Drosophila, Ultra-high-throughput screening, Cancer Genes and Mechanisms, Anti-cancer Responses, Genetic Robustness, Buffering, and Healthy Ageing,

Most metazoans are bilaterally symmetric and many features of mature neural function including the interpretation of sensory information and the coordination of locomotion depend on the coherent communication between the two brain hemispheres. In order to integrate sensory information from both sides of the body and then elaborate a coordinated response, the nervous system requires both axons crossing at the midline and axons remaining in the ipsilateral side of the brain.

Our research team runs several related projects studying the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in the development of axonal connections in the brain. In particular, our aim is to uncover the principles underlying thalamocortical axonal wiring, maintenance and ultimately the rewiring of connections, through an integrated and innovative experimental programme.

Analysis of the cellular and molecular mechanisms controlling the development of the most anterior region of the brain, the telencephalon

TO BE LOADED SOON

Our research line has been focused during these past years in the study of PDZ (PSD-95, Dlg, ZO-1) domain-containing proteins, as we consider that they are excellent candidates as hubs of cross-talk between signaling cascades during development. In addition, malfunction of many PDZ proteins has been linked to diverse neuropathologies and types of cancer.

Our aim is to introduce a line of research into Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and dementia that originated from a basic point of view but that was relevant to the development of clinical-diagnostic applications. Therefore, the translational benefits of our research lie in the fact that we not only aim to clarify the pathological mechanisms behind these diseases, but also to define potential diagnostic tools and/or processes with therapeutic relevance.

Molecular mechanisms of exocytosis in a neuroendocrine model: the involvement of cytoskeleton and SNARE complex proteins The elucidation of the mechanism causing the release of neurotransmitters and hormones by membrane exocytosis is essential to understand how the nervous and endocrine systems perform their function. Our group has been contributing to the knowledge of cytoskeletal –mediated transport as well as the SNARE induced fusion in chromaffin cells, a well reputed model of exocytosis, through the publication of more than 30 articles in the last 10 years.

Our research focuses on molecular mechanisms that regulate neuronal gene expression and underlie learning and memory, and other long-lasting modifications of the animal’s behavior. We also aim to determine how the malfunction of epigenetic mechanisms leads to different pathological situations in the nervous system.