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Neurodegenerative Diseases

The research conducted in our group is geared toward elucidating the cause and molecular mechanisms of neurodegeneration in Parkinson's disease (PD), a disabling, currently incurable common neurodegenerative disorder. To this end, we perform clinical and pre-clinical translational research in both PD patients and in human-relevant experimental in vitro and in vivo PD-related models. 

Elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying neurodegeneration in PD should allow to: 

  • Identify biomarkers for PD diagnosis, early detection, patient stratification, disease progression, prognosis or response to treatment. This is the objective of the VHIP Project that the team is carrying out.
  • Identify new molecular targets for potential therapeutic intervention and prevention.
  • Develop novel therapeutic strategies with disease-modifying potential.
  • Unravel molecular pathways common to other neurodegenerative diseases and, in a broader sense, brain aging.
     

Team

Garcia Blanco, Alejandra

Garcia Blanco, Alejandra

Research technician
Neurodegenerative Diseases
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Marta Montpeyó Garcia-Moreno

Marta Montpeyó Garcia-Moreno

Predoctoral researcher
Neurodegenerative Diseases
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Montse Perez Fernandez

Montse Perez Fernandez

Research technician
Neurodegenerative Diseases
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Pablo Castillo Sánchez

Pablo Castillo Sánchez

Research technician
Neurodegenerative Diseases
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Sabrina Ayelen Gatti

Sabrina Ayelen Gatti

Predoctoral researcher
Neurodegenerative Diseases
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Sara Belmonte Calderon

Sara Belmonte Calderon

Research technician
Neurodegenerative Diseases
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Garcia Blanco, Alejandra

Garcia Blanco, Alejandra

Research technician
Neurodegenerative Diseases
Read more
Marta Montpeyó Garcia-Moreno

Marta Montpeyó Garcia-Moreno

Predoctoral researcher
Neurodegenerative Diseases
Read more
Montse Perez Fernandez

Montse Perez Fernandez

Research technician
Neurodegenerative Diseases
Read more
Pablo Castillo Sánchez

Pablo Castillo Sánchez

Research technician
Neurodegenerative Diseases
Read more
Sabrina Ayelen Gatti

Sabrina Ayelen Gatti

Predoctoral researcher
Neurodegenerative Diseases
Read more
Sara Belmonte Calderon

Sara Belmonte Calderon

Research technician
Neurodegenerative Diseases
Read more

Research lines

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

Pendent

IP: Jordi Bove Badell
Collaborators: David Ramos Vicente, Miriam Izquierdo Sans, Laia Perez Lasarte
Funding agency: Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación-MICINN
Funding: 64800
Reference: FJC2021-047862-I
Duration: 01/01/2023 - 31/12/2024

Ministerio de Ciencia

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

Malalties neurodegeneratives

IP: Miquel Vila Bover
Collaborators: Jorge Hernández Vara, Joan Compte Barrón, Marta Martínez Vicente, Jordi Bove Badell, Eddie Pradas Gracia, Maria Camprodon Gomez, Malalties neurodegeneratives , Marina Lorente Picón, Laura Castillo Ribelles, Oriol de Fabregues-Boixar Nebot, Javier Hoyo Pérez, Ariadna Laguna Tuset, Thais Cuadros Arasa, Jordi Riera Heredia, David Ramos Vicente, Marta Montpeyó Garcia-Moreno, Helena Xicoy Cortada, Alba Nicolau Vera, Marta González Sepúlveda, Joana Margalida Cladera Sastre, Annabelle Parent, Daniela Samaniego Toro, Daniela Samaniego Toro
Funding agency: Agència Gestió Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca
Funding: 40000
Reference: 2021 SGR 00784
Duration: 01/01/2022 - 30/06/2025

El eje cerebro-cuerpo en la enfermedad de Parkinson: de la fisiopatología a los biomarcadores y enfoques terapéuticos.

IP: Ariadna Laguna Tuset
Collaborators: Miriam Izquierdo Sans, Laia Perez Lasarte
Funding agency: Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación-MICINN
Funding: 236350
Reference: RYC2021-032947-I
Duration: 01/01/2023 - 31/12/2027

Ministerio de Ciencia

Publications

Relevance of tissue-resident memory CD8 T cells in the onset of Parkinson's disease and examination of its possible etiologies: infectious or autoimmune?

PMID: 37741513
Journal: NEUROBIOLOGY OF DISEASE
Year: 2023
Reference: Neurobiol Dis. 2023 Sep 21:106308. doi: 10.1016/j.nbd.2023.106308.
Impact factor:
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Bove, Jordi; de Fabregues, Oriol; de Fabregues, Oriol; Ramos-Vicente, David; Roch, Gerard; Selles, Maria; Vila, Miquel et al.
DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2023.106308

Adult Highlights From the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization Registry: 2017-2022.

PMID: 37755405
Journal: ASAIO JOURNAL
Year: 2023
Reference: ASAIO J. 2023 Sep 13. doi: 10.1097/MAT.0000000000002038.
Impact factor:
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Abbasi, Adeel; Alexander, Peta M A; Anders, Marc M; Arachchillage, Deepa J; Barbaro, Ryan P; Fox, Alexander D; Friedman, Matthew L; Malfertheiner, Maximilian V; Rali, Aniket S; Ramanathan, Kollengode et al.
DOI: 10.1097/MAT.0000000000002038

Neuromelanin accumulation drives endogenous synucleinopathy in non-human primates.

PMID: 37769648
Journal: BRAIN
Year: 2023
Reference: Brain. 2023 Sep 28:awad331. doi: 10.1093/brain/awad331.
Impact factor:
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Ariznabarreta, Goiaz; Chocarro, Julia; Collantes, Maria; Honrubia, Adriana; Labandeira-Garcia, Jose L; Lanciego, Jose L; Penuelas, Ivan; Rico, Alberto J; Roda, Elvira; Rodriguez-Perez, Ana I et al.
DOI: 10.1093/brain/awad331

Syndemic conditions and quality of life in the PISCIS Cohort of people living with HIV in Catalonia and the Balearic Islands: a cross sectional study.

PMID: 37165368
Journal: Health and Quality of Life Outcomes
Year: 2023
Reference: Health Qual Life Outcomes. 2023 May 10;21(1):42. doi: 10.1186/s12955-023-02120-2.
Impact factor:
Publication type: Paper in international publication
Authors: Alonso-Garcia, Lucia; Bruguera, Andreu; Casabona, Jordi; Diaz, Yesika; Egea-Cortes, Laia; Folch, Cinta; Forero, Carlos G; Hernandez, Juan; Mesias-Gazmuri, Jocelyn; Miro, Jose M et al.
DOI: 10.1186/s12955-023-02120-2

Blog

News

On World Clinical Trials Day, we highlight some of the studies we have participated in that confirm the efficacy of new drugs, allowing their approval by regulatory agencies.

Vall d'Hebron has participated in a phase III clinical trial which confirmed the efficacy and safety of subcutaneous infusion of levodopa therapy.

This initiative is part of a pioneering study that seeks to assess how the relationship between different age groups can influence the quality of life and mental health of patients.

Coneix i participa al projecte VHIP

Vall d'Hebron Iniciativa per al Parkinson (VHIP) is a research project aimed at the development of biochemical markers for the early detection of Parkinson's disease. This study is carried out in people at high risk of having this disease, because they carry genetic mutations that predispose to the development of Parkinson's or because they present non-motor symptoms that manifest themselves years before motor symptoms.

Access the project and study