English Version

Research group:

Molecular Neuropsychopharmacology

PI: Juan Carlos Leza. MD, PhD

co-PI: José L Muñoz Madrigal. Chem BSC, PhD

Neuroinflammatory processes occur in many psychiatric and neurological diseases. Our general objective is to develop new and useful pharmacological strategies in neuropsychiatric pathologies, as well as the search for biomarkers. In summary, to identify and to develop pharmacological tools in order to improve the quality of treatments for patients suffering illnesses, mainly psychosis, affective disorders and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease. Our research has a clear translational aim trying to identify biochemical pathways and pharmacological targets in experimental models (in vivo, ex vivo and in vitro) and, on the other hand, trying to identify in human samples whether changes in those pathways might explain specific clinical problems and/or the complications in patients’ response to treatments.

Members (and contacts): http://www.ucm.es/farmacologia/miembros

Scientific objectives

Neuroinflammatory processes occur in many psychiatric and neurological diseases. Our general objective is to generate new and useful pharmacological strategies in neuropsychiatric pathologies, as well as the search for biomarkers. In summary, to identify and to develop pharmacological tools in order to improve the quality of treatments for patients suffering these diseases.

As specific objectives, we aim to study:

Characterization of mmune/inflammatory signaling mechanisms in CNS, regulatory mechanisms and possible new pharmacological targets.

Study of the physiopathological causes and consequences of an inadequate immune/inflammatory response in central nervous system (CNS).

Pro/antiinflammatory mechanisms in mental health diseases and their relationship with the symptomatology presented, particularly in psychosis and affective disorders. Identification of new pharmacological targets for novel or already used drugs.

Pro/antiinflammatory mechanisms in neurodegenerative diseases and their relationship with the symptomatology presented particularly in Alzheimer’s disease. Special role of the chemokine MCP-1.

Immune/inflammatory pathophysiology in other neuropsychiatric diseases: eating disorders, impulsivity disorders of autism spectrum diseases.

Role of gut bacterial translocation in the brain response to stress.

Mechanisms by which stress exposure increases susceptibility to intestinal cellular damage. Identification of possible therapeutic targets and evaluation of new cytoprotective strategies.

Potential therapeutical uses of the endocannabinoid system (ECS) in stress-related neuropsychiatric and digestive pathologies.

Projects: http://www.ucm.es/farmacologia/proyectos

PhDThesis: http://www.ucm.es/farmacologia/tesis

Selected Papers: https://www.ucm.es/farmatox/publicaciones-1

Links:

Spanish Research Network on Mental Health (ISCIII) - CIBERSAM

http://www.cibersam.es/

Hospital 12 de Octubre Research Institute (IIS-ISCIII) – Imas12

http://imas12.es/

Madrid research Consortium Genes and environment in schizophrenia –AGES-CM2

http://www.ages-cm.es/index.php?lang=en

University Research Institute in Neurochemistry UCM - IUINQ