CIIIEN 2019

RAMÓN TRULLÁS

Ramón Trullás performed pre-doctoral studies at the Millhauser Laboratories of New York University Medical Center with Dr. Arnold Friedhoff, and at the Department of Medical Psychology, School of Medicine, of the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB). He obtained his doctorate degree in Psychology at the UAB, with a thesis on the mechanism of action of the antidepressant drugs that received the UAB Doctoral Award with special distinction. He completed postdoctoral research with a Fulbright fellowship at the Bio-Organic Chemistry Laboratory, NIDDK, of the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, MD, U.S.A., with Dr. Phil Skolnick from 1985 to 1988 and continued as associate researcher In the Laboratory of Neuroscience (NIDDK, NIH) from 1988 to 1991.

The scientific contributions include the formulation of the glutamatergic hypothesis of the mechanism of action of the antidepressant drugs, which has allowed the development of new faster-acting antidepressants and more recently the discovery of mitochondrial DNA as a biomarker of Alzheimer's disease. His scientific interests include research into the molecular mechanisms of neurodegeneration and neuronal plasticity, the study of mitochondrial dynamics in neurons and the detection of novel biomarkers in neurodegenerative diseases with the aim of identifying new therapeutic treatments.

JAVIER VITORICA

BSc Degree in Biology from the Faculty of Sciences, Autonomous University of Madrid. I received my PhD at the Center of Molecular Biology “Severo Ochoa”, Autonomous University of Madrid. The topic of my PhD focused on the study of calcium homeostasis in rat brain and its variations with aging.

I did a postdoctoral stay at New York University working on the molecular characterization of GABAa ionotropic receptors.

At the end of this period, I got a position as Associate Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Seville. I am currently Professor in that Department.

As senior scientist, one of my main interests has been to identify molecular-cellular changes associated with the aging process in hippocampus and cerebral cortex. Given that aging is one of the main risk factors for Alzheimer's disease, we began studying the potential vulnerability of the GABAergic system in hippocampus and cerebral cortex in transgenic models of Alzheimer's disease. From this moment, our main scientific objectives are the following: 1) studying the cellular/molecular mechanisms involved in neurodegenerative changes occurring in this pathology in regions such as the hippocampus and entorhinal cortex; 2) searching for potential molecular markers that allow for detecting the progression of pathology in the transgenic models; 3) identifying new therapeutic targets for drug development; 4) studying in the transgenic models the potential preventive/curative usefulness of new therapeutic strategies.

LLUIS PUJADAS

Lluís Pujadas is a Researcher at the CIBERNED institution and Adjunt Professor at the University of Barcelona. He get a degree in Biochemistry at the University of Barcelona on 2000, and a Ph.D. on Neurosciences at the University of Barcelona on 2000. He has developed his career by studying the funcions of the extracellular protein Reelin on neurodevelopment as well as in adulthood.

He has done collaborative stages at Scripps Reseach Institute (San Diego) and Universidad Pablo de Olavide (Sevilla) and is now developing projects within the CIBERNED group of “Developmental Neurobiology and Regeneration” leaded by Dr. Eduardo Soriano at the University of Barcelona. The main focus of the present research is to unravel the participation of Reelin on the molecular mechanisms of Alzheimer’s disease.

CARMEN PARADAS LÓPEZ

The main purpose of our group is to investigate genetic bases of neuromuscular disorders, field in which I have been interested since the beginning of my doctoral studies which was focused on the utility of quantitative methods of muscular testing, and evaluation of the pattern of muscle involvement by muscle imaging (MRI) in the muscular dystrophies. During this period developed one of the first and outstanding works in the field of neuroimaging and dysferlinopathies (Paradas et al, Neurology 2010).

From 2011 to 2013 she developed a second postdoctoral period working in the Neuromuscular Laboratory lead by Dr. Hirano and Dr. DiMauro at Columbia University (NYC, USA). During my postdoctoral studies I worked on genetics of muscular dystrophies and mitochondrial myopathies, which culminated with the description of the first case of an adult patient suffering a mitochondrial myopathy due to mutations in the TK2 gene (Paradas et al, Neurology 2013), the description of the natural history of the myopathy associated to mutations in the Twinkle gene (Paradas et al, JAMA Neurology 2013) and I initiated the description of the role of POGLUT1 in the pathogenesis of the muscular dystrophies. In 2014, I set up my own laboratory at the Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBiS), associated to the University Hospital of Virgen del Rocío in Sevilla, where I am research coordinator of the Unit of Neuromuscular Disorders. Special mention deserves the collaboration with H. Jafar-Nejad´s and R.S. Haltiwanger´s groups in USA. Recently, our group has generated the knock-in mouse model harboring the novel mutation in the POGLUT1 gene which paves the way for future functional study and potential therapeutic approaches for this new disease. In 2016, I spend four months as visiting scientist at the National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, establishing a new international collaboration focus on the investigation of the vacuolar myopathies and the generation of animal models based on genes linked to new clinical entities.

Positions and Employment
1997 MD, University of Granada
2001-2003 Research Assistant, University Hospital of Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain.
1997-2011 Neurologist (Neuromuscular specialist), University Hospital of Virgen del Rocío, Sevilla, Spain
2011-2014 Post-doctoral Fellow, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, USA
2014- Neurologist and Research Coordinator (Neuromuscular specialist), University Hospital of Virgen del Rocío/ Biomedical Institute of Sevilla/ University of Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain
Member of World Muscle Society Organization, TREAT-NMD Neuromuscular Network, Carlos III Health Institute and Coordinator of the Health Care Provider University Hospital Virgen del Rocío as National Reference Center of Neuromuscular Disorders (CSUR/EURO-NMD).

PURA MUÑOZ CÁNOVES

CIBERNED-Pompeu Fabra University (UPF) and ICREA Spanish National Center for Cardiovascular Research (CNIC)

Education and Research Training
1985 Pharmacology Degree, University of Valencia, Spain
1990 PhD in Biological Sciences, Autonomous University of Madrid, Spain. Work performed at the Scripps Research Institute
1990-1991 Postdoctoral fellow, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
1992-1994 Postdoctoral fellow, The Scripps Research Inst., CA, USA
1994-1996 Research Associate, Cancer Research Institute (IRO), Barcelona, Spain

Professional Experience
1997-2001 Group leader, Cancer Research Institute (IRO), Barcelona, Spain
2002-2007 Group leader, Center for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona, Spain
2007-2008 Senior Group leader, Center for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona, Spain
2008-Present ICREA Senior Research Professor, Member of CIBERNED
2010-Present Full Professor of Cell Biology and Principal Investigator, Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona
2016-Present Principal Investigator, Spanish National Cardiovascular Research Center, Madrid

ANTONIA GUTIÉRREZ PÉREZ

Antonia Gutiérrez has a Degree (1987) and PhD (1991) in Biological Sciences from the University of Málaga (Spain). After several years of postdoctoral scientific specialization in the United States, she returned to the University of Malaga with a contract of the Ministry of Education and Science and later as Associate Professor of Cell Biology. Since 2011 she is Full Professor at this Univesity. Her research career has focused on neuroscience in the field of aging and neurodegeneration.

Since 2003 leads a group of biomedical research on Alzheimer's disease in order to: 1) understand the molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in neurodegenerative processes, 2) identify potential biomarkers of disease progression, and 3) study efficacy of new therapeutic treatments at preclinical level (Group website). Since 2007, she is Senior Researcher at the Centre for Biomedical Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), an agency of the Carlos III Institute of Health designated as Center of Excellence within the CoEn International Network on a proposal from the European Union. Her group is part of CIBERNED Program 1 dedicated to Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (www.ciberned.es).

