The Unit of Biophysics and Bioengineering is largely specialized in applying the principles and methodologies of physics and engineering to the study of a variety of biological systems in normal and diseased conditions. The scope of this multidisciplinary research includes both basic and translational approaches, and is conducted in close collaboration with clinical research groups. The goal is to improve the diagnostic and treatment of human diseases. Most of the work applies to different length scales, including the molecular, cellular and tissue/organ level. The main areas of research include mechanobiology, respiratory and cardiovascular biophysics, and biomedical image processing.
Ramon Farré Ventura (Full Professor) rfarre(at)ub.edu
Pere Roca Cusachs (Associate Professor)
Núria Gavara Casas (Tenure-Track Lecturer – Serra Hunter)
Isaac Almendros López (Associate Professor)
Raimon Sunyer Borrell (Tenure-Track Lecturer)
Jorge Otero Díaz (Tenure-Track Lecturer)
Daniel Navajas Navarro (Emeritus)
Miguel Rodriguez Lazaro (Technician)
Multi-Step Extracellular Matrix Remodelling and Stiffening in the Development of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. Júnior C.; Ulldemolins A.; Narciso M.; Almendros I.; Farré R.; Navajas D.; López J.; Eroles M.; Rico F.; Gavara N. 2023, International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 24, 1708. Doi: 10.3390/ijms24021708
Lung Micrometastases Display ECM Depletion and Softening While Macrometastases Are 30-Fold Stiffer and Enriched in Fibronectin. Narciso M.; Martínez Á.; Júnior C.; Díaz-Valdivia N.; Ulldemolins A.; Berardi M.; Neal K.; Navajas D.; Farré R.; Alcaraz J.; Almendros I.; Gavara N. 2023, Cancers, 15, 8, 2404. Doi: 10.3390/cancers15082404
Fast cycling of intermittent hypoxia in a physiomimetic 3D environment: A novel tool for the study of the parenchymal effects of sleep apnea. Jurado A.; Ulldemolins A.; Lluís H.; Gasull X.; Gavara N.; Sunyer R.; Otero J.; Gozal D.; Almendros I.; Farré R. 2023, Frontiers in Pharmacology,13, 1081345. Doi: 10.3389/fphar.2022.1081345
Development of a physiomimetic model of acute respiratory distress syndrome by using ECM hydrogels and organ-on-a-chip devices. Marhuenda E., Villarino A., Narciso M., Elowsson L., Almendros I., Westergren-Thorsson G., Farré R., Gavara N., Otero J. Frontiers in Pharmacology. 13, 945134, 2022.
Lung Extracellular Matrix Hydrogels Enhance Preservation of Type II Phenotype in Primary Alveolar Epithelial Cells. Marhuenda E., Villarino A., Narciso M.L., Camprubí-Rimblas M., Farré R., Gavara N., Artigas A., Almendros I., Otero J. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 23, 9, 4888, 2022
Novel Decellularization Method for Tissue Slices. Narciso M., Ulldemolins A., Júnior C., Otero J., Navajas D., Farré R., Gavara N., Almendros I. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 10, 832178, 2022
Involvement of Mechanical Cues in the Migration of Cajal-Retzius Cells in the Marginal Zone During Neocortical Development. López-Mengual A., Segura-Feliu M., Sunyer R., Sanz-Fraile H., Otero J., Mesquida-Veny F., Gil V., Hervera A., Ferrer I., Soriano J., Trepat X., Farré R., Navajas D., del Río J.A. Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology, 10, 886110, 2022
The force loading rate drives cell mechanosensing through both reinforcement and cytoskeletal softening. Andreu I., Falcones B., Hurst S., Chahare N., Quiroga X., Le Roux A.-L., Kechagia Z., Beedle A.E.M., Elosegui-Artola A., Trepat X., Farré R., Betz T., Almendros I., Roca-Cusachs P. Nature Communications. 2021, 12, 1
Mechanical compartmentalization of the intestinal organoid enables crypt folding and collective cell migration. Ceada G., Greco F., Matejčić M., Gómez-González M., Castro N., Menendez A., Kale S., Krndija D., Clark A.G., Gannavarapu V.R., Álvarez-Varela A., Roca-Cusachs P., Batlle E., Vignjevic D.M., Arroyo M., Trepat X. Nature Cell Biology. 2021, 23, 3
Low-cost, easy-to-build noninvasive pressure support ventilator for under-resourced regions: Open source hardware description, performance and feasibility testing. Garmendia O., Rodríguez-Lazaro M.A., Otero J., Phan P., Stoyanova A., Dinh-Xuan A.T., Gozal D., Navajas D., Montserrat J.M., Farré R. European Respiratory Journal. 2020, 55(6)
The conventional isoproterenol-induced heart failure model does not consistently mimic the diaphragmatic dysfunction observed in patients. Cabrera-Aguilera I., Falcones B., Calvo-Fernández A., Benito B., Barreiro E., Gea J., Farré R., Almendros I., Farré N. PLoS ONE. 2020, 15(7)
Estudio de los mecanismos involucrados en los efectos nocivos de la hipoxia intermitente en diferentes tejidos utilizando un nuevo modelo fisiomimético ex vivo. PID2022-140774OB-I00. IP: Isaac Almendros López. Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (2023-2026)
Estudio de la Mecanobiología aberrante de los fibroblastos senescentes en la Fibrosis Pulmonar Idiopática. CNS2022-135533. IP: Raimon Sunyer Borrell. Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (2023-2025)
Condicionamiento biofísico de células madre/estromales mesenquimales para la terapia del síndrome de distrés respiratorio agudo (PID2020-113910RB-I00). IP: Farré, Ramon. Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (2021-2024)
Biomarcadores biofisicos y machine learning para una prueba de concepto en un panel de Drogas para inhibir la activacion de fibroblastostumorales en cancer de pulmón. PID2020-116808RB-I00. IP: Gavara, Núria. Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (2021-2024)