The Achucarro Basque Center for Neuroscience is a BERC (Basque Excellence Research Center) research center devoted to neuroscience and created by Ikerbasque – the Basque Foundation for ScienceInformation about the center at the Ikerbasque website and the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) in mid-2012. The center is named after Nicolas Achucarro (Bilbao, 1880–1918), the first internationally recognized Basque neuroscientist.
The center is located at the Science Park of UPV/EHU,Location of Headquarters within the campus of University of the Basque Country, in Leioa, Spain.
The research focus of the center is the study of neuronal-glial biology in normal and pathological brain, which is the base for training students and disseminate the acquired knowledge to the Society, so well-being of people and sustainable social development is fostered.
History The center was founded in mid-2012 as part of the Basque Government's strategic initiative to establish specialized, high-level research centers (BERCs) to enhance the region's scientific output and regional presence in Europe.
Research Program The research program spans neuron-glia interactions, neurodegenerative and autoimmune diseases, and brain development and aging. It maintains a strong focus on translational medicine, aiming to convert fundamental biological discoveries into practical diagnostic tools and therapeutic interventions.
Core Platforms and Facilities The center maintains several state-of-the-art core scientific units to support internal and external biomedical research: Advanced Optical Imaging Platform: Equipped with confocal and super-resolution microscopy (STED) microscopes, two-photon fluorescence microscopies for live-tissue and in vivo imaging, high-content screening (HCSP), and Structured Illumination. This platform is part of a node in the network Euro-BioImaging Cell Analytics Platform: Mainly FACS facilities. Biomarkers: Includes ELISA, Multiplex and Single Molecule Array technologies. Basque Biomodel Platform for Human Research (BBioH): Operated in partnership with the Instituto Biofisika, this platform develops patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) into 2D cultures and 3D brain organoids to model neurological conditions in human biological backgrounds. Electrophysiology and High-Density MEA: Microelectrode Array (MEA) systems capable of high-resolution electrophysiological recording and stimulation of neural networks in real time.
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