The prion research line receives a visit from ASPCAT staff at the high biological containment facilities of IRTA-CReSA

Monday February 17th, 2025   News, Events, Prionic diseases

On February 13, 2025, Xavier Martínez and Laia Vives from the Veterinary Service of the Sub-Directorate General for Food Safety and Health Protection of the Public Health Agency of Catalonia (ASPCAT) under the Department of Health of the Government of Catalonia visited the high biological containment facilities of IRTA-CReSA. Specifically, they observed the activities carried out at the PRIOCAT laboratory, Catalonia’s reference laboratory for animal prion diseases.

Since 2001, PRIOCAT has been participating, under the commission of the Department of Health and also DARPA, in the eradication program for animal prion diseases or Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (TSEs). During the visit, the ASPCAT representatives were able to witness the entry and processing circuit for ruminant brain samples from the TSE surveillance program, as well as the execution of the ELISA diagnostic technique for prion diseases, carried out by Samanta Giler, the laboratory’s lead technician.
Additionally, discussions were held on the progress of various ongoing research projects, such as ZOOPRION (PID2021-122201OB-C22), funded by AEI/MICINN. They also observed the implementation of RT-QuIC, a new ultrasensitive prion detection technique developed within the framework of the INTERREG POCTEFA NEUROCOOP project (EFA 031/01). Dr. Enric Vidal, principal investigator of the prion disease research line, placed it at the department’s disposal.

Xavier Martínez (ASPCAT), Enric Vidal (IRTA-CReSA), and Laia Vives (ASPCAT).

The NEURO-COOP project has been co-financed at 65% by the European Union through the Interreg VI-A Spain-France-Andorra Program (POCTEFA 2021-2027). The goal of POCTEFA is to strengthen the economic and social integration of the Spain-France-Andorra border area.

About the author of this post:

Enric Vidal
Investigador de l'IRTA-CReSA. Laboratori PRIOCAT - SESC (Suport a Escorxadors) - Diagnòstic TBC. enric.vidal@irta.cat

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