She is Principal Investigator of the Andalusian research group NeuroAD (CTS-950), and recently her group is also part of the Institute for Biomedical Research in Malaga (IBIMA) within Neuroscience Area 3 (www.ibima.eu). She is a member of the Alzheimer's Association International Society to Advance Alzheimer's Research and Treatment (ISTAART), the Society for Neuroscience (SFN) of the United States, the Federation of European Neuroscience Societies (FENS) and the Spanish Society for Neuroscience (SENC). She is a scientific reviewer for many international scientific journals in neuroscience and a committee member of expert evaluators for the Alzheimer Association (USA), Medical Research Council (UK), Spain National Assessment Agency (ANEP) of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, and the Andalusian Agency of Knowledge (AAC).

PABLO MIR RIVERA

Pablo Mir holds a Bachelor's degree and a Phd in Medicine from the University of Seville and completed his Residency in Neurology at the Virgen del Rocio University Hospital (HUVR) in Seville. From his period of postgraduate training he showed interest in combining quality medical activity with clinical and experimental first level international research. Pablo Mir has made long stays (more than three years as a whole) in world-renowned centers in experimental neurology such as the Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, the Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College in London or the University of Columbia in New York. He also completed the specialized health training program of the Carlos III Institute of Health (postMir / contract Rio Hortega) in the Laboratory of Biomedical Research of HUVR. He is currently a specialist physician and coordinator of the Movement Disorders Unit of the Neurology Service of HUVR.

In addition, he is A Responsible Researcher, Group Leader, at the Institute of Biomedicine in Seville (IBIS) and CIBERNED, as well as a Professor in the Department of Medicine of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Seville. During the last years Pablo Mir has developed an intense medical and scientific activity, participating in more than a hundred scientific articles, being "senior" author in more than 40, many of them in journals of the first decile of his specialty. His contributions related to two areas of cutting-edge research in Neurology stand out. On the one hand, the analysis of cortical activity under different pathological conditions and their modification by transcranial magnetic stimulation (EMT), and on the other hand the identification of predisposing or causing movement disorders (especially Parkinson's disease and dystonia).

ISIDRO FERRER

Main Education/Training

Degree in Medicine (MD), University of Barcelona: 1975; Doctor (PhD) in Medicine, University of Barcelona: 1978; Title of specialist: Pathologic Anatomy, Ministry of Education: 1978; Professor of Pathology, University of Barcelona, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics (1996-present); Director of the Institute of Neuropathology and Brain Bank, Service of Pathologic Anatomy, Bellvitge University Hospital, Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona (1995-2016); Director of the HUB-ICO-IDIBELL Biobank (2011-2016)

Publications journals: 802; h-index: 78 (year 2019); book chapters: 38

Major significant research outputs

Narcis Monturiol Price for Research of the Catalonia Government, 2003; Research award of the Catalan Institute of Health, 2008; Profile Lancet Neurology: Isidre Ferrer: a revolutionary in neuropathology. Published Online February 21, 2013 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/; Alfons Maria Jakob silver medal of the German Society of Neuropathology and Neuroanatomy, Hamburg, 2016; Premi Ramon Turró, Societat Catalana de Biologia, Institut d’Estudis Catalans, 2016; Premio Mano Amiga, Fundación Alzheimer León, 2018. Member of the International Society of Neuropathology, European Federation of European Neuropathologic Societies, American Association of Neuropathologists, British Neuropathological Society, International Society of Alzheimer’s disease, International Society of Frontotemporal lobar dementia. Member of the Academia Europea (2018)

Member of the advisory board of the journals: Brain Pathology, Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, American Journal Neurodegenerative Diseases, International Journal of Neuropathology, Folia Neuropathologica, Journal Epigenetics and Neuroglia, and Associate Editor of the Journal of Neuropathology and Experimental Neurology

Director of Doctoral Thesis: 38, University of Barcelona

Patent: Marcadores mitocondriales de enfermedades neurodegenerativas. Inventors: M. Barrachina, I. Ferrer, M. Blanch; identification: P201430444; date: 28/3/2014; entity: IDIBELL

ERNEST ARENAS

A. PERSONAL STATEMENT

My laboratory has been working during the last 25 years to understand the mechanisms controlling in midbrain dopamine (mDA) neuron development, maintenance and degeneration in Parkinson’s disease (PD). We have examined the function of neurotrophic factors (neurotrophins, GDNF), Wnt signaling and nuclear receptors (Nurr1 and LXRs) and are currently performing single cell RNA-seq analysis of the mouse and human midbrain in development and disease. Our research covers from basic science, such as understanding mechanisms of mDA neuron specification, neurogenesis and subtype specification, to more clinically applied, such as understanding the pathogenesis of PD, developing in vitro iPS cell-based models of PD for drug discovery and the developing stem cell-based or in vivo reprogramming-based replacement strategies for PD. Our work focus on understanding the entire natural history of mDA neurons and their demise in PD.

B. POSITIONS AND EDUCATION
Since 2016: Co-director of the Strategic research area in stem cells and regenerative medicine at KI.
Since 2002: Professor in Stem Cell Neurobiology at MBB, KI
2010-2015: Chairman of the MBB Department at the Karolinska Institute.
2001: Researcher position from the Swedish Royal Academy of Sciences, KI.
1998: Researcher (tenure track) position from the Karolinska Institute.
1997: Associate Professor (docent) in Molecular Neurobiology, MBB, KI.
1994: Assistant Prof. (FoAss MFR), Lab of Molecular Neurobiology, MBB, KI.
1991-1993: Postdoctoral fellow of the European Molecular Biology Organization.
1987-1991: Assistant Teacher in Histology, Medicine, University of Barcelona.
1987-1991: Ph.D. in Neurobiology, University of Barcelona.
1986: Medical Doctor, University of Lleida, Spain

C. AWARDS AND MERITS:
Since 2010 Elected Member of the Nobel Assembly in Medicine or Physiology.
2001 INGVAR award from the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research.
2001 Researcher position awarded by the Swedish Royal Academy of Sciences.
1991 PhD Thesis Award of the University of Barcelona.

D. OTHER MERITS
Supervisor: 15 PhD students (13 defended, currently 2), 35 Postdoctoral fellows (32 in the past, currently 3). 19/32 postdoctorals and 4/13 PhD students obtained leadership positions in academy or industry.
Reviewer for Science, Nature, Nature Biotech, Nature Cell Biology, Nature Communications, Nature Reviews Neuroscience, Cell Stem Cells, Stem Cell Reports, Stem cells, Developmental Cell, Development, PNAS, J. Neuroscience, PLoS ONE, J. Clin Invest.
Organizer of 2 ESF meetings (2006 and 2008); EMBO Course: Stockholm (2007), European Union: Spring school in Oslo (2007), Berlin (2008), Prague (2009) and Stockholm (2010).
Advisory boards: Tercel, the Spanish network for cell therapy (since 2008), the Luven Stem Cell Centre (since 2007), Research institutes in Barcelona (IDIBELL, since 2008; and VHIR, since 2010).
163 publications (148 original, 15 reviews).

CARLOS A. SAURA

Dr. Carlos A. Saura is Associate Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona (UAB). He obtained his PhD in Chemistry/Biochemistry from the University of Barcelona in 1998 and completed postdoctoral training at the Dept. of Pathology, The Johns Hopkins University and Dept. of Neurobiology, University of Chicago (1998-2000). In 2000, Dr. Saura was appointed Instructor at the Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School. Dr. Saura was a Ramón y Cajal Research Professor (2005-9) before being appointed Associate Professor at the Instituto de Neurociencias-UAB. Dr. Saura lab combines molecular approaches and cutting-edge genetic, transcriptomic and proteomic methodologies to better understand the molecular pathways causing neuronal dysfunction, memory loss and neurodegeneration in Alzheimer’s disease.

