CO4: Neurodegeneration and Neurorepair

The primary objective of the research group is to take a multidisciplinary approach to studying the molecular, cellular, and synaptic mechanisms underlying numerous neurodegenerative and psychiatric diseases. The Team of basic and clinical researchers aims to identify new predictive, diagnostic, and/or prognostic biomarkers, therapeutic targets, and possible treatments for various neurological conditions involving neuronal degeneration and/or synaptic alterations. To this end, the group has various cellular and animal models of different neuropathologies, mainly motor ones such as ALS, and the necessary technology to study them from the subcellular level to the whole organism. Using pharmacological and genetic tools, we can identify and validate new therapeutic strategies at the preclinical level for subsequent translation to the patient. The group also aims to develop and validate protocols for determining clinically valid biomarkers.

Responsible researcher

Bernardo Moreno López:
- E-mail: bernardo.moreno@uca.es
- ORCID: 0000-0003-2897-6227

Co-principal investigator

David Gonzalez Forero:
- E-mail: david.gonzalezforero@uca.es
- ORCID: 0000-0001-5748-9546

Lines of research

Line 1: Neuronal vulnerability. Cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in the sensitization of neurons to degeneration.
Line 2: Intrinsic neuronal excitability. Ion channels and modulators of the active and passive properties of neuronal membranes.
Line 3: Motor physiopathologies. Molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in motor neuron degeneration, with special interest in the rare disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
Line 4: Physiology, plasticity, and pathology of the synapse. Molecular mechanisms involved in the normal functioning of synaptic transmission, in synaptic remodeling induced by activity or injury, and in synaptopathies associated with neurological conditions.
Line 5: Identification of new biomarkers in patients with neurodegenerative diseases, with particular interest in motor neuron disease.
Line 6: Identification and development of new therapeutic tools at the preclinical level with potential for translation to the clinical setting.
Line 7: Identification and development of new tools that delay neuronal degeneration and/or repair damaged nerve tissue.
Line 8: Development and validation of new protocols for determining biomarkers in neurological and psychiatric diseases.

Keywords

# Motor neurons
# Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
# Neurodegenerative diseases
# Electrophysiology
# Biomarkers
# Synapse
# Synaptopathies

CO4: Neurodegeneration and Neurorepair

Responsible researcher

Bernardo Moreno López:

University professor.

E-mail: bernardo.moreno@uca.es
ORCID: 0000-0003-2897-6227

Co-principal investigator

David González Forero:

University Professor.

E-mail: david.gonzalezforero@uca.es
ORCID: 0000-0001-5748-9546

Team Members

Principal Investigators:
- Bernardo Moreno López (PI).
- David González Forero (Co-IR).
Researchers:
- Carmen Gomez Gomez.
- Miguel Ángel Moya Molina.
- Jorge Carlos Morales Camino.
- Victoria García Morales.
- Esther Vilches Herrando.

CO4: Neurodegeneration and Neurorepair

Production

Find all of the group's work (their Projects, Patents Publications) on the Andalusian Public Health System's I+Salud Portal: