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Josep A Villena Delgado

I earned my PhD in Biological Sciences at the University of Barcelona and I am currently a principal investigator of the Research Unit in Diabetes and Metabolism, where I lead the Laboratory of Metabolism and Obesity. The research carried out by my team focuses on understanding the mechanisms that regulate energy balance and glucose homeostasis, and how alterations in such mechanisms contribute to the pathogenesis of metabolic disorders, such as obesity, insulin resistance or diabetes. I am also coordinator and professor of the endocrine diseases section of the VHIR’s Master in Translational Biomedical Research.

Instituciones de las que forman parte

Investigador/a principal
Diabetes y Metabolismo
Vall Hebron Institut de Recerca

Josep A Villena Delgado

Instituciones de las que forman parte

Investigador/a principal
Diabetes y Metabolismo
Vall Hebron Institut de Recerca

I earned my PhD in Biological Sciences at the University of Barcelona and I am currently a principal investigator of the Research Unit in Diabetes and Metabolism, where I lead the Laboratory of Metabolism and Obesity. The research carried out by my team focuses on understanding the mechanisms that regulate energy balance and glucose homeostasis, and how alterations in such mechanisms contribute to the pathogenesis of metabolic disorders, such as obesity, insulin resistance or diabetes. I am also coordinator and professor of the endocrine diseases section of the VHIR’s Master in Translational Biomedical Research.

I obtained a degree in Biological Sciences by the University of Barcelona, where I also earned my PhD in Biology. The work of my PhD thesis focused on the identification of the transcription factors involved in the regulation of mitochondrial biogenesis. From 1999 to 2000, I worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the Rangueil University Hospital/CNRS (Toulouse, France) to investigate the role of adipose precursor cells on the immune function. In 2000, I moved to the University of California (Berkeley, USA). There, my work was dedicated to unveil the mechanisms involved in the differentiation and function of adipose cells and their impact on body weight and glucose homeostasis. The results of my work contributed to elucidate the function of Pref-1 as an inhibitor of adipogenesis and the identification of a new triglyceride lipase (Desnutrin/ATGL). In 2004. I joined The Scripps Research Institute (La Jolla, USA) as a research associate, where I worked on the role of Estrogen-Related Receptors in the control of mitochondrial biogenesis and the thermogenic function of brown adipose tissue. In 2007, after being awarded a “Ramon y Cajal” researcher position, I joined VHIR as a principal investigator. Since then, I lead the Laboratory of Metabolism and Obesity, integrated within the Unit of Diabetes and Metabolism. The most recent research of my team has allowed to precisely define the role of PGC-1s co-activators on adipose tissue mitochondrial biogenesis in response to anti-diabetic drugs or nutritional interventions, such a caloric restriction. Moreover, our work on cardiac metabolism in the context of diabetes led to the identification of ERRgamma as a factor potentially involved in the pathogenesis of diabetic cardiomyopathy. Our current research lines focus on the identification of the factors driving the resolution of obesity-associated meta-inflammation, which is considered to be at the origin of most of the comorbidities associated with this metabolic disease.

As a principal investigator, I have led numerous research projects funded by public (MINECO, MICINN) and private (La Marató de TV3, Fundació La Caixa) funding bodies. Among others, I currently coordinate OBESIMM, an international multicentric study aimed at defining the effects that intermittent feeding has on inflammation and the immune function of obese individuals. I am also a member of ADIPOBROAD, a national network of research groups for the study of adipose tissue plasticity and its impact on human health, as well as a member of the Spanish Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, where I coordinate the study group on Metabolic Regulation and Nutrition.

Proyectos

Beca VHIR PhD

IP: Josep A Villena Delgado
Colaboradores: Sira Rodrigo Bosch, Laia Perez Lasarte, Rafael Simó Canonge, Laura Hidalgo Corbacho, Miriam Izquierdo Sans
Entidad financiadora: Fundació Institut de Recerca HUVH
Financiación: 69188.74
Referencia: VPHD/LAURA_H
Duración: 01/04/2023 - 31/03/2026

Nuevos retos en investigación sobre plasticidad adiposa (ADIPOBROAD)"

IP: Josep A Villena Delgado
Colaboradores: -
Entidad financiadora: Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación-MICINN
Financiación: 0.01
Referencia: RED2022-134313-T
Duración: 01/06/2023 - 31/05/2025

Ministerio de Ciencia

(INFLAMWAT) - Mecanismos involucrados en la resolución de la inflamación del tejido adiposo en respuesta a restricción calórica

IP: Josep A Villena Delgado
Colaboradores: Angel Michael Ortiz Zuñiga, Laura Hidalgo Corbacho, Alba Rojano Toimil, Ramón Vilallonga Puy
Entidad financiadora: Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación-MICINN
Financiación: 217800
Referencia: PID2021-123377OB-I00
Duración: 01/09/2022 - 01/09/2025

Ministerio de Ciencia

Diabetis i metabolisme

IP: Rafael Simó Canonge
Colaboradores: Josep A Villena Delgado, Marta García Ramírez, Carles Zafon Llopis, Cristina Hernández Pascual, David Martinez Selva, Rosario Pardo Diaz, Angel Michael Ortiz Zuñiga, Andreea Ciudin Mihai, Fiorella Ximena Palmas Candia, Ana Maria Ortiz de Urbina Olive, Monica Sanchez Bartres, Lorena Ramos Pérez, Marc Rivas Agudo, Anna Deàs Just, Anna Casteras Román, Alejandra Planas Vilaseca, Betina Biagetti Biagetti, Judit Amigó Farran, Mercè Abad Martín, Marta Comas Martínez, Hugo Ramos Abellan, Rosa Burgos Peláez, David Sabater Martínez, Olga Simó Servat, Patricia Bogdanov Baruj, Maria Llorian Salvador, Enzamaría Fidilio Meli
Entidad financiadora: Agència Gestió Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca
Financiación: 60000
Referencia: 2021 SGR 00655
Duración: 01/01/2022 - 31/12/2024

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