TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) has become a worldwide reference regarding the dissemination of great advances, under its motto “Ideas worth spreading”. Its local meetings (TEDx), such as the one held in Barcelona last January, bring together experts to talk about the great advances in science, society, politics, technology, culture, etc., whose interventions have then a great online impact.

Estrella Núñez explained how ageing is the greatest risk factor for suffering from a disease, and she presented the advances in research promoted and developed by UCAM to reverse it, led by Juan Carlos Izpisua, professor of Developmental Biology at this university and director of the Gene Expression Laboratory at Salk Institute in the United States. For example, rejuvenating mice by eliminating epigenetic marks from their DNA (the result of the passage of time) or increasing the longevity of mice affected by progeria (a disease that causes premature ageing). Also, regenerating organs damaged by the passage of time (such as skin) or generating, in higher animals, human organs for transplants.

The Professor of Biochemistry and vice-chancellor for research at UCAM shared the stage with Josep María Font (he addressed robotic exoskeletons for walking again), Franc Ponti (strategies to improve creativity and ingenuity), Marc Masip (the heroin of the 21st century), Carla Abdelnour (robots at home: support for the elderly), etc.

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PftT45N8V0