Speaker: Victor José Gallardo López, Headache and Neurological Pain (VHIR)

Several pilot studies have studied the role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in migraine. However, the studies are hardly comparable and reproducible due to the high degree of heterogeneity that exists between the groups. Today we have clear evidence that the intrinsic factors related to the disease along with other environmental factors can influence epigenetic mechanisms and identifying them is crucial to find unbiased epigenetic markers. 
The main objective of this work is to identify and validate a differential expression pattern of miRNAs in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in a very well controlled cohort of individuals with migraine versus healthy controls (HC). To achieve this goal, experimental design based on three sequential studies was performed, including: (a) an exploratory study to estimate the effect of the analysis and adjust the sample size for (b) the main study, and finally replicate the findings in a third stage in a (c) validation study.

Víctor J. Gallardo, is a biotechnologist with interest in the field of bioinformatics, data science and algorithm design. He obtained his B.Sc. in Biotechnology at the Universitat de Barcelona (UB) when he started the bioinformatics, experimental design and data analysis programme. Then he worked during 6 months in Dr. Rovira’s group in the field of theoretical chemistry and computational biology. Then he applied for the M.Sc. in Bioinformatics for Health Science from the Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF). This MSc provided him the knowledge and expertise in the field of computer science, information engineering, mathematics and advanced statistical methods to analyze and interpret biological data. He also started a B.S. in Informatics Engineering in order to improve their programming and logical reasoning skills in the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC).

Since 2016, he has worked in the Headache and neurological pain research group of the Vall d’Hebron Research Institute (VHIR) directed by Dr. Pozo-Rosich. He has authored 26 papers in peer-reviewed journals, H index of 11. He has participated in national and international congresses and he is finishing his PhD in the field of epigenetics in migraine. Moreover, he has also worked as an associated professor (2019-2021) in the Engineering school of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB).

Host: Dra. Patricia Pozo Rosich, Head of group Headache and Neurological Pain (VHIR)  

Register here to attend by Zoom:  https://gencat.zoom.us/j/95456500439