At IRYCIS 6 Priority Research Areas are established, each one coordinated by 2 directors, with a basic mission to: i) ensure the achievement of the objectives set for their area overall; ii) guarantee communication and collaboration between the different research groups; iii) guide the emerging groups and the associate clinical researchers to achieve their progressive integration into the consolidated group level.

Neurosciences, sense organs and mental health

This is perhaps the oldest research area of the Ramón y Cajal Hospital. Since its inception, translational research in the field of Neurology and of Neurosciences general, has played a prominent role in the research activity of the hospital and currently constitutes the largest research area of IRYCIS. Being the area with the largest number of research groups, it integrates groups focused on basic research and genetic bases of neurological, neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases, sensory organ pathologies and psychiatric diseases.

Leaders

  • Dr. Alicia Mansilla Aparicio

    Dr. Alicia Mansilla Aparicio

    I am a Biologist from the Complutense University of Madrid. In 2005 I obtained my PhD in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry at the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid and then I moved to the Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, UK, where I worked on protein degradation in relation to neurodegenerative diseases. Afterwards, I did another postdoctoral stay at the Cajal Institute (CSIC) where I started researching on a calcium sensor and its mechanisms of synapse regulation. In this context, I lead a research project aimed at testing new drugs that modulate the activity of this sensor. I joined IRYCIS in 2016 and since 2019 I am a Ramón y Cajal Researcher at the University of Alcalá de Henares. I have participated in 12 research projects being the principal investigator in 3 of them and I am an author in three patents.

    Contact:  alicia.mansilla(ELIMINAR)@uah.e

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    Dr. Alicia Mansilla Aparicio

    Senior Scientist, UAH-IRYCIS

    See CV
  • Dr. Luisa Mª Villar Guimerans

    Dr. Luisa Mª Villar Guimerans

    Since 1993, I have been PI of consecutive national and international competitive research projects. I am coordinator of the "Multiple Sclerosis" research group at IRYCIS and of the Spanish Multiple Sclerosis Network (RETICS Program, ISCIII). I have supervised 10 doctoral theses and different master works. During my scientific career, I have published about 150 articles in international journals and I have developed two international patents. I am focused on the search for biomarkers in multiple sclerosis and the study of immunological mechanisms that play a role in the pathophysiology of the disease.

    Contact: luisamaria.villar(ELIMINAR)@salud.madrid.org

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    Dr. Luisa Mª Villar Guimerans

    Head of Immunology service

    See CV

Groups