Dr. Saura (H-index: 27) has authored more than 50 peer-reviewed scientific articles, in molecular and cellular aspects of brain physiology and pathology, in high impact journals in Neuroscience/Psychiatry fields including Neuron, Biol. Psychiatry, J. Neurosci. etc… He has leaded several national and international research projects and is an active collaborator of several national and international funding agencies and scientific journals. His research group belongs to the Generalitat de Catalunya Excellence Groups (SGR) and the National Centre for Biomedical Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED).

Dr. C. Saura has been member of the Directive Board of the Instituto de Neurociencias-UAB (2009-17), Directive Board and Treasurer of the Sociedad Española de Neurociencia (SENC; 2015-19) and Coordinator of the Neurobiology Section of Societat Catalana de Biologia (2015-20) Dr. Saura was recently appointed National Collaborator of the División de Coordinación, Evaluación y Seguimiento Científico y Técnico, Agencia Estatal de Investigación, Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades.

ROSARIO OSTA

Prof. Rosario Osta, PhD in Genetics at the University of Zaragoza (1996). She is a Research Staff member (Full Professor) of Zaragoza University (UNIZAR) and the Head of the “LAGENBIO: Teragen and Regeneragen” of the Institute of Aragón (IIS) in Zaragoza, Spain. She has an international reputation of more than 16 years on the field of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and is a co-founder of neuroscience network in IIS Aragon.

She is focused in the search of prognostic and diagnostic biomarkers in patients of ALS. Additionally, she has focused on innovate therapy in murine model of ALS, the results of which have been patented and licensed to industry. She has been a keynote speaker in numerous national and international scientific conferences and is responsible for more than 14 large projects and industry contracts. Prof. Osta has published 90 peer-reviewed scientific publications and has 8 patents. Total number of citations in ISI Web-of-Knowledge: 1.795 and 2.607 in Google Scholar. Her h- Index is: 24 (WoS), 32 (GSch.), i10=61.

ANA MARTÍNEZ

Dr. Martinez is Research Professor at the Biological Research Center (CIB) of Spanish National Council for Research (CSIC). Her interest is focused on neurodegenerative disorders, leading numerous research projects on the medicinal chemistry and rational drug design of new drugs for Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, spinal cord trauma and multiple sclerosis. She is very active in technology transfer.

Since 2002 to 2008 and to complete a technology transfer process, she was R&D director of NeuroPharma. In that time, two of her research compounds reached clinical trials as disease modifying agents for Alzheimer's disease. After her return to CSIC in 2008, she has participated in several public-private collaborations, being a third new drug waiting approval to start clinical trials. Moreover, she is founder of the spin-off ANKAR PHARMA. She is author of more than a two hundred and fifty scientific publications, more than thirty active patents in the field, editor of several books and acts as scientific advisory board for several SMEs. Currently, her laboratory involved around twenty researchers in the fields of chemistry, biology and pharmacy being validated medicinal chemistry site in EU-OPENSCREEN.

TERESA IGLESIAS

Teresa Iglesias is a Scientist from the Spanish Research Council (CSIC) and Honorary Professor of the Biochemistry Department at the Medical School of Madrid Autonomous University (UAM). She is head of the group “Novel Targets in Neurodegeneration and Neuroprotection” at “Alberto Sols” Biomedical Research Institute (CSIC-‐UAM). Her laboratory is also part of CIBERNED (Network Center for Biomedical Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, ISCIII). She is also member of several Advisory Panels and Scientific Committees. She obtained her PhD at the Complutense University Medical School, in Madrid, investigating the effects of stress in the central nervous system control of depression and hypertension. She was then involved in the identification of genes contributing to neurological deficiencies in hypothyrodism.

Later she moved to the Imperial Cancer Research Fund / Cancer Research UK in London, where she started working on Protein Kinase D (PKD). She is an expert in neurosignalling and has been studying PKD neuronal functions for more tan 20 years, having identified and cloned its first substrate, Kidins220 (Kinase D interacting Substrate of 220 kDa). Her group investigates now the role of PKD and Kidins220 in the molecular mechanisms involved in neuronal death in acute and chronic neurodegeneration, in order to design neuroprotection strategies useful for a broad range of neurodegenerative diseases.

JAVIER FERNÁNDEZ RUIZ

Javier Fernández-Ruiz is a PhD in Biochemistry obtained in 1986 in the Complutense University, Madrid, Spain. He is currently Full Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, in such university. Together with his teaching activities in the areas of Neurochemistry and Neurobiology, both in Degree and Master, he has been working during the last 37 years in different diseases of the Central Nervous System, having authored 235 research articles and 43 review articles in international journals, with a H-index of 66. Also 42 chapters in national and international books and 6 international patents. He has given lectures at different national and international universities and research centers, as well as numerous presentations at national and international congresses.

He is currently the Principal Investigator of the “Cannabinoids and Neurological Disorders” research group at the Complutense University, and also at two cooperative networks of excellence research in Spain: CIBERNED and IRYCIS. The main activity of this group is the study of the therapeutic potential of cannabinoids in several neurological diseases, mainly neurodegenerative, activity addressed to the design, synthesis and biological characterization of novel cannabinoids with neuroprotective profile, and to test their therapeutic efficacy at preclinical and clinical levels. They have also conducted research addressed to explore the contribution of endocannabinoid dysregulations in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders.

They are collaborating with several national and international groups, and four pharmaceutical companies: GW Pharma, Emerald Health Pharmaceuticals, VivaCell Biotechnology Spain, Roche and Symrise. He has participated in numerous research projects, acting as PI in many of them, including 7 research contracts with pharma companies. He has acted as reviewer for journals such as Annals of Neurology, Biological Psychiatry, Brain, FASEB Journal, FEBS Letters, Glia, Journal of Neuroscience, Nature Reviews Neuroscience, Neurobiology of Disease, Neuropharmacology, Neuroscience, PNAS, Trends in Pharmacological Sciences and others. He has been a member, representing the UCM, in the IRYCIS Governor Committee (2011-2017), and is currently a member in the Scientific Advisor Committee of the pharma companies Emerald Health Biotechnology-Spain and Linneo Health (formerly Alcaliber), and a member of the Editorial Board in the British Journal of Pharmacology. He has been President of the International Cannabinoid Research Society (ICRS) (2002-2003) and member of its Executive Committee (2001-2004), as well as a founding member of the Spanish Cannabinoid Research Society (SEIC) and member of its Executive Committee (2000-2013) serving as President during 2007-2011.

RAFAEL FERNÁNDEZ CHACÓN

Rafael Fernández-Chacón is Professor of Physiology, Investigator at the Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBiS) and CIBERNED Investigator. He obtained his M.D. (1990) and Ph.D. degrees (1995) from the University of Seville. He performed his doctoral thesis work at the Department of Medical Physiology and Biophysics with Prof. Guillermo Alvarez de Toledo on the biophysical aspects of exocytosis in mast cells, studying the release of transmitter through the transient opening of the fusion pore (kiss and run).

From 1995 to 2001, Fernández-Chacón trained as postdoctoral fellow with Prof. Thomas C. Südhof at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and Howard Hughes Medical Institute in Dallas (TX, U.S.A.) and, during the end of that period, he also worked with Dr. Christian Rosenmund at the Max-Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry in Göttingen (Germany).

As a postdoct, Fernández-Chacón worked on the molecular mechanisms of calcium-dependent neurotransmitter release, investigating the role of synaptic vesicle proteins such as synaptotagmin as calcium-sensor for exocytosis. In 2002, Fernández-Chacón became Associate Professor of Physiology at the University of Seville. His group has used electrophysiology and imaging to investigate the function and dysfunction of the synaptic vesicle cycle in genetically modified mice. A major focus of his laboratory is the study of the molecular mechanisms underlying the maintenance of nerve terminals, specially in the context of the role of a presynaptic co-chaperone (CSP/DNAJC5) linked to neurodegeneration in humans.

