Release of Sketching Diabetes IDIBAPS, a book that explains this metabolic disorder through urban drawing

Sketching –urban drawing- has once again been the protagonist of an original science outreach initiative carried out by IDIBAPS through the AstraZeneca Chair in Diabetes Innovation. The results can now be seen in the book Sketching Diabetes IDIBAPS since April 18, the date of its public release. The goal of this publication is to spread awareness of the research that the institute conducts in the area of diabetes and metabolic disorders.

Ramon Gomis, Director of IDIBAPS, and Cristina Curto, professional illustrator, presented the book at an event held in Barcelona with over 100 people in attendance. Among those present were sketchers who had participated in the project, as well as researchers who had assisted with leading the workshop and writing and providing the scientific content that accompanies the illustrations included in the book: Jesús Blanco, Laura Brugnara, Rosa Gasa, Serafín Murillo, Meritxell Rovira and Joan-Marc Servitja. Also in attendance were representatives from the sketching academy Drawing on Location and from the organizations that collaborated on the initiative: the Catalan Diabetic Association (ADC), the Spanish Biomedical Research Centre in Diabetes and Associated Metabolic Disorders (CIBERDEM), and the City of Barcelona, through Centre Cívic Urgell. During the presentation, a video summarizing the initiative was shown, which can also be viewed on YouTube on the IDIBAPS channel.

The book Sketching Diabetes IDIBAPS, released by IDIBAPS through the publisher Zahorí de Ideas with the support of Fundación AstraZeneca, features the drawings of Cristina Curto as well as those created during a sketching workshop open to the public, which was held at IDIBAPS laboratories on November 7, 2015. Afterwards, on the occasion of World Diabetes Day and as part of Science Week, on November 14 an exhibit opened at Centre Cívic Urgell, displaying drawings from the workshop and photographs of the event; this exhibit remained open until December 11.

With the goal of raising awareness, through drawing, of the importance of research and innovation in the prevention and treatment of diabetes and its complications, the book reflects the areas of research in which the IDIBAPS researchers currently conduct their work, and which were introduced to the 45 sketchers who participated in the workshop: epigenetics or the impact of environment on risk genes for diabetes; cellular reprogramming for obtaining beta-cells (insulin producers) to be used in transplantation; the development of vaccines for preventing the disease; how to protect cells from environmental attack; how inflammation injures endothelial cells in arteries, leading to vascular complications of diabetes; and how a healthier lifestyle can help prevent and control the disease.

In order to reach as many people possible, the book contains texts appearing in three languages, and it was published under a Creative Commons license. Help spread the word!

For more information on this initiative:

Sketching Diabetes IDIBAPS

Scientific Sketching at IDIBAPS

IDIBAPS Channel on YouTube

Photographs: Francisco Avia