01-07-2026
The Biogenoma-IEC programme supports IRBio-UB research projects
The Biogenoma-IEC programme will fund three research projects coordinated by the IRBio- University of Barcelona as part of its fifth call for proposals, aimed at preserving biodiversity, protecting it from the effects of climate change and ensuring it is compatible with the use of natural resources.
Thanks to the support of the Directorate-General for Research of the Government of Catalonia, 10 projects have been awarded funding this year to analyse the complete genetic information of 58 species of high biotechnological, agricultural or ecological value from Catalan-speaking regions, with a particular focus on those that are threatened or of biotechnological or commercial interest.
These 58 species are in addition to the nearly 200 that have been under analysis since 2019. For the first time, the programme includes fungal species, alongside invertebrates (marine and terrestrial), reptiles and amphibians. The results will be incorporated into the Catalan Biogenome Project (CBP).
The new projects, led by universities and research centres in Catalonia and the Balearic Islands, will involve a total investment of more than half a million euros over two years, with research staff from 14 institutions taking part.
This initiative involves analysing the complete genetic information of species of high biotechnological, agricultural or ecological value in the Catalan-speaking countries.
Since 2023, the Institute for Catalan Studies (IEC) has coordinated the Biogenoma-IEC programme, through a series of calls for grant applications for research projects within the framework of the CBP, an initiative launched by the Catalan Society of Biology and the Catalan Institution of Natural History — both affiliated with the IEC — which aims to sequence the genomes of all eukaryotic species in the Catalan-speaking countries.
De novo genome sequencing of eukaryotic species
As part of the call for proposals, Professor Jesús Lozano, from the Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics at the UB’s Faculty of Biology and the Biodiversity Research Institute (IRBio), will coordinate the project “A comparative genomics framework for comb jellies (Ctenophora)”, which focuses on the genomic analysis of this group of gelatinous-looking marine invertebrates.
Marta Álvarez-Presas, from the Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences at the Faculty of Biology and IRBio, is leading the project “Assessment of microendemic flatworms and arthropods in the Catalan-speaking territories’” which will study these types of invertebrates found in various natural habitats in Catalonia. The project also involves Rafel Matamales, from the Sóller Botanical Garden Foundation – Balearic Museum of Natural Sciences (MUCBO).
Scientific analysis of the data generated by the CBP
Other projects highlight the scientific value of having high-quality reference genomes for conducting cutting-edge research. One such project is “Genomic Insights for the Conservation of Rare Cave Arthropods”, led by Miquel A. Arnedo, professor at the Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences at the Faculty of Biology and director of IRBio. The project will analyse several populations of cave-dwelling arthropods found in Catalonia (the blind scorpion, a relict spider, an aquatic crustacean and a beetle). Researcher Berta Caballero, from the Barcelona Museum of Natural Sciences, is also participating in the project.
Marta Pascual, a professor at the Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics and a member of IRBio, will take part in the project “Conservation genomics of the endemic snail Xerocrassa montserratensis”, led by Professor Cinta Pegueroles (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona). The project will focus on studying an endemic snail classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, found in the Sant Llorenç del Munt i l’Obac Natural Park, with the aim of devising strategies to conserve and recover the species.
Thanks to the support of the Directorate-General for Research of the Government of Catalonia, 10 projects have been awarded funding this year to analyse the complete genetic information of 58 species of high biotechnological, agricultural or ecological value from Catalan-speaking regions, with a particular focus on those that are threatened or of biotechnological or commercial interest.
These 58 species are in addition to the nearly 200 that have been under analysis since 2019. For the first time, the programme includes fungal species, alongside invertebrates (marine and terrestrial), reptiles and amphibians. The results will be incorporated into the Catalan Biogenome Project (CBP).
The new projects, led by universities and research centres in Catalonia and the Balearic Islands, will involve a total investment of more than half a million euros over two years, with research staff from 14 institutions taking part.
This initiative involves analysing the complete genetic information of species of high biotechnological, agricultural or ecological value in the Catalan-speaking countries.
Since 2023, the Institute for Catalan Studies (IEC) has coordinated the Biogenoma-IEC programme, through a series of calls for grant applications for research projects within the framework of the CBP, an initiative launched by the Catalan Society of Biology and the Catalan Institution of Natural History — both affiliated with the IEC — which aims to sequence the genomes of all eukaryotic species in the Catalan-speaking countries.
De novo genome sequencing of eukaryotic species
As part of the call for proposals, Professor Jesús Lozano, from the Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics at the UB’s Faculty of Biology and the Biodiversity Research Institute (IRBio), will coordinate the project “A comparative genomics framework for comb jellies (Ctenophora)”, which focuses on the genomic analysis of this group of gelatinous-looking marine invertebrates.
Marta Álvarez-Presas, from the Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences at the Faculty of Biology and IRBio, is leading the project “Assessment of microendemic flatworms and arthropods in the Catalan-speaking territories’” which will study these types of invertebrates found in various natural habitats in Catalonia. The project also involves Rafel Matamales, from the Sóller Botanical Garden Foundation – Balearic Museum of Natural Sciences (MUCBO).
Scientific analysis of the data generated by the CBP
Other projects highlight the scientific value of having high-quality reference genomes for conducting cutting-edge research. One such project is “Genomic Insights for the Conservation of Rare Cave Arthropods”, led by Miquel A. Arnedo, professor at the Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences at the Faculty of Biology and director of IRBio. The project will analyse several populations of cave-dwelling arthropods found in Catalonia (the blind scorpion, a relict spider, an aquatic crustacean and a beetle). Researcher Berta Caballero, from the Barcelona Museum of Natural Sciences, is also participating in the project.
Marta Pascual, a professor at the Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics and a member of IRBio, will take part in the project “Conservation genomics of the endemic snail Xerocrassa montserratensis”, led by Professor Cinta Pegueroles (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona). The project will focus on studying an endemic snail classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, found in the Sant Llorenç del Munt i l’Obac Natural Park, with the aim of devising strategies to conserve and recover the species.