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Ma Antonia Poca Pastor

I have a degree in Medicine and Surgery and I’m a specialist in Neurosurgery. I finished the Doctoral Thesis in 1996. Since 1990, I work in the Neurosurgery Department of the Vall Hebron University Hospital. I am currently Clinical Head of Neurosurgery and responsible for the Pediatric Neurosurgery Unit. I am also an associate professor of the UAB and coordinator of the Neurotraumatology and Neurosurgery Research Unit (UNINN) of the Vall Hebron Research Institute

Institutions of which they are part

Head of group
Neurotraumatology and Neurosurgery Research Unit (UNINN)
Vall Hebron Institut de Recerca
Head of Section
Paediatric Neurosurgery
Children's Hospital and Woman's Hospital
Ma Antonia Poca Pastor
Since 2008 I coordinate the Pediatric Neurosurgery Unit (NCP) of the HUVH, considered as a Reference Service (CSUR-NCP Complex) by the Ministry of Health since 2013. My clinical fields of greatest interest are: pediatric neurosurgery, hydrocephalus and other alterations of the CSF dynamics, brain trauma, craniocervical junction and skull base surgery, and neuro-oncology. I am accredited as a Senior University Professor by ANECA and in Advanced Research by AQUCAT. I have participated in advisory committees such as the Advisory Commission for Serious Polytrauma Patient Care (Generalitat de Catalunya) and the Emergency Commission of the Traumatology Area of ​​HUVH. I am a member of the Organizing Committee of the biannual International Symposium on Neuromonitoring and Treatment of Neurocritical Patients since 1994 and of the PICSmartCampus teaching platform (https://smartcampus.neurotrauma.net/), aimed at training in different aspects of neurocritical patients and patients affected by complex alterations of CSF dynamics. I also belong to the European Reference Networks on Rare Neurological Diseases (ERN-RND), ITHACA and CRANIO, in the latter I am responsible in our center and it is directed to craniofacial malformation pathologies. In relation to research, I am part of the multinational European projects CENTER-TBI, KidsBrainIT and BrainI2. My general indicators of the quality of scientific production are as of September 1, 2022: H-Index: 33; Sum of citations: 4998; Articles indexed in PubMed: 140; Book chapters: 55; Direction of doctoral theses: 8; Management of other research projects (master's, degree...): 16; Projects financed through competitive calls: 33 (9 as principal investigator); Health innovation projects: 24; Participation in national and international conferences: 519 (198 as guest speaker).

Research lines

Congenital malformations of the cranio-vertebral junction (Emerging line)

Aims: 1) To improve knowledge of the physiopathology of craniocervical malformations, particularly Chiari Type I (MC-I), and quantify the clinical, social and occupational repercussions of this malformation; 2) To study the genetic bases of this malformation and its penetrance in family members; 3) To study sleep disturbances (particularly type and frequency of sleep apneas) associated with Chiari Type I malformations; and 4) Study the quality of life of patients with a craniocervical malformation without surgical treatment, as well as those with surgical treatment before and after surgery.

IP: Ma Antonia Poca Pastor, Joan Sahuquillo Barris

Hydrocephalus and alterations in the dynamics of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) (Consolidated Line)

General aim: To study the pathophysiology of intracranial pressure (ICP) and alterations in CSF dynamics in patients with hydrocephalus and other intracranial pathologies. Specific aims: 1) To gain greater insight into the physiopathology of normal pressure hydrocephalus and idiopathic intracranial hypertension (pseudotumor cerebri) and to study new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies; 2) To determine the biochemical alterations (neurotransmitters and neuropeptides) in these patients, as well as their role in cognitive function and sleep disturbances; and 3) To correlate cognitive deficit with morphological and functional alterations in different cerebral structures, such as the corpus callosum and subcortical white matter.

IP: Ma Antonia Poca Pastor, Joan Sahuquillo Barris

Projects

(SafeICP) Plataforma fotónica no invasiva para la detección a pie de cama de la hipertensión intracraneal y otras anomalías de la dinámica del líquido cerebroespinal.

IP: Ma Antonia Poca Pastor
Collaborators: Joan Sahuquillo Barris, Maria Sueiras Gil, Diego Fernando Lopez Bermeo
Funding agency: Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación-MICINN
Funding: 335384
Reference: PLEC2022-009290
Duration: 01/12/2022 - 30/11/2025

Ministerio de Ciencia

Biomarkers to improve diagnosis and management of mild traumàtic brain injury (BRAINI2)

IP: Ma Antonia Poca Pastor
Collaborators: -
Funding agency: EIT- European Institute of Innovation & Technolog
Funding: 248666
Reference: BRAIN2_EIT-HEALTH-BP21
Duration: 01/01/2022 - 31/12/2024

Impacto del síndrome afectivo-cognitivo cerebeloso (Síndrome de Schmahmann) en los pacientes con una malformación de Chiari tipo 1.

IP: Ma Antonia Poca Pastor
Collaborators: Joan Sahuquillo Barris, Alejandro Ferré Masó, Impacto del síndrome afectivo-cognitivo cerebeloso (Síndrome de Schmahmann) en los pacientes con una malformación de Chiari tip, Diego Fernando Lopez Bermeo
Funding agency: Instituto de Salud Carlos III
Funding: 99220
Reference: PI22/01082
Duration: 01/01/2023 - 31/12/2025

Unitat recerca en neurotraumatologia i neurocirurg

IP: Ma Antonia Poca Pastor
Collaborators: Dulce María Moncho Rodríguez, Joan Sahuquillo Barris, Fuat Arikan Abello, Miriam de Nadal Clanchet, Maria Sueiras Gil, Alejandro Ferré Masó, Francisco Ramón Martínez Ricarte, Madalina Lavinia Herea
Funding agency: AGAUR
Funding: 60000
Reference: 2021 SGR 00810
Duration: 01/01/2022 - 31/12/2024

Related news

The goal is to test a low-cost, easy-to-use and non-invasive monitor, which will serve to control intracranial pressure (PICO) values, which will help to control and treat different acute brain pathologies.

The new tool will improve patient care and allow early detection of complications, as the hospital previously did not have a specific form.

Entre els projectes es troben 12 investigacions on participen investigadors i investigadores de Vall d’Hebron.

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