Programs

Program affiliation
Developmental Regenerative and Stem Cell Biology
Immunology
Molecular Microbiology and Microbial Pathogenesis

Research summary
My lab investigates respiratory diseases affecting young children caused by exposure to environmental insults, such as allergen and respiratory syncytial virus. We employ a combination of animal models, human epithelial stem cells, and cryopreserved human lung slices to model these diseases.

Key words
lung development, basal stem cell, allergen, RSV, age

Program affiliation
Neurosciences
Molecular Cell Biology

Research summary
Function and modulation of transmitter-gated ion channels

Key words
GABA, ion channel, neurophysiology, nicotinic receptor, pharmacology, structure-function relations

Program affiliation
Neurosciences
Molecular Cell Biology
Biochemistry Biophysics and Structural Biology

Research summary
Understanding the endogenous opioid systems to defeat addiction, ameliorate affective disorders, and relieve chronic pain.

Key words

Program affiliation
General

Research summary
Ecology and conservation of rare plants

Key words
plant conservation; reintroduction biology; plant population dynamics; rare plant ecology; restoration ecology; seed and seedling ecology; ex situ conservation

Program affiliation
Immunology
Developmental Regenerative and Stem Cell Biology
Biochemistry Biophysics and Structural Biology

Research summary
Respiratory immunobiology, with particular interest in cytokine pathways associated with lung epithelial progenitors

Key words

Program affiliation
General

Research summary
Large-scale proteomics and multi-omics data integration to drive biomarker discovery and target identification in neurodegenerative diseases.

Key words
Neurodegeneration, Neuroscience, Alzheimer's disease, Proteomics, Systems biology, Gene Regulatory Networks

Program affiliation
Immunology
Biochemistry Biophysics and Structural Biology
Molecular Microbiology and Microbial Pathogenesis

Research summary
Molecular mechanisms at the host-pathogen interface

Key words
biochemistry, structural biology, signaling, virology, host pathogen interactions, immunology

Program affiliation
Molecular Cell Biology
Developmental Regenerative and Stem Cell Biology

Research summary
The Amargant i Riera Lab uses a multidisciplinary approach to investigate how biochemical and biomechanical signaling from the ovary regulates folliculogenesis and oocyte quality, and whether these mechanisms are altered in reproductive-associated diseases such as PMOS and aging.

Key words
Female reproduction, mechanobiology, ovary, folliculogenesis, reproductive aging, oocyte quality

Program affiliation
Neurosciences
Developmental Regenerative and Stem Cell Biology
Molecular Cell Biology
Immunology
Biochemistry Biophysics and Structural Biology

Research summary
Our research investigates the role of the innate immune system in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases and the processes of brain aging, employing stem cell-based platforms and transgenic mouse models to study mechanisms of neuroimmune interactions in the brain.

Key words
Neurodegeneration, Innate Immunity, Aging

Program affiliation
Neurosciences

Research summary
Develop novel imaging methods to deepen our understanding on pathophysiology and improve clinical diagnosis and patient management

Key words