ISABEL FARIÑAS

Isabel Fariñas received her PhD in Biology from the Autonomous University of Barcelona with a thesis done at the Institute Cajal of the CSIC in Madrid. After a postdoctoral period (1993-1998) as a Fulbright and HFSPO fellow and later as a researcher at the University of California at San Francisco, she joined the University of Valencia where she is professor in Cell Biology and director of the Molecular Neurobiology Unit. Her entire scientific background falls within the field of neurobiology and her best contributions have come in two areas.

Her postdoctoral studies contributed to establish the essential functions of the neurotrophic factors of the families of neurotrophins and GDNF. Her studies in genetically modified mice contributed to the mapping of trophic dependencies and of the functional relationships between factors and receptors, such as the promiscuity of neurotrophin-3 or the identification of c-ret as a GDNF receptor. Her studies as an independent researcher focus on the niche biology of neural stem cells (NSCs). Her group described the first "angiocrine" factor, the so-called PEDF, whose actions contributed to establishing that blood vessels are a key element of neurogenic niches. In addition, her group has contributed to establishing the concept of quiescence as an actively regulated state by identifying the actions of neurotrophin-3 as an angiocrine pro-quiescence factor, to uncover transcriptional functions of cell cycle regulatory molecules in the maintenance of NSCs or to define the role of cell adhesion in the regulation of their activation state, among others. She has been a member of the boards of the Spanish Society of Neuroscience, the Spanish Society of Gene and Cell Therapy, and the International Society of Differentiation and of the Spanish Developmental Biology Society and is now board member of the Spanish Society of Developmental Biology.

Her group belongs to the Center for Biomedical Research in Network on Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), the National Cell Therapy Network (TerCel), the ERI of Biotechnology and Biomedicine of the University of Valencia (BIOTECMED) and is Prometheus Group of Excellence of the Valencian Community. She was appointed member of the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) in 2013 and chosen by the Fundación Botín-Banco Santander to be part of her science program to encourage technological transfer in 2014.

ABRAHAM ACEVEDO AROZENA

Abraham Acevedo Arozena leads the neurodegenerative disease models and mechanisms group at the Hospital Universitario de Canarias, Tenerife. In 2002, after completing his degree and PhD at La Laguna University (ULL), he moved to the UK as a post-doctoral researcher working at the Medical Research Council (MRC) Mammalian Genetics Unit (MGU), an international centre of excellence for mouse genetics. Initially, he worked on a joint project between Professors Steve Brown and David C Rubinsztein (Cambridge University), working on Huntington´s disease (HD) pathogenesis using mouse models.

From 2009, he established his own laboratory at the MRC-MGU, working on HD, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and other neuromuscular disorders, using the mouse as a central model system with links with different clinical centres, particularly University College London Institute of Neurology (UCL-ION), where he is currently an honorary lecturer due to the continuous ongoing collaborations.

Since 2016, he moved back to Spain, to the Hospital Universitario de Canarias, with a Miguel Servet fellowship from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCiii). The current research of the laboratory continues with the work initiated in the UK, focusing on ALS and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) pathobiology, developing new disease mouse models aiming at elucidating novel disease mechanisms.

Over the years he has obtained funding from different national and international sources, including among others: UK MRC, UK Motor neurone disease association (MNDA), American ALS association (ALSA), France Thierry Latran foundation, and the ISCiii. He is a currently a member of the ULL Instituto de Tecnologías Biomédicas and a new principal Investigator of the Centre of Networked Biomedical Research on Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED).

Vicente Herranz-Pérez

PhD in Biology, University of Valencia (2010), Doctoral Program of Basic and Applied Neurosciences (with mention of quality).

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE:

Interests: comparative neurobiology, adult neurogenesis, neural stem cells, regenerative medicine.
Number of publications in indexed journals: 24 (19 of them in Q1; 11 in D1).
Book chapters: 1.
Contributions presented at conferences: 32 (16 national, 16 international).
Participation in 13 research projects (1 as principal investigator).

STAYS ABROAD:

Nagoya City University (Japan): Feb 2016-Mar 2016
Montreal Neurological Institute (McGill University, Canada): Sep 2005-Dec 2005

TEACHING EXPERIENCE:

Ordinary member of the Spanish Society of Neuroscience (SENC).
Member of the Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience review panel (since January 2018).
Guest Reviewer at Free Radical Biology and Medicine.

OTHER DATA OF INTEREST:

University of Valencia
Collaborating Professor
Department of Cell Biology
Jaume University I
Associate Labor Professor
Cell Biology Area

MERCÈ BOADA ROVIRA

Neurologist (University of Barcelona, 1972). PhD in 1993. Founder and Medical Director of the ACE Foundation in 1995. Distinguished professor at the International University of Catalonia. Former President of the Catalan Society of Neurology (2000 - 2002).

She focuses her research on the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, including diagnosis, pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment and, also, basic, social, bioethical and legal research applied to the well-being and protection of people suffering from dementia and their caregivers . From 1996 to 2001 she was advisor to the Bioethics Committee of the Generalitat de Catalunya, technical coordinator for the design of a new model of care for people with cognitive disabilities and President of the Advisory Council for Pharmacological Treatment for Alzheimer's Disease (CATMA). Co-director of the Sitges Document 1st and 2nd edition.

She is a member of the Executive Committee of the European Alzheimer Disease Consortium (EADC) and a member of the European Institute of Women's Health (EIWH) Advisory Council.

She leads several projects funded by the Spanish and Catalan governments, the European Union and private institutions: AES, H2020, EFSD, ERA-NET, IMI2 Fundació la Caixa and Grifols.

Today, she leads more than 110 clinical trials, is the author of more than 220 articles, 36 book chapters and 12 medical books.

She has been awarded the Professional Excellence Award by the College of Physicians of Catalonia (2008); the Josep Trueta medal for health merit, by the Generalitat de Catalunya (2012) and the highest award granted by the Generalitat de Catalunya, the "Creu de Sant Jordi" for his career as a scientist in the field of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, and honorary member of the Spanish Society of Neurology.

LUIS ALFONSO CAMBRE MARTÍN

Licenciado en Documentación por la Universidad de Salamanca y Experto en Gestión de Documentos Digitales en Empresas e Instituciones por la Universidad Camilo José Cela. Desde el año 2001 trabaja en el mundo de las ciencias documentales, aunque desde 2011 su labor se centra en el ámbito de la enfermedad de Alzheimer y otras demencias. Con su labor en el Centro de Referencia Estatal de Alzheimer (Imserso) asesora y apoya al equipo de profesionales del CREA así como a las personas usuarias externas, proporcionado acceso al mundo de la información en el ámbito de la enfermedad de Alzheimer y otras demencias.

Asimismo, es profesor externo en el Máster Universitario en Intervención a Personas con Enfermedad de Alzheimer de la Universidad de Salamanca.

ENRIQUE PÉREZ SÁEZ

Natural de Ávila. Licenciado en Psicología en 2003 y Doctor en Neuropsicología Clínica en 2009 por la Universidad de Salamanca. Desde 2010 trabaja en el Centro de Referencia Estatal de Alzheimer (Imserso), donde combina la atención directa de las personas con demencia, la actividad investigadora en el campo de las intervenciones psicosociales y la actividad docente en seminarios y como tutor de prácticas de diversos másteres universitarios.

Es profesor asociado de la Universidad de Salamanca, formador para Replicar Socialform en Portugal y profesor de posgrado en el Instituto Universitario Miguel Torga en Portugal. Es miembro del Grupo Estatal de Demencias (GED).

