosciences (UAB) and the August Pi i Sunyer Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBAPS-UB).

21/10/2014

In which areas of neuroscience is research being carried out in Catalonia? What research groups are there and how are they distributed throughout the territory? The answer to these questions can be found in the "Map of Neuroscience Research in Catalonia", a website created by the Institute of Catalan Studies (IEC) and its affiliated member, the Catalan Biology Society (SCB), the UAB Institute of Neurosciences (INc) and the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB). The website will be presented at the Ninth Symposium on Experimental Neurobiology on 22 and 23 October at the IEC.

In addition to sharing the reality of research into neuroscience in Catalonia, the map aims to become a practical tool which allows researchers to find groups with which to collaborate and to identify laboratories in which they can continue their research, as well as offer scientific journalists information on the experts working in specific fields.

The map of neuroscience research in Catalonia offers information on 117 research groups and 993 researchers. Thanks to this tool, it has been possible to diagnose the state of neuroscience research in the country and discover that the groups are spaced out; i.e., the research groups are relatively small and the majority of them are directed by men. The academic institutes with the highest number of research groups are the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) â30 groupsâ, the University of Barcelona (UB) â29 groupsâ and the August Pi i Sunyer Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBAPS) â23 groups. Disorders related to the central nervous system are objects of research in 72% of the groups.

The team which conceived and directed the project was led by Josep Saura (UB, IDIBAPS) and Josefa Sabrià (UAB INc); also collaborating in the project were Mariàngels Gallego and Maite Sánchez (SCB), Jesús Ureña (UB), Joan Blasi (Institute for Biomedical Research, Bellvitge [IDIBELL], UB), Pilar Navarro (Institute for Medical Research, Hospital del Mar [IMIM]), Eva Sanfeliu (Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau), Miquel Vila (Institute for Research, Vall d’Hebron [IRVH]), Joan Serratosa (Spanish National Research Council [CSIC]), Jonathan P. Giblin (UB), and all neuroscience research groups which sent in their data. In charge of the design and maintenance of the web was Santiago Muxach (IEC Digital Resource Services).

The scientific and organisation committee for the Ninth Symposium of Experimental Neurobiology, presided by Josep Saura (UB, IDIBAPS), was also formed by Josep M. Canals (UB, IDIBAPS), Josefa Sabrià (INc, UAB), Carles Saura (INc, UAB), Rosa M. Soler (University of Lleida) and Teresa Vilaró (CSIC, IDIBAPS). This year's edition has received the support of the IEC, the UB, the UAB, the INc, the Institute of Biomedical Research, Lleida and the University of Lleida.

The Map of Neuroscience Research in Catalonia can be consulted at the following website:
http://taller.iec.cat/neurocat/