Generation and characterization of cellular and animal models for studying the pathophysiological role of ciclooxygenasa-2 in the liver

Functional analysis of glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid receptors in skin biology through transgenic approaches. The class Nr3c of the steroid hormone receptors belongs to the nuclear receptor (NR) superfamily and includes the glucocorticoid (GC) receptor (GR), the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR), and the sex steroid receptors for progesterone and androgens.

Study of genetic factors involved in the onset, course and response to treatment in age-associated degenerative diseases of the nervous system (dementia, movement disorders, neuromuscular disorders: Alzheimer, Parkinson, ALS...)

Our interest is focused on the structural and functional characterization of signal transduction mechanisms, as well as other cellular processes. Using protein crystallography techniques as the main experimental tool, we structurally characterize different molecular mechanisms that we later confirm at the functional level by biochemical and biophysical techniques. The "two-component" signaling systems, the most widespread in microorganisms, are one of our main objectives, being pioneers in the determination of their molecular mechanism of action and specificity.

We are interested in the structural and functional relationships established between proteins and complexes of biomedical interest with a special emphasis on cancer and gene expression control. Ribosome biosynthesis

Bioinformatics applied to evolutionary analysis and the analysis of biological networks

This is one of the three groups focusing on a structural approach to protein function in the Institute for Biomedicine of Valencia (IBV). As the other two IBV groups that use structural methodologies, its main goal is the structural and functional characterization of proteins and of protein-involving complexes of biomedical/biotechnological and scientific interest. We focus particularly in potential targets in disease processes. Our scope is mainly on bacterial targets and on enzymes involved in rare diseases.

Research group included in Stem Cell Department (CABIMER). The activities of the group fit with the strategic plans and field of interest of the National Health System. The main aim of the group is to contribute to the knowledgement of the pancreatic beta cell biology and pathophysiology from a basic point of view and to translate this knowledgement to diabetes cell therapy. To achieve this general aim the research work is focused in three principal research lines.

The long-term research goal of the PIDRU team is to translate our understanding of fundamental molecular mechanisms of pancreatic islet physiology to `drugable¿ targets for the development of innovative therapies for the treatment of Diabetes Mellitus. More specifically putative targets implicated in ß-cell regeneration as well as survival are being investigated using a combination of molecular and cellular tools with subsequent validation in animal models of diabetes. A Medicinal chemistry program is also being developed on promising candidates. Several candidate targets are in the pipeline.