ANA LUZ DE ANDRÉS TERÁN

Licenciada en Matemáticas en la Universidad de Salamanca. Máster de Artes Escénicas. Bailarina, profesora y coreógrafa de danza contemporánea. Primer y segundo ciclo de la Society of Russian Stylee Ballet School. Último espectáculo “La Osadía” de la Chana Teatro.

Experta profesional en la aplicación de la Danza y el Movimiento en personas con alzhéimer y otras demencias. Desde 2008, es Responsable del programa pionero de Danza Creativa Terapéutica, en el Centro de Referencia Estatal de atención a personas con enfermedad de Alzheimer y otras Demencias del Imserso. Investigadora principal del estudio «Propiedades psicométricas del Profile of Mood States (POMS) en personas con demencia y su aplicación en la evaluación de los efectos de la danza creativa terapéutica» publicada en la Revista Neurología.

RAQUEL GARCÍA SANTELESFORO

Licenciada en Psicología por la Universidad de Salamanca y Máster en Psicología Clínica por la Asociación Española de Psicología Clínica Cognitivo-Conductual (AEPCCC). Desde 2008 trabaja en el Centro de Referencia Estatal de Alzheimer (Imserso), y en el año 2015 se incorpora al equipo de Intervención con Familias del CREA desempeñando labores de terapia familiar con las familias de las personas con demencia y tareas de docencia dentro del programa de formación de dicho centro. Tutorización de prácticas de alumnos del máster de psicología general sanitaria de la Universidad de Salamanca.

Es autora de diversas guías sobre intervención con personas con demencia, como “Guía para la implantación del uso de tablet en centros de personas con demencia”.

MARÍA ISABEL GONZÁLEZ INGELMO

Licenciada en Psicología y Diploma en Pedagogía Terapéutica por la Universidad de Salamanca. Es en la actualidad Directora Gerente del Centro de Referencia Estatal de Atención a Personas con enfermedad de Alzheimer y otras demencias del Imserso y coordinadora del Grupo Estatal de Demencias.

Participante en la iniciativa Joint Action 2014 con el Proyecto Europeo CHAFEA 2014-2017 sobre modelos de coordinación sociosanitaria en la atención a las personas con demencias y Evaluadora Independiente de Alzheimer Europa.

Fue coordinadora del área sociosanitaria en la Cumbre “Global Alzheimer´s Research Summit, Madrid 2011”, siendo Promotora de la Red Mundial WISDEM, red especializada en el conocimiento de la demencia.

Miembro del comité organizador y científico de investigación sociosanitaria de la Cumbre “Alzheimer´s Global Summit Lisbon 2017”.

En la actualidad es docente en el Master Universitario en “Intervención a personas con enfermedad de Alzheimer” de la Universidad de Salamanca, coordinadora de proyectos de tecnología, en los campos de la estimulación cognitiva y del diseño ambiental para personas con alzhéimer y sus familias cuidadoras.

Responsable de proyectos de investigación en el campo de las demencias, así como colaboradora en guías, publicaciones y documentos técnicos en torno a las demencias.

JESÚS RODRIGO

Licenciado en Ciencias de la Educación. Pedagogo

CEO de la Confederación Española de Alzheimer

Miembro de la Junta Directiva de Alzheimer Europa

Miembro de la Junta Directiva de Alzheimer Iberoamérica

Miembro del Comité Técnico de la Estrategia de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas del Sistema Nacional de Salud

Miembro del Grupo Estatal de Demencias

Miembro del Consejo Asesor de Levin Consulting and Communication

María Dolores Almagro Cabrera

María Dolores Almagro Cabrera, es hija de una persona enferma de Alzheimer, y a raíz de este diagnóstico, funda junto a otros familiares, la Asociación de Familiares de Enfermos de Alzheimer de Motril-Contigo en agosto de 2010, de la que sigue siendo Presidenta.

Ésta es una Entidad sin ánimo de lucro y cuya finalidad es “Mejorar la Calidad de Vida de las personas afectadas por la enfermedad, tanto de las personas cuidadoras como de las personas enfermas”.

Desde el año 2011 forma parte de la Junta directiva de la Federación Granadina de Alzheimer (FEGRAFA), y desde 2014 es su Presidenta.

Desde 2013 forma parte de la Junta Directiva de la Confederación Andaluza de Alzheimer (CONFEAFA), y desde 2014 es la Tesorera de dicha entidad.

Y desde 2016 es vocal de la Confederación Española de Alzheimer (CEAFA), así como su Controller Jurídico y coordinadora del Comité de Atención Asociativa.

Inés María Losa Lara

Inés María Losa Lara (Tomelloso, 1972), Presidenta de la Federación Regional de Alzheimer de Castilla-La Mancha, Fedacam, es Graduada en Administración y Dirección de Empresas por la Universidad Internacional de la Rioja.

Vinculada a la Asociación de Familiares de Alzheimer de Tomelloso desde sus inicios, hace 22 años, es Presidenta desde 2012, y a través de ella impulsa la atención de las personas con alzhéimer y sus familias desde el Centro de Día San Rafael, único recurso especializado en demencias en la localidad de Tomelloso y su comarca, promoviendo la autonomía personal y la prevención de la dependencia a través de terapias no farmacológicas que tienen como centro de actuación la persona afectada y su entorno cuidador.

Entre 2014 y 2015 es nombrada vocal de la Federación Regional de Alzheimer de Castilla-La Mancha, pasando a ocupar el cargo de Tesorera entre 2015 y 2018, y siendo elegida Presidenta en junio de 2018. Cargo que desempeña en la actualidad, asumiendo la defensa y representación del colectivo afectado ante la administración y las distintas instituciones y organizaciones de la región.

Desde enero de 2019 es tesorera de la Confederación Española de Alzheimer, Ceafa, siendo miembro de su Comité de Acción Política y coordinadora del Comité de Gestión y Control Presupuestario.

Ha participado como ponente en distintas jornadas y foros relacionados con la enfermedad de Alzheimer. Es miembro del comité organizador de las Jornadas de Alzheimer Mary Torres que se llevan a cabo cada año en el Hospital General de Tomelloso.

Otros cargos a lo largo de su trayectoria profesional:
Representante de la Asociación de Alzheimer de Tomelloso en el Patronato de la Fundación Alzheimer España entre 2012 y 2019.

Cheles Cantabrana

Doctora en Sociología de las Políticas Públicas y Sociales (UNIZAR, 2016); Licenciada en Antropología Cultural y Social (2008); Experta Universitaria en Exclusión social, Integración y Ciudadanía (UNED, 2013).

Mi formación y mi vocación social van de la mano y desde enero de 2016 soy presidenta de la Confederación Española de Alzheimer (CEAFA). CEAFA está compuesta por 314 Asociaciones de familiares y 19 Federaciones autonómicas, que cubren el ámbito estatal. Esta red específica de lucha contra el Alzheimer y sus consecuencias atiende anualmente a alrededor de 200.000 familias, proporcionándoles servicios y prestaciones adaptadas a sus necesidades, poniendo el foco en la calidad de vida del binomio paciente-persona cuidadora.

Llego a CEAFA desde AFEDAZ, la Asociación de familiares de personas con Alzheimer de Zaragoza, entidad con la que había comenzado a colaborar en el año 2000, después de que unos años antes acudiera a la misma para obtener respuestas acerca de la enfermedad de mi madre. Obtuve respuestas, apoyo y cuidados. Actualmente soy también presidenta de AFEDAZ y de la Federación Aragonesa de Alzheimer (Alzheimer Aragón).

En representación de CEAFA, soy miembro de las Juntas y Permanentes de diferentes instituciones, entre ellas, el Consejo Estatal de Personas Mayores. En Aragón, pertenezco a la Permanente del Consejo Aragonés de Personas Mayores, al Consejo de la Ciudad y al Consejo de Sanidad de la Comunidad.

