Molecular neuropsychopharmacology

All organisms are exposed to stressful stimuli. This is especially important in humans, since a correct stress response is essential for survival, even having beneficial consequences. Nevertheless, an inadequate response (when the stimulus is of high intensity or duration), can lead to diseases or even death.

Numerous neuropsychiatric diseases, some cognitive alterations and some chronic metabolic diseases are consequence of stress.We have been involved for years in the study of the pathophysiological basis of the stress response in the brain. The neuroinflammatory reactions induced by exposure to stressful stimuli appear in numerous neuropsychiatric pathologies.

Our main objective is to contribute from the basic research to the development of strategies aiming to the reduction of the incidence of pathological reactions to stress and the search of markers of susceptibility to neuropsychiatric pathologies: major depression, bipolar disorder, psychosis and schizophrenia and neurodevelopmental disorders.

We work in collaboration with several clinical (Psychiatry Services) groups in Spain and Europe with clinical data of patients, biological or imaging data and also with brain bank resources.

Overall, to identify and develop pharmacological tools to improve the quality of treatments psychiatricpathologies, both in the brain as in other systems.

Study of protective mechanisms against oxidative and inflammatory cell damage alter stress exposure.
Possible therapeutic targets and neuroprotective strategies.
Mechanisms of vulnerability to stress induced cell damage.
Study of possible anti-inflammatory mechanisms of norepinephrine on stress.
Role of chemokine MCP-1.
Study of stress-induced colonic bacterial translocation on brain response to stress.
Possible therapeutic targets and neuroprotective strategies.
Gut brain axis in psychiatric pathologies
Mouth brain axis

- A personal letter- complete CV
- Two letters of recommendation