Group leader
- Neurology Service – Bellvitge University Hospital
Basic and traslational researchers
- Biomedical Research Institute of Lleida (IRBLleida)
- NeuroHubLab – Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL)
- NeuroHubLab – Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL)
Motor Neuron Disease (MND) Unit members
- Neurology Service – Bellvitge University Hospital
- Neurology Service – Bellvitge University Hospital
Multiple Sclerosis Unit members
- Neurology Service – Bellvitge University Hospital
Lab Collaborators
Academic Unit of Neurology – Trinity College Dublin
The Academic Unit of Neurology at Trinity College Dublin, leaded by Prof. Orla Hardiman, has a research program in MND/Neurodegeneration that includes 50 individuals across various research domains. Our research provides a translational framework that incorporates basic, translational, clinical, and social aspects, facilitating a systems biology approach to disease.
Metabolic Pathophysiology Group – IRBLleida
The general objective of the research group focuses on studying the role played by metabolism and oxidative stress (including free radicals chemistry, redox biology, and antioxidants) in the aging process and age-related diseases. Thus, we investigate the role of metabolism and oxidative stress in animal models (vertebrates and invertebrates) and humans with different aging rates and longevity or those that have been experimentally modified (e.g., genetic manipulations, caloric restriction, and methionine restriction) or affected by pathological conditions (e.g., metabolic diseases, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and neurodegenerative diseases). If it were possible to slow down or even reverse the aging process, the incidence of age-related diseases would significantly decrease.
Neuropharmacology and Pain Research Group – UB/IDIBELL
The Neuropharmacology and Pain Research Group at the Universitat de Barcelona (UB) and the Institut d”Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge (IDIBELL) was created in 2008. The research conducted in our group is mainly focused on seeking new pharmacological strategies to reach an effective management of neurological, neuropsychiatric and pain diseases. Our aim consists of providing a deep mechanistic understanding of neurotransmitter receptors functioning which may help to design combined therapies or oligomer-tailored drugs in the near future. In addition, our interests include the development and implementation of novel biotechnological methodologies that may eventually evolve into new tools for both the study and diagnostic of diseases. Finally, our main goal is the translation of our results from the bench to the bedside and to clinical practice.
King’s Motor Neurone Disease Care and Research Centre – King’s Collage London
Prof. Ammar Al-Chalabi is head of the Basic and Clinical Neuroscience Department at King’s College London, and Director of the King’s Motor Neurone Disease Care and Research Centre, a facility that includes our ALS clinic and laboratory and clinical research teams. He leads a group focused on understanding what causes ALS, what might control the age it starts, and how fast it progresses.
Cognitive and Behavior Study Group – IRBLleida
The Cognitive and Behavior Study Group is a consolidated research group recognized by the Generalitat de Catalunya. It is composed of clinical and translational basic researchers from different specialties (neurology, neuropsychology, biomedical sciences, etc.) led and coordinated by Dr. Gerard Piñol-Ripoll. The group receives competitive national and international funding and is currently participating in several clinical trials of anti-Alzheimer drugs. It is also part of various national and international consortia on neurodegenerative diseases.
Clinical Neuroproteomics Group – NavarraBiomed
The activity of the unit is focused on defining the molecular processes involved in the development of neurodegenerative diseases. With this objective, they work on identifying proteins and peptides that mediate neuropathogenic processes in diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Multiple Sclerosis, and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. To achieve this, the team uses proteomic tools that allow them to identify and quantify hundreds of proteins in brain samples from both humans and disease models. Through bioinformatic analysis, they detect specific molecular disease mechanisms, characterizing proteins with potential prognostic and/or diagnostic value.
The group leads the Neurological Disorders Program within the Human Proteome Project through the Spanish consortium constituted by Proteored-Instituto de Salud Carlos III.
Neurogenomics Group – Research Programme on Biomedical Informatics (GRIB) (IMIM)
Research in the Neurogenomics group led by Dr. Gabriel Santpere aims to gain insight into the evolutionary mechanisms leading to human brain specializations by means of functional genomics. By leveraging multiple sources of OMICS data at the bulk tissue and single-cell/nuclei level, together with multiple sequence alignments, the group focuses on identifying lineage-specific variants relevant for normal primate brain development as well as for human neuropsychiatric disorders and traits.
Neuromuscular Unit and ERN-NMD Group – Hospital Universitario
y Politécnico La Fe and IIS La Fe
The Neuromuscular Unit of Hospital La Fe is a nationally and internationally recognized group, providing care to patients with various pathologies in clinical and research settings. The Unit was established in 2002 and currently has clinical specialists and nursing staff involved in the Unit’s tasks, focused on providing clinical care throughout all stages of life, supported by case management. Similarly, they work in a translational research group, with their own laboratory at the Institute of Health Research La Fe, and collaborate with Neurophysiology and Rehabilitation services. The main collaborator is Dr. Juan Francisco Vázquez Costa.
Neurodevelopmental Disorders Group (NDLab) – UB/IDIBELL
It is a multidisciplinary research group focused on studying the development and regeneration of the central nervous system (CNS), as well as developmental disorders causing pediatric neuropathology. Our goal is to integrate basic research with more clinical and translational aspects. The NDlab is also a member of the Institute of Neuroscience of the University of Barcelona (UBNeuro) in the area of “Pathophysiology of nervous system diseases” and the Biomedical Research Institute of Bellvitge (IDIBELL). The main collaborator is Dr. Juan Alberto Ortega Cano, who works in the research line of “Human modeling of neurological disorders.”
Neurotoxicity Research – Institut Català d’Oncologia (ICO)/HUB
The investigator’s aim is to contribute to the advancement in understanding peripheral neurotoxicity in oncology and the identification of more effective and personalized therapeutic approaches, and patients management tools, to minimize its effects on cancer patients. The main collaborator is Dr. Roser Velasco.