Raquel Amigo Moreno

Coordinadora del Biobanco del Hospital Universitari i Politènic La Fe de Valencia (Biobanco La Fe).

Ingeniero Químico, Auditor Jefe Internacional en Sistemas de Gestión de Calidad certificado (International Register of Certificated Auditors, IRCA). Máster en Biobancos destinados a investigación biomédica por la Universidad Católica de Valencia; Máster en Bioética, Deodontología y Calidad Sanitaria por la Universidad de Valencia; Máster en Gestión Sanitaria y Gestión Innovadora de los recursos por la Universidad de Valencia; Máster en Ingeniería de Análisis de Datos, Mejora de Procesos y Toma de Decisiones por la Universidad Politécnica de Valencia. DEA en Estadística y Optimización por el Departamento de Investigación Operativa y Matemática Aplicada de la Universidad Politécnica de Valencia con el trabajo “Estudio de la relación entre percepción olfativa, toxicidad y las asociaciones psicológicas cruzadas” y Diploma de Especialización en Tecnologías Industriales y de Gestión.

Su actividad profesional ha estado enfocada en la implantación, certificación y acreditación de sistemas de gestión de calidad y seguridad de la información, auditoría, consultoría y asesoría, estudios de viabilidad, dirección y organización industrial, lean manufacturing, lean healthcare, six sigma, gestión de riesgos, optimización e ingeniería de procesos. Ha actuado como auditor externo tanto en empresas del ámbito sanitario como el industrial y participado en la implantación de diferentes sistemas de gestión tanto en la sanidad pública como en la privada desde 2008.

Actualmente, es Coordinadora del Biobanco del Hospital Universitari i Politècnic La Fe.

Puso en marcha el servicio y durante sus 10 años de funcionamiento se ha dedicado a su gestión integral desde un punto de vista técnico, legal, ético y social. Miembro del ISBER durante 2012 y miembro actual de la IChemE.

Emilio Marmaneu Moliner

Cuidador, durante 23 años, junto con su familia, de su madre Salomé, enferma de Alzheimer. Ingeniero Técnico Industrial y empresario. Fundador y presidente de la AFA Castellón de ámbito provincial, con delegaciones en varias poblaciones (Castellón, Vinarós, Vall D´Uixo, Onda, Morella, Burriana, Nules, Vila-Real, Alcora, Betxí y Oropesa), que actualmente gestiona 4 Centros de Día y 9 Unidades de Respiro y con los sellos de calidad EFQM 200+, ISO9001 e INACEPS . Fundador y miembro FEVAFA, siendo desde diciembre del 2012 Presidente.

Presidente CEAFA (Confederación Española de Familiares de Enfermos de Alzheimer y otras demencias) desde 2004 hasta 2010. Expresidente de AIB (Alzheimer Iberoamérica). Presidente y fundador de la Fundación Alzheimer Salomé Moliner. Expresidente de la Alianza General de Pacientes. Exmiembro del Consejo Estatal de ONG´s de acción social. Exmiembro del Consejo Estatal de Personas Mayores. Expatrono de la Fundación Española de Enfermedades Neurológicas (FEEN). Exrepresentante de CEAFA en Alzheimer Disease’s International. Exrepresentante de CEAFA en la Confederación Europea de Asociaciones de Familias (COFACE). Presidente sustituto en la Plataforma de Voluntariado de la Comunidad Valenciana.

María del Remedio Pérez Baeza

FORMACIÓN ACADÉMICA

Diplomada en Trabajo Social en 1994 y posteriormente, Graduada en Trabajo Social en 2013, en ambos casos por la Universidad de Alicante (UA)

FORMACIÓN COMPLEMENTARIA

Curso De Aptitud Pedagógica. Universidad de Alicante. 2004.
Master en Formación, Gestión Y Dirección En Autonomía, Dependencia Y Discapacidad. 60 créditos ECTS, UNED. 2013.
Experto Universitario en Ciencias Forenses para Trabajadores Sociales. 20 créditos ECTS, UNED. 2015.
Cursos de: Animador Sociocultural; Coordinador de Voluntariado; Peritos Judiciales; Dependencia; Sistema Básico de Calidad y Gestión de Procesos; ISO 9000: 2015; Responsabilidad y Transparencia.
Asistencia a diversos: Congresos Nacionales, Autonómicos e Internacionales, Conferencias, Jornadas y Mesas Redondas sobre Demencias y Enfermedad de Alzheimer; Foros de Bienestar Social; Congreso Estatal de Trabajo Social y Jornadas Autonómicas de Trabajo Social.

EXPERIENCIA LABORAL:

Trabajadora Social en AFA Alicante desde marzo de 1999.
Tutora de alumnos/as de prácticas de Trabajo Social de UA, desde el 2000.
Docente en Cursos de Formación para cuidadores no profesionales de: Conselleria de Bienestar Social, AFA Alicante, FOREM-CCOO y el Servicio Municipal de Atención a la Dependencia de Alicante y de Mutxamel (Alicante)
Participación en diferentes Mesas Redondas, Jornadas, Charlas,…organizadas por: Universidad de Alicante, diversas ONG’s, Asociación Gerontológica del Mediterráneo, Colegio Oficial de Trabajo Social de Alicante, Colegio Oficial de Farmacia de Alicante, Departamento de Trabajo Social y Servicios Sociales de la Universidad de Alicante, Centros de Salud y Hospital.
Participación como ponente en el “VII Congreso Nacional de Alzheimer”, organizado por CEAFA y en el “X Congreso de Estudiantes de Farmacia” de la Universidad Miguel Hernandez.
Participación en dos Posters presentados en II y V Conferencia Nacional Alzheimer. Bilbao 1999 y Murcia 2005.
Por otra parte en lo referente a mi profesión, desde 2010 he sido Vocal de la Junta de Gobierno del Colegio Oficial de Trabajo Social de Alicante, siendo actualmente, Secretaria del mismo y también representante de los tres Colegios Oficiales de Trabajo Social de la Comunidad Valenciana, en el Observatorio de la Vulnerabilidad del Síndic de Greuges de la Comunitat Valenciana desde 2016.

Rosa Redolat

Catedrática de Psicobiología en la Facultad de Psicología de la Universitat de València. Ha dirigido diversos proyectos de investigación a nivel nacional y autonómico relacionados con factores protectores del envejecimiento cognitivo y del estrés social. Es miembro de la comisión de Ética en Investigación Experimental de la Universitat de Valéncia. En los últimos años ha participado en los programas Prometeo para grupos de investigación de excelencia, habiendo publicado en revistas de prestigio internacional.

Actualmente imparte docencia relacionada con en el estudio de las bases psicobiológicas del envejecimiento e intervención en demencias en diferentes másteres oficiales. También es docente en los programas de Nau Gran en la Universitat de València.

Sus líneas de investigación actuales se centran en el estudio de los efectos del estrés crónico en cuidadores, prevención del deterioro cognitivo y evaluación de intervenciones no farmacológicas en pacientes con Enfermedad de Alzheimer.

Soledad Corachán Smith

Licenciada en el Conservatorio Superior de Música de Castellón en la especialidad de Pedagogía del Canto e instrumentos: violonchelo, Máster Universitario en Musicoterapia en la Universidad Católica de Valencia y Máster universitario en Profesor de Educación Secundaria en la Universidad de Valencia.

Es musicoterapeuta y directora del coro Les Veus de la Memòria de la Asociación Familiares de Enfermos de Alzheimer de Valencia. Además trabaja como docente siendo jefa de estudios en la Escuela de música del colegio Ntra. Sra. de Fátima de Valencia.

