Laboratory of Molecular Neuropharmacology, Biophysics and Bioinformatics

The group aims to significantly contribute to the understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in neurologic and psychiatric diseases, in particular, chronic pain, Alzheimer's and Lesch-Nyhan diseases and schizophrenia. An integrative multidisciplinary approach is applied including in silico, in vitro, animal models, and human research. In this context, G protein-coupled receptors, in particular, the mu-, delta-, and kappa-opioid receptors, cannabinoid CB1 and CB2 and dopamine D2 receptor, as well as ion channels, such as TRPV, are used as therapeutic targets. In addition, colloidal systems that incorporate complexed metals which allow the release of CO for pain modulation are included. The investigations also incorporate brain delivery of Alzheimer’s antiamyloidogenic agents in the form of encapsulated dendrimers using nano-vehicles that can be extended to other pathologies. Functional studies are complemented by synchrotron-based imaging techniques on human brain samples.