Scientific Infrastructures Director

C/Wellington 30
08005 Barcelona

T + 3 4 9 3 3 1 6 0 9 9 0

**Scientific Infrastructures Director**

**for the Barcelonaβeta Brain Research Center
**About the employer**

The Barcelonaβeta Brain Research Center (BBRC) is a research center dedicated to the
prevention of Alzheimer's disease and the study of cognitive functions affected in healthy and

pathological aging. It was created in 2012 by the Pasqual Maragall Foundation, with the support

of the Pompeu Fabra University.

The mission of the BBRC is to provide innovative solutions to decipher and prevent biological

changes and cognitive dysfunction associated with neurodegenerative diseases. Due to the

aging of the world population, these diseases constitute a global challenge, since for example,

dementia can reach epidemic levels in 2050, with a forecast of more than 150 million people

affected, if is not found a way to prevent its appearance and development.

The BBRC received the HR Excellence in Research award (HRS4R) granted by the European

Commission; a recognition that shows its adherence to the principles of the European Charter

for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Research Staff. The center offers

a stimulating and favorable working environment in accordance with the Charter and Code,

which describe the rights and responsibilities of researchers and their employers, and

contributes to the **creation of a transparent, attractive and open ecosystem** at international

level.

Pasqual Maragall Foundation, Pompeu Fabra University and “la Caixa” Foundation are
permanent members of the BBRC Board. The center is affiliated and located in the Ciutadella

Campus of the Pompeu Fabra University of Barcelona, in a building inaugurated in 2016. The

BBRC headquarters has excellent technical facilities, including a 3TMR scanner dedicated to

research, and spaces for conducting Clinical Trials and EEG. State-of-the-art scientific facilities,

effective management and continuous high-standard peer-review evaluation are the BBRC core

proceedings to ensure achieving world-class research results.

BBRC is also part of the Barcelona Biomedical Research Park (PRBB), a large research facility that

hosts other seven different research institutions related to biomedical research, including the

Center for Genomic Regulation (CRG), the Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM),

the Department of Experimental and Health Sciences of the Pompeu Fabra University (CEXS
- UPF), the Institute of Evolutionary Biology (IBE CSIC-UPF), the Barcelona Institute of Global

Health (ISGlobal) and the Barcelona site of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL),

among others, in a multidisciplinary, collaborative and stimulating international environment in

close contact with a clinical setting, thus conducive to translational research.

C/Wellington 30
08005 Barcelona

T + 3 4 9 3 3 1 6 0 9 9 0

**About the project**

A very important part of the research carried out at the BBRC is based on the data obtained in

the Alfa Study (Alzheimer's and Families), promoted by “La Caixa” Foundation. The Alfa Study is
a pioneering research infrastructure made up of nearly 3,000 cognitively healthy people (mostly

descendants of patients with Alzheimer's disease), between the ages of 45 and 75, who

voluntarily participate in the BBRC research studies. Depending on the project in which they

participate, these people periodically carry out different clinical tests, biomarkers in

cerebrospinal fluid or plasma, cognition and neuroimaging, and have the opportunity to

participate in clinical prevention trials.

A second cohort, Beta-AARC (Alzheimer’s At Risk Cohort) study aims to include about 200
participants (55-80 years), who are experiencing a decline in their memory or other cognitive

abilities (people with Subjective Cognitive Decline)). Its main goal is the early detection of blood

and digital biomarkers that represent the pathophysiological changes related to AD in people

performance. It is a longitudinal study with annual follow-up visits (MRI and lumbar puncture

are performed only every 2 years).

Furthermore, BBRC is participating in clinical trials from the Pharma-industry in order to test the

preventive effect of experimental drugs in a group of participants with positive AD biomarkers.

**About the job**

BBRC is looking for a full-time position as Scientific Infrastructures Director reporting to the BBRC

Director and as a member of the Management Committee, with the mission to assume the

development and management of the Center's central scientific infrastructure, a cohort study

with thousands of participants from all over Spain.

the development of observational research studies and non-pharmacological and

pharmacological intervention studies (clinical trials).

The Scientific Infrastructures Director will collaborate with the research teams (Faculty) in

developing new studies.

**Main Responsibilities**

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