Coordinadora del Proyecto Europeo número: 2016-1-ES01-KA204-025313 “AD-GAMING. Desarrollo de una plataforma formativa para la mejora de la calidad de vida de las personas con Alzheimer a través Serious Games”. Ejecutado dentro del programa de ERASMUS+ 2016. Ha asistido a cursos organizados por la Asociación Valenciana de Musicoterapia con profesores nacionales e internacionales en el ámbito de la musicoterapia como: Gustavo Schulz Gattino y a cursos de dirección coral y técnica vocal organizados por la Federación de Coros de la Comunidad Valenciana y la Fundación General de la Universidad de Valencia.

En el ámbito de congresos y comunicaciones ha presentado un póster en el 4º Congreso Internacional de Espacios de Arte y Salud en el Hospital de Denia, Alicante. Ha recibido el Primer Premio Profesionales del Sector de la Fundación Domus Vi con el proyecto “Les veus de la memòria. El poder de la música en personas con Alzheimer”. Ha realizado una comunicación en el IV Congreso Nacional SEMERGEN de Pacientes Crónicos celebrado en el Hospital Universitario Reina Sofía de Córdoba. Ha participado en la mesa redonda “Música y salud: incumbencias e interdisciplina” como parte del programa de Musicoterapia, música y nuevos paradigmas en salud del III Congreso del Grupo Iberoamericano de Investigación en Musicoterapia y como ponente en la actividad cultural organizada por el Hospital Dr. Moliner en la V Semana Cultural. Ha asistido a las I Jornadas Hispano-Lusas de actualización en Investigación Musicoterapéutica celebrada en la Universidad Católica de Valencia San Vicente Mártir.

Colaboradora en las ponencia sobre “Enfermedad de Alzheimer” dentro del ciclo de actividades los miércoles hablamos de salud desde el curso académico 2016/2017 organizadas por la Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud de la Universidad CEU-Cardenal Herrera.

LEOPOLDO CABRERA TORRE

De profesión Ingeniero Superior Industrial, Leopoldo trabajó para grandes empresas como Entel, Arthur Andersen o IBM. A la edad de 52 años recibió el diagnóstico de párkinson, y tras unos meses comenzó a participar en asociaciones de pacientes.

Actualmente es presidente de la Federación Española de Párkinson. Además, Cabrera representa al colectivo párkinson en la junta directiva de la Neuroalianza, del Consejo Español del Cerebro y de COCEMFE.

ALFONSO J. CRUZ-JENTOFT

El Dr. Alfonso J. Cruz-Jentoft es médico especialista en Geriatría y Gerontología. En la actualidad es Jefe del Servicio de Geriatría del Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal (Madrid), donde dirige el grupo de investigación de Geriatría del Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRyCIS). Es profesor de Geriatría de la Universidad Europea de Madrid. Su servicio forma parte del European Alzheimer Disease Consortium (EADC).

Es Presidente de la Comisión Nacional de la Especialidad de Geriatría. Fue fundador y Presidente de la European Geriatric Medicine Society (EuGMS), en la que sigue formando parte de su Comité Académico. Desde hace más de un año es Editor Jefe de la revista oficial de la EuGMS; European Geriatric Medicine. Dirige también el European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP) y forma parte del Consorcio Clínico de Envejecimiento Saludable de la OMS. Representa a España en el consejo de la International Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics (IAGG) y ha formado parte de las directivas de otras organizaciones nacionales e internacionales, como la European Academy for Medicine and Ageing (EAMA), la sección de Geriatría de la European Specialist Physicians Union (UEMS-GS) y la Sociedad Española de Geriatría y Gerontología (SEGG). Es miembro del comité editorial de varias de las revistas internacionales de más prestigio de su especialidad (J Am Geriatr Soc, JAMDA, JNHA, Aging Clin Exp Res).

Sus áreas de investigación actuales (en varios casos formando parte de consorcios europeos) incluyen la sarcopenia, la fragilidad, la nutrición y farmacoterapia geriátrica, el uso de medidas no farmacológicas para tratar síndromes geriátricos, la inclusión de los mayores en la investigación clínica y la valoración geriátrica integral.

ADRIANA GUEVARA DE BONIS

Adriana Guevara, es jubilada de la enseñanza pública, en la que ha trabajado 35 años, ocupando puestos como profesora, jefa de estudios y directora.

Desde el año 2005 es la Presidenta de la Asociación Española de Esclerosis Lateral Amiotrófica (adEla), y desde el año 2006, presidenta y fundadora de la Asociación Madrileña de ELA. AdEla es una organización sin ánimo de lucro, de ámbito estatal, que se dedicada a ayudar a las personas con ELA y otras enfermedades de la motoneurona, para mejorar su calidad de vida.

Miembro de una familia con ELA familiar, de los que nueve familiares fallecieron a causa de ELA. En estos momentos, uno de los miembros de la familia está diagnosticado por esta enfermedad.

RUTH BLANCO

Ruth Blanco, Técnico Superior en Administración y Finanzas, es Presidenta de la Asociación Corea de Huntington Española (ACHE) desde el año 2014. En ACHE, realiza labores de representación, interlocución, gestión y dirección de la entidad, así como de asesoramiento en el abordaje de la enfermedad de Huntington. Es miembro del EHDN (European Huntington Disease Network), asistiendo a los tres últimos congresos bianuales celebrados en Barcelona (2014), La Haya (2016) y Viena (2018).

Dentro del ámbito de la salud, la intervención social, y la participación ciudadana, ha participado como ponente en diversas conferencias en colaboración con el Colegio Oficial de Psicólogos, el Ayuntamiento de Madrid, y Media-Lab Prado, entre otras.

El pasado año recogió en nombre de la Asociación el Premio Trastornos del Movimiento en su Modalidad Social otorgado por la Sociedad Española de Neurología.

Agneta K. Nordberg

Professor in Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet Director Center for Alzheimer Research Translational Alzheimer Neurobiology, Senior Consultant in Geriatric Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge.

Education:

Specialist in Geriatric Medicine, 1984 Licensed to practice Medicine, 1981 MD, 1977 PhD Uppsala University,1971 BPharm Uppsala University.

Previous academically appointments:

1982-92 Lecturer in Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Uppsala Univ.1979-82 Research position Swedish Medical Research Council.1979-Associate Professor (Docent) in Pharmacology, Uppsala Univ, 1977-1979 Post doc position, Dept of Pharmacology, Uppsala Univ.

Previous clinical appointments1988-1992 Consultant, Geriatric Clinic, Karolinska Univ Hospital Huddinge,1982-1988 Clinical training in Medicine, Neurology, Family Medicine, Geriatric Medicine.

Other Employments:

1978-1979 AB Kabi, Head of the anti-coagulantia division, Pharmacology section,1979-1982 Swedish Drug Agency, Pharmacology division, physician,1971-1972 Swedish Drug Agency, Pharmacology division.

Commission of trust:

Member of the board of Wennergren Foundation 97- , vice chairman 2005-, Member of ENCP executive committee 2004-2007, Member of Advisory board of Swedish Research Council 1995-2000, 2005- (chairman neurology/psychiatry 08), Member of Board of Research Karolinska institutet 00-01, Chairman National Society for Rearch of Aging 2004-2008, Member of the board of faculty of pharmacy 1986-1992. Member of Nobel Assembly 2010-2015.

Supervision of 25P hD students (dissertations, Supervision of 24 international post doc students. Present supervision: 2 PhD students, 3 international post docs. External PhD thesis examiner (Faculty opponent) for 12 PhD thesis and External reviewer of 13 academically appointments.

Other activities:

Organizer of 16 international symposia and conferences. Member of the advisory boards of the International conference on Alzheimer’s AD/PD conferences 1992-2006, International Conference in progress Alzheimer and Parkinson´s disease 1997-Springfield symposium on Alzheimer therapy 1996- (local organizer in Stockholm 2000 and 2012.

Principle Investigator for more than 15 clinical trials.

