Interfibio Research group - URV

Interfibio research goes to Japan!

Our PhD student Ulises Díaz is currently at the Osaka Institute of Public Health in Japan, demonstrating a lateral flow assay for the rapid detection of tetrodotoxin (TTX), one of the world's most potent marine toxins, commonly found in pufferfish.

The test was developed by Ulises in collaboration with Dr. Mònica Campàs (Institut de Recerca i Tecnologies Agrolimentàries - IRTA) and provides a fast, portable and easy-to-use solution for toxin detection. In the future, it is also expected to be adapted for biological samples such as blood and urine, opening new possibilities for point-of-care diagnostics.

We're proud to see our research making an international impact and helping bring innovative diagnostic tools closer to real-world applications.

Well done, Ulises, and enjoy this fantastic experience in Japan!

Last Friday was a special day for the Interfibio team as we said goodbye to Giuseppe Lamberti, who has completed his six-month research stay with us.

During our group meeting, Giuseppe shared the results of his work on EAB sensor development and the different polymer coatings he explored to improve sensor performance. Thank you for all your dedication and contributions over the past months!

To wrap up the day, we enjoyed our traditional summer lunch together—a great opportunity to relax, welcome the summer, and spend some quality time outside the lab before the holidays. ☀️🍽️

Thank you, Giuseppe! We wish you all the best for the future and hope our paths cross again! 👏🔬

We’re hiring!
We are looking for a Research Technician to join the project “Multiplexed Smart Patch for Female Hormone Monitoring.”

This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to the development and optimisation of aptamers and next-generation biosensing technologies for women's health.

📍 Location: Tarragona, Spain
🧪 Research line: Development of aptamers against specific biomarkers
📅 Initial duration: 12 months (full-time position)
🗓️ Expected start date: Mid-September 2026
⏳ Application deadline: 20 July 2026

We are looking for candidates with:
✔️ A degree in Biology, Biotechnology or Microbiology
✔️ At least 2 years of research laboratory experience
✔️ Experience with aptamers and techniques such as BLI, SPR or MST
If you are passionate about biosensors, translational research and developing innovative solutions for healthcare, we would love to hear from you!

📩 Apply here: https://www.fundacio.urv.cat/ca/fundacio/borsa-treball/2026/ 👉 Ref.C-2026/030
Please share this opportunity with your network!

Another inspiring Friday at Interfibio!

During our weekly group meeting, Ulises Díaz presented his work on "Characterization of the interaction of tetrodotoxin (TTX) aptamers with TTX and its analogues using fibre optic surface plasmon resonance (FO-SPR)", sharing exciting advances in biosensing research.

We also had the pleasure of hearing X**a García Fernández, who recently joind our group as laboratory technician. She introduced herself and gave us a brief overview of her professional journey before joining the group.

And, of course, no Interfibio meeting would be complete without celebrating our June birthdays together!

🚀 Three minutes. One idea. A big challenge.

Yesterday, our PhD student Afraa Razouk participated in Falling Walls Lab Barcelona, where she presented her research on a portable device for the early detection of genetic markers linked to cardiovascular disease.

It was a great opportunity to share her work, exchange ideas with researchers and innovators, and receive valuable feedback from experts.

Congratulations, Afraa, on representing Interfibio and bringing innovative healthcare solutions one step closer to patients! 👏💙

Today during our group meeting, we enjoyed the final presentation of Martina Tolós, a Bachelor's student in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, who has spent the last four months working in our laboratory on her Final Degree Project focused on developing a rapid test for Dengue antibody detection.

It was a great opportunity to learn about her work, her achievements, and the skills she has developed during her research stay with us. Congratulations, Martina, on all your hard work, and we wish you every success in your future career! 👏

And since great science deserves a celebration, we also took the opportunity to celebrate the birthdays of several members of the group 🎂🎉.

Research, learning, teamwork, and cake—a perfect combination!

Last Friday, during our Interfibio Group Meeting, Afraa Razouk presented her latest research on "Personalised medicine by using an advanced Point-of-Care tool for stratified treatment in high-risk cardiovascular patients."

Her work aims to contribute to more precise and personalised healthcare by developing innovative diagnostic tools that can support better clinical decision-making for cardiovascular patients.

Beyond science, our group meetings are also an opportunity to strengthen team spirit. We were delighted to celebrate the birthdays of several group members and share some enjoyable moments together.

Research, collaboration, and community—an excellent way to end the week! 🎉

👏 Proud day for the Interfibio Research Group!

Yesterday, our PhD students Afraa Razouk, Elisenda Santaló, Monica Choudhary and Maryam Shafie Zadeh, together with research visitor Giuseppe Lamberti, participated in the 21st Doctoral Day organised by the Doctoral Programme in Nanoscience, Materials and Chemical Engineering, URV .

The event brought together doctoral researchers to share their work, exchange ideas and present their research through poster sessions evaluated by expert scientists.

And we have fantastic news… 🎉
🏆 Afraa Razouk won the 3rd Prize for Best Poster in the Junior Students category!

Congratulations to all our researchers for their great work, dedication and enthusiasm for science. We are very proud of you all! 🚀🔬

Last Friday at the Interfibio group meeting, Maryam Shafie Zadeh presented the latest advances in her project on the development of electrochemical DNA-based biosensors for monitoring infectious diseases.

Her current work focuses on Strongyloidiasis, a neglected tropical parasitic disease that mainly affects regions with poor sanitation, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. The disease can cause symptoms such as diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain and anorexia, but diagnosis remains especially challenging.

Current diagnostic methods often rely on microscopic identification of larvae in stool samples, which can be difficult and time-consuming, while serological tests may suffer from cross-reactivity issues.

This is where biosensor technology can make a real difference. By developing sensitive electrochemical DNA-based detection platforms, the project aims to contribute to faster, more accessible and more reliable diagnostic tools for infectious diseases. 🌍🔬

It was great to see the progress of a project that combines biotechnology, electrochemistry and global health challenges with clear potential for real-world impact.

🚀 Proud moment for the Interfibio research group at Universitat Rovira i Virgili.
Prof. Ciara O' Sullivan, director of Interfibio, has been recognised within the top 10% of women researchers in Spain in the latest ranking published by the Cybermetrics Lab of the CSIC. 👏

The ranking evaluated more than 12,500 women researchers across Spain using open scientific data platforms such as Google Scholar, ORCID and OpenAlex. Researchers are assessed through bibliometric indicators including citation impact and h-index, with the initiative aiming to increase the visibility of women leading high-impact scientific research.

At Interfibio, we are proud to see our group’s work in biosensors, diagnostics and biomedical innovation represented in such an impactful ranking. This recognition reflects not only scientific excellence, but also the importance of collaborative research with real-world impact.

Congratulations to Prof. O’Sullivan on this well-deserved achievement!

info: https://diaridigital.urv.cat/es/16-investigadoras-de-la-urv-se-situan-entre-el-10-con-mayor-impacto-del-estado/