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Miquel Vila Bover

I am an ICREA Professor and I lead the Research Group on Neurodegenerative Diseases at the Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR)

Institutions of which they are part

Head of group
Neurodegenerative Diseases
Vall Hebron Institut de Recerca
Miquel Vila Bover

Miquel Vila Bover

Miquel Vila Bover

Institutions of which they are part

Head of group
Neurodegenerative Diseases
Vall Hebron Institut de Recerca

I am an ICREA Professor and I lead the Research Group on Neurodegenerative Diseases at the Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR)

I have a degree in Medicine and Surgery from the University of Barcelona (1993) and a PhD in Neuroscience from the University of Paris 6 (1998). My doctoral work carried out in the laboratory of experimental neurology at the Salpetriere Hospital in Paris (1993-98) contributed to establishing the subthalamic nucleus as the main therapeutic target for the surgical treatment of Parkinson's disease with deep brain stimulation. From 1998 to 2005 I worked at the Movement Disorders Unit of Columbia University in New York (USA), initially as a postdoctoral researcher and from 2001 as an Assistant Professor of Neurology, focusing on the study of the mechanisms of neuronal death in Parkinson's disease to identify new therapeutic targets for this currently incurable neurodegenerative disorder.

In 2006 I moved to Barcelona as a Professor at ICREA (Catalan Institute of Research and Advanced Studies) to create and lead a new research group in neurodegenerative diseases at the Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR). Our group is now part of the Center for Networked Biomedical Research on Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED) and the Aligning Science Across Parkinson's Collaborative Research Network (ASAP-CRN).

I am also an Associate Professor at the Autonomous University of Barcelona, Principal Investigator at CIBERNED, Coordinating Lead PI at ASAP-CRN and member of the Steering Committees of the World Parkinson Coalition and the Basic Science Special Interest Group of the International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.

Research lines

Pathogenic role of autophagic/lysosomal dysfunction in Parkinson's disease

Autophagy is the degradation of intracellular components inside the lysosomes and it is essential for the maintenance of cellular homeostasis and neuronal viability. Alterations in the autophagy process have been associated with neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinson’s, Huntington’s and Alzheimer’s disease and has been shown to be one of the main causes that contribute to neuronal death in these pathologies.


Our efforts are currently directed to:

- Development of new therapies for Parkinson’s disease based in the restoration of lysosomal glucocerebrosidase (GBA) activity.

- Development of new autophagy pharmacological modulators (mTOR-independent) as a therapeutic strategy in neurodegenerative diseases.

IP: Marta Martínez Vicente, Miquel Vila Bover

Role of mitochondria in Parkinson's disease

Mitochondria are highly dynamic organelles with complex structural features that play several important cellular functions, such as the production of energy by oxidative phosphorylation, the regulation of calcium homeostasis, or the control of programmed cell death. Given its essential role in neuronal viability, alterations in mitochondrial biology can lead to neuron dysfunction and cell death. Defects in mitochondrial respiration have long been implicated in the etiology and pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD). However, the role of mitochondria in PD extends well beyond defective respiration and also involves perturbations in mitochondrial dynamics, leading to alterations in mitochondrial morphology, intracellular trafficking, or quality control. Whether a primary or secondary event, mitochondrial dysfunction holds promise as a potential therapeutic target to halt the progression of dopaminergic neurodegeneration in PD.

IP: Miquel Vila Bover

Projects

MECANISMOS MOLECULARES DE NEURODEGENERACION LIGADA A LA NEUROMELANINA EN LA ENFERMEDAD DE PARKINSON Y ENVEJECIMIENTO CEREBRAL

IP: Miquel Vila Bover
Collaborators: Gerard Roch Alba, Miriam Izquierdo Sans
Funding agency: Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación-MICINN
Funding: 99260
Reference: PRE2021-098300
Duration: 01/07/2022 - 30/06/2026

Ministerio de Ciencia

Activity and connectivity drive neuronal vulnerability and disease progression in Parkinson's disease

IP: Miquel Vila Bover
Collaborators: Activity and connectivity drive neuronal vulnerability and disease progression in Parkinson's disease, Javier Hoyo Pérez, Gerard Roch Alba, Marta González Sepúlveda, Ariadna Laguna Tuset, Joana Margalida Cladera Sastre
Funding agency: Michael J. Fox Foundation
Funding: 1936109
Reference: ASAP_MJFF2021
Duration: 01/11/2021 - 31/10/2025

Characterization of the CD8 T cell response in Parkinson’s disease for the development of preventive and therapeutic strategies that halt the progression of the disease: SARS-Cov-2-induced long term-hyposmia as a possible prodromal stage

IP: Jordi Bove Badell
Collaborators: Miquel Vila Bover, Alejandro Ferré Masó, Oriol de Fabregues-Boixar Nebot, Carles Lorenzo Bosquet, Antonio Palasi Franco, Maria Sellés Altés
Funding agency: Instituto de Salud Carlos III
Funding: 165770
Reference: PI21/01358
Duration: 01/01/2022 - 30/06/2026

The brain-body axis in Parkinson’s disease patients: from pathophysiology to biomarkers and therapeutic approaches

IP: Ariadna Laguna Tuset
Collaborators: Maria Victoria Gonzalez Martinez, Miquel Vila Bover, Daniela Samaniego Toro, The brain-body axis in Parkinson’s disease patients: from pathophysiology to biomarkers and therapeutic approaches , Sara Belmonte Calderon
Funding agency: Instituto de Salud Carlos III
Funding: 171820
Reference: PI21/01603
Duration: 01/01/2022 - 30/06/2026

Related news

This VHIR initiative promotes well-being, empathy and community participation in Barcelona neighbourhoods through an intergenerational model

PAIR is an intergenerational initiative with people affected by Parkinson's disease and adolescents.

The nomination recognises the work she has led together with Dr. Núria Peñuelas and Dr. Miquel Vila, on the generation of new preclinical models to study Parkinson's disease.

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