Jorge J. Palop

Mechanisms of Network and Interneuron Dysfunction in Alzheimer’s Disease:

Our laboratory seeks to understand the neuronal processes underlying cognitive impairments in neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and in neuropsychiatric conditions associated with abnormal synchronization of neuronal networks, such as schizophrenia, autism, and epilepsy. We aim to identify molecular, circuit, and network mechanisms of cognitive dysfunction and to develop novel therapeutic approaches to restore brain functions in AD and related disorders. We are particularly focused on understanding the role of impaired inhibitory interneurons in network hypersynchrony, altered oscillatory brain rhythms, and cognitive dysfunction in AD.

To study these complex diseases, my laboratory primarily uses mouse models that recapitulate key aspects of the cognitive dysfunction and pathology of these conditions to dissect network and circuits mechanisms of brain dysfunction in mouse models of AD. We use electroencephalography (EEG), local field potentials (LFP), and single-unit recordings to assess neuron activity in vivo, optogenetic approaches to modulate interneuron function in vivo, genetic and pharmacological manipulations to manipulate specific pathways in vivo, and behavioral assessment to determine the cognitive consequences of our mechanistic interventions.

Translational focus: We hope to translate our basic research to develop novel treatments. We are evaluating the therapeutic potential of interneuron-based interventions by using cell-based therapy and pharmacology. We established formal partnerships with major pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to develop compounds or identify targets that enhance interneuron function or restore brain rhythms in models of AD and epilepsy. We are currently developing small molecule Nav1.1 activators that increase Nav1.1 currents and interneuron-dependent gamma oscillations in vitro and in vivo to develop novel therapies for conditions with impaired interneuron function, including AD and Dravet syndrome.

Hilal A. Lashuel

Dr. Hilal A. Lashuel received his B.Sc. degree in chemistry from the City University of New York in 1994 and completed his doctoral studies at Texas A&M University and the Scripps Research Institute in 2000. After obtaining his doctoral degree, he joined the Picower Institute for Medical Research in Long Island New York as a research. In 2001, he moved to Harvard Medical School and the Brigham and Women’s Hospital as a research fellow in the Center for Neurologic Diseases and was later promoted to an instructor in neurology at Harvard Medical School. In 2005 Dr. Lashuel moved Switzerland to join the Brain Mind Institute at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne, EPFL) as a tenure-track assistant professor in neurosciences. Currently, Dr. Lashuel is an associate professor of life sciences and the director of the laboratory of molecular and chemical biology of neurodegeneration. (LMNN website).

In addition to his appointment at the EPFL, Dr. Lashuel was a visiting Associate Professor at the Department of Neurology and Neuroloigcal Sciences at Stanford University (2012-2013) and served as the Executive Director of Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI) and a Professor at Hamad Bin Khalifa University from March 2014 – March 2016. During this period, Dr. Lashuel served in several important national committees and boards, including the Qatar Cancer Research Partnership (Co-Chair), Academic Health System Board (member) and Steering Committee (member), Qatar Biobank Board of Trustees (member and Co-Chair of the international advisory committee), Qatar Metabolic Institute (Board Member and Chair of the research working group), Qatar Foundation-Weill Cornell Medical College Joint Advisory Board (Member) and Qatar National Research Fund exceptional grant review committee (a permanent member). He continues to serve as Vice/Co-Chair of the international advisory boards of Qatar Bioban/Qatar Genome and the Qatar Metabolic Institute.

Dr. Lashuel scientific contribution to this field includes i) 123 publications in major peer reviewed journals including Nature, Cell, PNAS, JBC, JACS, and Angewandtie Chemie ii) three patents on novel strategies for preventing protein aggregation and treating autoimmune and inflammatory diseases; iii) more than 200 invited lectures since 2002 and 13000 citations (ISI h index = 50- Google Scholar h-Index =57) since 1996. Dr. Lashuel has received several pre-doctoral and post-doctoral awards and fellowships. He is the recipient of several prestigious research awards including; Human Science Frontiers young investigator research award and the European Research Council (ERC) starting independent researcher grant and the ERC proof of concept award (2013) and the Michael J. Fox Foundation Parkinson’s disease Grand Challenge Award. Dr. Lashuel was named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum in 2012 and as one of the “100 outstanding personalities” in the French speaking part of Switzerland by the Swiss business magazine L’Hebdo in 2009 (Forum des 100).

Raúl Martínez Fernández

Degree in Medicine and Surgery from Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona in 2003. He got his specialist Neurology diploma from Dr Josep Trueta University Hospital of Girona in 2008. Subsequently, he performed a 5-month stage in the Deep Brain Stimulation department of the National Hospital of Neurology and Neurosurgery – Queen Square in London, which is in charge of Professors Patricia Limousin and Marwan Hariz and doctor Tom Foltynie. He went back to Barcelona to work as a permanent consultant in General Neurology and Movement Disorders in the University Hospital Moisès Broggi. After almost three years focused in neurologic clinical practice, he decided to move to Grenoble (France), the birthplace of modern Functional Neurosurgery, where, under the wings of Professors Paul Krack and Elena Moro, he performed a two year clinical and research fellowship focused in Movement Disorders and, specifically, in deep brain stimulation for Parkinson’s Disease. In Grenoble, he started his PhD that he obtained in 2017 by CEU San Pablo University of Madrid, Spain. He complemented his clinical training with a Master’s degree in Movement Disorders from Murcia’s University, validated by the European Credit Transfer System. His interests and main expertise fields are clinical practice and research in Movement Disorders, specifically in Parkinson’s disease, focused on their emotional and behavioral features, as well as the use of advances therapies such as Deep Brain Stimulation and High intensity focused ultrasound. Currently he is a Neurologist at Hospital HM Puerta del Sur, a Clinical Researcher at Centro Integral de Neurociencias A.C (CINAC) and an Associate professor in CEU San Pablo University.

He’s a member of The International Movement Disorders Society, Spanish Society of Neurology, the Spanish Movement Disorders Study Group and the Neurological Society of Madrid.

Ongoing Research Support:

Co-principal Investigator: A Study to Evaluate the Effectiveness and Safety of ExAblate Transcranial MRgFUS Bilateral Subthalamotomy for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease motor features.
Co-principal Investigator: A Study to Evaluate the Effectiveness and Safety of ExAblate Transcranial MRgFUS Bilateral Thalamotomy for the treatment of Medication Refractory Essential Tremor Subjects.
Co-principal Investigator: A Prospective, Randomized, Sham Controlled clinical trial to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of ExAblate Subthalamotomy for the treatment of Parkinson’s Disease Motor Features. (CINAC-HM Puerta del Sur, España).
Principal Investigator: A Study to Evaluate the Effectiveness and Safety of ExAblate Transcranial MRgFUS Unilateral Thalamotomy Treatment of Medication Refractory Essential Tremor Subjects.

Alberto Parras

Alberto Parras studied Biotechnology in Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Seville 2010-2015. He obtained his PhD in 2017 from Universidad Autónoma de Madrid for his work under the supervision of Jose J. Lucas on the “Role of CPEB4 in Huntington’s Disease and in Autism Spectrum Disorder". During his thesis he worked in mRNA polyadenylation and translation though HIRE PAT and poly(U) chromatography followed by gene chip analysis in neurodevelopmental disorder (Parras et al. Nature 560:441-6, 2018) and neurodegenerative diseases (unpublished data).

Between 2018 and 2019, he performed a post-doctoral training with Tobias Engel at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin. He analyzed polyadenylation and RNA binding protein in temporal lobe epilepsy (Parras et al. submitted)

Recently, he joined the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology of University of Lausanne, Switzerland, as Senior Postdoct in Alejandro Ocampo group, and he is working on aging, cellular in vivo reprogramming and brain diseases.