Detalle Profesor

Nuestros investigadores

Marisol Aymerich Soler

Centro(s)
Bioquímica y Genética
Facultad de Ciencias Universidad de Navarra
Líneas de investigación
Neuroprotección en la enfermedad de Parkinson, Sistema endocanabinoide y enfermedad de Parkinson

My name is Marisol Aymerich, I graduated in biology (1994) and then I started my PhD at the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department of the Universidad de Navarra (UNAV). Once I obtained my PhD (1998), I initiated a postdoctoral stay at the National Eye Institute (NIH, Bethesda, USA), where I studied the use of neurotrophic factors (PEDF) for the treatment of degenerative diseases of the retina. In 2001, I was hired by the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department (UNAV) as associate professor and I joined the Basal Ganglia Anatomy Laboratory at CIMA. During those years, my research was oriented towards the understanding of the connections between the different basal ganglia circuits and their involvement in Parkinson's disease (PD), which allowed me to acquire knowledge about the biology of neurodegeneration, the challenges of neurodegenerative disease research and limitations of current experimental models. During this time, I also collaborated with Dr. M.J. BlancoPrieto in order to develop formulations to administer neurotrophic factors, which do not cross the blood brain barrier, as a treatment for neurodegenerative diseases. Over the years, I acquired greater maturity and independence, which is reflected in the direction of several doctoral theses and in the responsibility in research projects that led me to head the group of Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms Associated with Neurodegeneration in PD as part of the Neurosciences Program of CIMA. Since then, the ultimate goal of my research has been the identification of mechanisms involved in the vulnerability/neuroprotection process that can stop the loss of dopaminergic neurons that take place in PD. In 2009, Dr. Rafael Franco arrived at CIMA to direct the Cellular and Molecular Neuropharmacology group, to which I joined as an independent researcher. During this period, and in collaboration with Dr. Franco, I studied the functional consequences of heteromerization of different G-protein-coupled receptors including CB1, CB2 and GPCR55 cannabinoid receptors. From the results obtained at this stage, I discovered the therapeutic potential of the endocannabinoid system for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases and the relevance of the inflammatory responses in the time course of neurodegeneration. Currently, my research is focused on determining the state of glial cell activation under parkinsonian conditions to establish the relationship to neuron survival/death. The final goal is to modulate glial activation states to protect neurons from degeneration. Quality indicators of my scientific research are the following: 47 papers in indexed journals, 34 of them in Q1 journals and 14 in 1D journals. My H factor is 25 and I have 1813 accumulated citations. I have directed 6 PhD projects, 3 with an international mention and 2 of them obtained the extraordinary PhD award. I have been the principal investigator in 5 projects and I have participated in 3 international projects.