The document summarizes the Achucarro Basque Center for Neuroscience, including its: 1. Establishment in 2008 with approval in 2011 and beginning of operations in 2012. 2. Mission to conduct fundamental and translational neuroscience research focused on neuron-glial biology to discover new brain disease therapies. 3. Organization including a Board of Trustees, Scientific Advisory Board, and nearly 50 staff across 8 research groups studying topics like neurogenesis, neuroinflammation, and neurodegeneration.

1. Achucarro
Basque Center for Neuroscience
Knowledge to cure
Carlos Matute
Scientific Director

2. Synopsis
1. A brief history of its generation
2. Strategic Concepts and Organization
3. International Scientific Advisory Board
4. Research Groups
5. Infrastructures and Facilities
6. Contact
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3. The proposal to create the Center
 Initial talks and discussions (July 2008)
 Submission of initial proposal (November 2008)
 Assessment by an international panel (November 2010)
 Revision and final approval (March 2011)
 Agreement between Ikerbasque and UPV/EHU (May 2012)
 First meeting of Board of Trustees (June 2012)
 Beginning of operations (July 2012)
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4. Mission
 Achucarro Basque Center for Neuroscience is
► a research center fostered by Ikerbasque and the University
of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU),
► devoted to fundamental and translational research in
neuron-glial biology,
► for the discovery of new therapies for brain diseases,
► in cooperation with the local community and networked with
the international institutions in the field of neuroscience,
► with the aim of contributing to the training of future
neuroscientists.
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5. Vision & Motto
 The Achucarro Basque Center for Neuroscience will strive to lead and
coordinate neuroscience research in the Basque Country, by:
► Establishing a world-class research center, with internationally
recognized research groups and state of the art equipment and
facilities,
► Contributing to the understanding of the human brain in the field
of neuron-glial biology,
► Generating knowledge that ultimately improves the quality of life
of our Society.
“Knowledge to cure”
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6. Research Objectives
 To study neuron-glia interactions in health and disease
 To investigate the organization and information processing in
neuronal circuits
 To characterize genetic, molecular and cellular alterations
relevant to neurodegeneration, neuroprotection and tissue repair
 To develop new therapies to treat CNS diseases undergoing
tissue damage (Alzheimer´s, Multiple Sclerosis, Stroke,…)
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7. Organization
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Currently,
nearly
50
professionals

8. Board of Trustees
Supervised by the Department of Education, Universities and Research
of the Basque Government.
 Ikerbasque, the Basque Foundation for Science;
 Universidad del País Vasco – Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea
(UPV/EHU); and
 Fundación Vasca de Innovación e Investigación Sanitarias / BIO
Eusko Fundazioa (BIOEF)
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9. Scientific Advisory Board
Geoffrey
Burnstock
University College
London (UK)
Bruce
Ransom
U. Washington
USA
Helmut
Kettenmann
Max-Delbrück
Centrum (DE)
Christian
Giaume
Ecole Normale
Supérieure (FR)
Jorge
Oksenberg
UCSF
USA
Frank
Kirchhoff
University
Saarland (DE)
Jesús
Ávila
CBM Severo Ochoa
Spain
Anna
Planas
IDIBAPS
Spain
Isabel
Fariñas
U. Valencia
Spain
Jose A.
Obeso
CIMA
Spain

10. Staff
 Scientific Director
► Carlos Matute Almau
 Group leaders
► Alexei Verkhratsky
► José Julio Rodríguez Arellano
► Koen Vandenbroeck
► Jose Luis Zugaza
► Amanda Sierra
► Juan M. Encinas
► Florence Perrin
► Carlos Matute
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11. Research Groups (I)
 Alexei Verkhratsky (Ikerbasque & Manchester)
Adjunct Scientific Director
Research focus:
Neuronal-glial signalling in physiology and pathophysiology
 José Julio Rodríguez Arellano (Ikerbasque & UPV/EHU)
Group: Functional Neuroanatomy
Research focus:
Neurogenesis and glia in Alzheimer´s disease
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12. Research Groups (II)
 Koen Vandenbroeck (Ikerbasque & UPV/EHU)
Group Name: Neurogenomics
Research focus:
Biomarkers for conditions with neuro-inflammatory components
 Jose Luis Zugaza (Ikerbasque & UPV/EHU)
Group Name: GTPases and Neurosignalling
Research focus:
Signalling of small GTPases of the Rho family in neurodegenerative disorders
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13. Research Groups (III)
 Amanda Sierra (Ikerbasque & UPV/EHU)
Group Name: Glial Cell Biology Laboratory
Research focus:
Role of microglia cells in the healthy and diseased brain
 Juan Manuel Encinas (Ikerbasque & UPV/EHU)
Group Name: Neural Stem Cells and
Neurogenesis Laboratory
Research focus: Neural Stem Cells and Neurogenesis
in the Adult Hippocampus
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14. Research Groups (IV)
 Carlos Matute (UPV/EHU)
Group Name: Laboratory of Neurobiology
Research focus: Molecular and cellular
mechanisms of neurodegeneration
and neuroprotection
Senior members of the group:
E. Alberdi F. Cavaliere M. Domercq S. Mato F. Pérez A. Pérez MV. Sánchez

15. Visiting Professors (Current)
 Robert Zorec
University of Ljubljana (Slovenia)
Host laboratory:
Functional Neuroanatomy
Research activity: Exocytosis in astrocytes
 Rogelio Arellano
UNAM – Querétaro (México)
Host laboratory:
Laboratory of Neurobiology
Research activity:
Relevance of adenosine receptors in
oligodendrocytes to health and disease
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16. Location
 Bizkaia Science and Technology
Park,
Building 205
6 laboratories
Conference Room, Core Research Facilities,
Laboratory Space and management offices
 Future location at the Animal
Biotechnology Centre in the
Scientific Park of the UPV/EHU
(Campus of Leioa)
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2015

17. Core Facilities: Imaging Unit
 Super-resolution microscope
► First of its kind in Spain
► Spatial resolution below 100 nm
► Fast acquisition of images
► Microscopy in live preparations
► White laser which provides high versatility
► Equipment Reference Person:
• Asier Ruiz, PhD
• Alberto Pérez, MD, PhD
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18. Planned Core facilities: 2013-2016
 Two-Photon Microscope to monitor molecular and cellular events
both in life tissue slices and in animals in vivo
► 3-D imaging of biological specimens in vivo
► deeper tissue penetration and less photodamage
 Fluorescence-activated cell sorter and analyser
► separate and analyse cell populations in experimental models of
neuroinflammation and to study neurogenesis
 Preclinical optical molecular imaging system
► to monitor whole brain in experimental animals
 Cellular bioenergetics set-up
► To assay mitochondrial function in neurodegeneration

19. Outreach
You can follow us and be informed about our news at:
 Website www.achucarro.org
 Twitter @Achucarro_BERC
 Linkedin and Facebook
Achucarro Basque Center
for Neuroscience
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20. www.achucarro.org
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scientia ad rememdium