Eduardo Soriano

Research interests

Brain development is a complex process which involves several sequential steps: regional determination, specification of neuronal cell types, control of cell migration, guidance and formation of neural connective networks, and activity-dependent synaptic plasticity. The correct functioning of all these processes is essential for the construction of the brain. Our research focuses on the identification of new genes involved in these processes, and the characterization of the intracellular signaling pathways activated in growth cones in response to extracellular signals. Moreover, it is known that the adult brain does not regenerate, either after lesions or disease-associated cell-death processes. Studies on the mechanisms that govern the normal development and growth of the nervous system are essential to explain the lack of spontaneous brain repair in adult tissue and to design new regenerative approaches to repair brain lesions.

A second goal of the laboratory is to understand how key developmental genes play a fundamental role in neuronal plasticity in the adult brain, which is crucial for complex neural functions (eg.  learning and memory). The rationale is that adult plasticity (adult neurogenesis and synaptic plasticity) is reminiscent of developmental processes. Because dysregulation of adult neurogenesis and synaptic plasticity are implicated in neurological and psychiatric disorders, we aim also to understand how these genes contribute to the pathology of these diseases and whether modelling developmental genes in the adult brain ameliorate these neural disorders.