Study of autophagy and its regulation at the molecular and cellular levels. Roles of autophagy in rare diseases.

he Metabolic Syndrome is associated with an increased risk of developing an important number of prevalent diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and cancer.

The main research interest of the group is to provide deeper knowledge of the novel resistance, tumor invasion and metastasis mechanisms in solid tumors as well as in the identification of new targeted therapies against biomarkers previously characterized by our group. The team headed by Dr. Gema Moreno-Bueno has a clear translational orientation and led to the characterization of new prognostic/ predictive markers in breast and gynecological tumors as well as in gastric carcinomas and carcinosarcomas.

Gastric cancer (GC) is still the fourth main cause of cancer related death all over the world. Its high prevalence and the lack of efficient personalized treatments make it a mayor cause of public health concern. In GC, adenocarcinomas gastrectomy is the only curative treatment currently available, and it is frequently combined with adjuvant radio/chemotherapy. Thus, despite of recent improvements in care, there is still an imperative need to improve GC available treatments.

Most of our projects are centred in the study of rare diseases related to the maintenance of the telomeres, named telomeropathies or telomere biology disorders (TBDs). Among them are dyskeratosis congenita and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Our group contributes to the molecular diagnosis of these patients by determining telomere length as diagnosis biomarker. In addition, the genetic bases of the disease are determined by exome sequencing. From an experimental view, a functional study of the mutations found in the patients is made.

The aim of the paleoanthropology group is the analysis of human evolution and development, in their different levels of organization, based on the analysis of fossil remains. The main objectives are specially focused on the morphological evolution, histological organization of hard tissues and behavioural evolution. As remarkable facilities, the group has a fully functional 3D Morphometrics Lab and Experimental Taphonomy Lab.

The research of the group focuses on the study of the Paleontological Record of continental vertebrates, with special emphasis on the description of the patterns and the analysis of the processes involved in the evolution of mammals and Cenozoic paleoenvironments, integrating different methodological approaches and scientific disciplines.

The Biogeography and Global Change Group (MNCN-CSIC) studies how global change—land- and sea-use shifts, exploitation, invasive species, pollution and climate change—affects terrestrial, marine and freshwater ecosystems. We develop predictive models, examine how multiple drivers interact (including changing biotic interactions), and translate findings into conservation, restoration and sustainable management. We also run long-term monitoring of natural reference systems, assess ecosystem services, and create tools to safeguard nature’s contributions to people.

MOSS group represents an international reference laboratory in Organic Geochemistry and the first group in Spain in studying Humus Chemistry. The group have contributed decisively to the advance of knowledge in the molecular characterization of humic substances present in soils, water and sediments, as well as in fossil resources (peat, coals, kerogens, etc.) and residues with use in agriculture (composts, fertilizer humates, biochar, etc.). The group maintains an applied multidisciplinar R+D+I strategy, frequent and stable collaborations with national and international research groups.

Synthesis of nanoparticles with different techniques, like precipitation, combustion, sol-gel, hydrothermal, microwaves. Study of colloidal stability and rheology of suspensions. Manufacture of monolithic and laminar ceramics and composites by slurry processing techniques as slip casting, tape casting, low pressure injection molding, gelcasting, electrophoretic deposition, dipping, spinning. Design of porous materials. This group is one of the most reknown in Europe in the field of colloidal processing, with a large trajectory in the optimization and characterization of suspensions.