To fulfil the promise of applying bioengineering to improve the lives of patients, we need to adopt a holistic approach encompassing understanding of biological/pathological mechanisms, development of engineered systems, and consideration of clinical needs. Hence, the B4 symposium, by bringing together experts studying the BBB from a biological, engineering and medical perspective, will greatly aid IBEC in its goal of developing bioengineering solutions to deliver therapies against brain disorders. 

Barcelona is home to numerous research groups pushing forward the knowledge frontier of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and its role in brain disorders. To foment interaction across this community, we are organizing the Barcelona Blood-Brain-Barrier (B4) symposium to bring the BBB-community of Barcelona together to discuss advances in the field. The event will focus on the mechanisms underlying BBB physiology (e.g., brain endothelial specialization, neurovascular coupling, molecular transport), its role in brain disorders (neurodegeneration, infectious diseases, cancer), and nano/bioengineering strategies to deliver therapies across the BBB.

The first edition of this symposium will take place on May 21^st-22^nd, 2024. As our inaugural keynote speaker, we have the honour to welcome Prof. Martin Lauritzen (Copenhagen University). Prof. Lauritzen has been instrumental in our understanding of regulation of cerebral blood-flow by the neurovascular unit, nanoparticle transport dynamics across the BBB, and in developing in vivo imaging systems to study the brain vasculature.