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Annual Report 2019
ease progression in a wide range of brain disorders. Through its role in regulating neuroinflammation and the mechanistic link between neuronal hyperexcitability and glial activation, P2X7R with ATP is one of the most promising molecular targets for pharmacological intervention in the neuroinflammation-hyperexcitability path- way. PurinesDX brings together world leaders in translational research on puriner- gic signaling, leading European clinical specialists in a wide range of neurological diseases and industry partners specialized in drug and biomarker development. The ability to share unique genetic tools, newly developed diagnostic devices and novel, selective and stable P2X7R antagonists in the brain, along with the synergy facilitated by the PurinesDX consortium will be extended to the training of a new generation of highly skilled, innovative scientists, creative and entrepreneurs that are urgently needed. Along with the provision of this interdisciplinary, international and cross-sector environment, original and high-level training in cutting-edge neu- roscience will be provided, nurturing a highly competitive cohort of researchers with the potential to drive a new era of neuroscience research.
Caterina Di Lauro, is a biomedical PhD student at the Complutense University of Madrid and part of the PurinesDX program, an innovative MSCA training network focused on understanding the role of the P2X7 purinergic receptor in a variety of brain disorders, including neurodegenerative diseases and psychiatric disorders. Her project focuses on studying the role of P2X7R in Alzheimer’s disease and its potential as a pharmacological target to improve this pathological condition.
As part of her doctoral training, Di Lauro completed a clinical assignment at the CIEN Foundation in 2019 under the supervision of Dr. Miguel Medina. During the time he spent at the Center, she had the opportunity to follow one by one, all the steps of the Vallecas Project.
First, she joined the neurologists and neuropsychologists in evaluating the volun- teers. This showed her how to carry out and interpret the various protocols aimed at obtaining a complete evaluation of the cognitive domains, as well as the be- havioral variables of the individuals.
Subsequently, she observed the acquisition and analysis of brain images through neuroimaging techniques, a very powerful tool to assess the connection between brain morphological changes and cognitive dysfunctions associated with neuro- degenerative diseases.
Finally, she had the opportunity to visit the CIEN Tissue Bank and follow Dr. Alberto Rábano in the collection, processing, classification and diagnosis of human brain samples. In addition, she was able to benefit from the service that BT-CIEN offers to researchers who request it: the possibility of obtaining brain samples, in this case, from patients with Azheimer’s and Pick’s disease for her research project.
In the words of Di Lauro herself, “following the Vallecas Project has been very use- ful to me because it has allowed me to better understand the aspects of Alzheim- er’s disease in human patients and have a clearer idea about the parameters to be considered and evaluated in the study of this disease when using mouse models”.