Dr. ALBERT GIRALT TORROELLA

Research Group: Hippocampal Function in Health and Disease

Keywords: hippocampus, Alzheimer’s disease, schizophrenia, major depression, neuroimmunology

Research overview 

Our group is interested in the molecular and circuit basis of neuropsychiatric disorders using the hippocampal function as a model and investigating how the immune system can modulate all these phenomena. We use several cutting-edge strategies to carry out our research, including the use of several genetically modified mouse models, complex statistical analysis, translational approaches combining experiments with human samples and with preclinical models. This experimentation includes in vitro assays, mostly using primary neural cells from all sources (i.e., microglia, neurons and astrocytes).  

We have been in collaboration with other national (Digna Biotech) and international (Servier, RegenLife) companies in other to endorse/enhance their technology in collaborations of tech-transfer.  

  

Strategic lines

• The characterization of new genetic risk factors in Alzheimer’s disease and the study of new therapeutic strategies in mouse models.  
•  Characterization of the formation of neural engrams in murine models of depression induced by chronic stress.   
•  Study of new risk factors (genetic and environmental) in schizophrenia using murine models and human samples.