The pathological process underlying atherosclerosis results of complex interplay between molecular and cellular components present in the blood and vessel wall. A major challenge in cardiovascular research is the identification of novel biomarkers able to predict the risk of an individual to develop an acute thrombotic process consequence of the rupture/erosion of an atherosclerotic plaque as well a to determine the diseases prognosis and facilitate the selection of therapeutic treatments.

Our research, focused in different aspects of vascular biology, aims to establish the molecular mechanisms underlying the initiation, progression and complication of vascular pathologies characterized by an important inflammatory component and an exhacerbated vascular remodelling such as abdominal aortic aneurysm and atherosclerosis.

Signal transduction through the Ras-ERK pathway and its role in cellular proliferation and survival, both in physiological and pathological conditions, cancer in particular.

Our group has been largely researched on bacterial conjugation using biochemical, structural, evolutionary and genetic approaches.

Our group pioneered the molecular approach to the genus Brucella aiming to colaborate in the solution of of a local problem with health, economic and social implication. The interest of the group may be described as the study of the Biology of the genus Brucella, mainly of the inateraction of the bacteria with the eukaryotic host using methods of Molecular and cellular biology, high thoroughput methodology including genomics and transcriptomics. Among other aspects we will analyze: -The capability and consequences of erythritol metabolism in Brucella.

Our group is developing research projects dealing with four subjects: a)Functions of the transcription factors MYC, MXD and CTCF in cancer and cell differentiation. We are studying this involvement using hematopoietic differentiation (myeloerythroid cell line) or neuronal models, as well as their implication in leukemia and lymphoma.

Research on the molecular biology of structure and function of bacterial Type IV secretion systems, their involvement in bacterial virulence and DNA transfer, as well as in the development of tolos based on these systems aimed to send DNA to human cells

Our aim is the study of the mechanisms that regulate the functional differentiation of CD4+ T cells and their involvement in the development of autoimmune/inflammatory diseases. In particular, we will explore the role of the membrane-bound TGFbeta inhibitor BAMBI and of ApoE in these processess. Our final goal is the identification and characterization of new molecular targets and therapies in autoinmune/inflammatory diseases.

Our research group studies the implication of the serotonergic and cannabinoid systems, and the neurogenic and neuroplastic processes in the CNS to understand the etiopathogeny of neuropsychiatric disorders and the mechanism of action of the CNS-acting drugs. Specially, we focus in the study of pharmacological targets to develop new fast acting antidepressant drugs. Several methodological approaches are used: molecular, biochemical, cellular, morphological, pharmacology assays, animal models of psychiatric disorders as well as neuronal progenitors and brain organotopic cultures.

Our goal is to understand the cellular and molecular basis of embryonic development. Our main interest is how the interactions between the different signaling pathways control morphogenesis