Since its discovery, our understanding of cells has evolved from simple structures to complex systems of organelles, proteins, and genetic material that interact in sophisticated ways. However, our understanding is far from complete with many cellular processes, such as signal transduction, metabolic networks and inter-cellular communication remaining a mystery! So, What are we still missing in our understanding of the living cell?  

To help us break it all down, we’re joined by two leading experts, Alfonso Martínez-Arias from MELIS-UPF and Vikas Trivedi from EMBL Barcelona, for a thought-provoking conversation on where the field stands today. We’ll dive into the power of multidisciplinary approaches, challenge the current research paradigms, and wrestle with the deeper question: What does it truly mean to understand a cell?  

Plus, we’ll turn our focus to an equally important issue: what makes for great research supervision? Our guests share their personal insights, and we ask the PRBB community for their take on this transversal topic.

Often unfamiliar to lab-based researchers, field work offers unique insights that can transform biomedical studies. In this episode we’ll meet Sarah Warkentin from ISGlobal who will discuss her use of field work to uncover the environmental factors contributing to childhood obesity in local communities. On the other side of the table, we’ll have Marta Álvarez-Presas ComFuturo researcher at IBE (CSIC-UPF) sharing her field experiences in the Atlantic forests of South America, where she collects invertebrate samples to aid her conservation work, while navigating the logistical and safety challenges of accessing the habitat.

Together, we explore the impact of field work in their respective fields, the practical challenges they face, and consider alternatives for research teams with limited funding. We also tackle the broader issue of academic work culture, questioning the necessity of long hours for success and discussing the importance of maintaining a healthy work-life balance.

Beyond the doomsday scenarios, artificial intelligence (AI) holds incredible potential for advancing research and innovation. In this episode we tackle the unstoppable force of AI with Mafalda Dias (CRG) and Philippe Mortier (HMRIB), who share how they’re using this tool for ecological conservation and disease characterization applications and to assist clinicians in diagnosing and caring for patients at risk of suicide.  

While exploring the transformative impact of AI on biomedical research, we also discuss its implications for the academic landscape, and even touch on some less successful attempts at using generative AI in scientific publication. Plus, we’ve got insights from researchers across the PRBB on how AI is revolutionizing their day-to-day work.