Our group is interested in elucidating the cellular principles and molecular mechanisms that govern vascular and immune responses during inflammation and how these can contribute to tissue repair. We focus on the actions of membrane-type matrix metalloproteinases (MT-MMPs), a subfamily of proteases that can modify dynamically the extracellular matrix and the activity of soluble and membrane proteins, and particularly in their impact on the behavior of endothelial and smooth muscle cells, and of monocytes/macrophages.

The group addresses the role of food proteins as allergens. The prevalence of food allergy has increased continuously over the last decades in developed countries, where it is considered a serious public health problem that affects 3-6% of children, with an enormous impact on quality of life. We aim to characterize the reason why some proteins behave as allergens and the influence exerted by the food matrix, environmental factors and food processing to try to understand why food allergies are increasing worldwide, and to develop better methods to treat and prevent these disorders.

The group studies the protein fraction of foods and the health impact, including the quality assessment and the nutritional value of food proteins. Currently, we are working on the intestinal signalling of the protein fraction with different types of receptors involved in satiety and metabolic response. The research group is expert on the simulation of the food gastrointestinal digestion and the application of omic tools (proteomics and peptidomics) to study digestion and other enzymatic hydrolysis processes.

The scientific interest of the research group consist in the synthesis and characterization of heterogeneous catalysts for their application in the production of high added value compounds and compounds of interest in the Fine Chemical industry. More specifically, the application of carbon nanomaterials, carbon nanotubes and graphene oxides and their derivatives, as catalysts or supports for active phases (metal or metal oxide nanoparticles, metal complexes), is investigated, emphasizing in their functionalization and in the study of the resulting properties.

In recent years, the MBG-CSIC has made notable advances in genetics and improvement of crops of agricultural interest, in aspects that affect plant growth, as well as the production and quality of the crop, and its adaptation to the environment.

The research activity of the Electrocatalysis for Energy and the Environment Group is dedicated to the development of electrocatalysts that improve the activity and stability of electrodes in electrochemical devices for storage and conversion of clean energy, mainly in those applications that use hydrogen as an energy carrier such as fuel cells, electrolysers and regenerative fuel cells.

The Group of Greek Linguistics (GLG) works in different fields and aspects of Greek linguistics: phonetics, morphology, syntax, pragmatics, etymology, semantics and lexicography. We handle that data from its origins, with the support of Indo-European linguistics, to those of modern Greek, with special emphasis on the Greek sources of the 1st millennium BC.

Our research is oriented to develop the scientific basis of future quantum technologies, based on the manipulation and detection of quantum states in materials. The main theme of our research is the study of the interaction of these materials with electromagnetic radiation in devices. The group combine expertise in fabrication, experimentation and theory.