The BMF has signed new agreements
14 November 2012- The BMF strengthens its synergies with leading research bodies by signing cooperation agreements with the Catalan Institute of Nanotechnology and the Institute of Phototonic Sciences.
In continuation of its policy of cooperation with major national and international scientific institutions, the Barcelona Macula Foundation has signed agreements with the Catalan Institute of Nanotechnology (ICN) and the Institute of Photonic Sciences (ICFO) with the aim of fostering research in the fight against blindness.
The ICN is a private non-profit organization created in 2004 to develop scientific research in nanoscience and nanotechnology. Possessing international scope, the Institute works mainly in the field of fundamental research through to the implementation of knowledge and technology transfer for sectors such as medicine or industry.
According to Dr. Jordi Monés, director of the BMF, “the lines of work of both foundations are convergent and absolutely complementary so we expect to obtain excellent results from this recently initiated collaboration”.
The key principles of the agreement focus cooperation on the creation of academic, scientific and technological programs and projects in those research areas which are of mutual interest to both institutions. The organizing of seminars, workshops and joint conferences are other points of interest to feature in the agreement.
With the ICFO, the Barcelona Macula Foundation has commenced a cooperation program for the creation of projects related to the application of photonics in the field of health sciences. Dr. Monés says “this is without doubt a line of research with great potential which offers possibilities in the search for new treatments for eye disease”.
The Barcelona Macula Foundation thereby adds the resources of two benchmark centers in the field of scientific research to its medical and research know-how in order to continue fighting against currently incurable eye diseases such as AMD, pigmentary retinosis or Stargardt’s Disease.