Ricardo Martins-Ferreira, Josep Calafell-Segura, Bárbara Leal, Javier Rodríguez-Ubreva, Elena Martínez-Saez, Elisabetta Mereu, Paulo Pinhoe Costa, Ariadna Laguna and Esteban Ballestar
The Human Microglia Atlas (HuMicA) Unravels Changes in Homeostatic and Disease-Associated Microglia Subsets across Neurodegenerative Conditions
Nature Communications, 2025, 16, 739
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-56124-1
IF: 15.7
RESEARCH GROUPS
Neurodegenerative Diseases
19
Number of publications
84.21
%
% Q1
52.63
%
% D1
21.05
%
% Leadership
25.00
%
% Female Leadership
3.46
CROWN (2021-2025)
28.57
%
HCP10% (2021-2025)
78.95
%
% Open access
63.16
%
% International Collaboration
6
Highly cited papers / HCP 1% (2021-2025)
2
Publications in high-IF journals with high Altmetric scores
26
Number of Ongoing Projectes (total)
5
International ongoing projects
6
Number of New projects (total)
2
International new projects
16
Number of Active clinical Trials
6
Number of New Clinical Trials
3
Number of Theses
The research conducted in our group is geared toward elucidating the cause and molecular mechanisms of neurodegeneration in Parkinson’s disease (PD), a disabling, currently incurable common neurodegenerative disorder. To this end, we perform clinical and pre-clinical translational research in both PD patients and in human-relevant experimental in vitro and in vivo PD-related models.
Elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying neurodegeneration in PD should allow to:
• Identify biomarkers for PD diagnosis, early detection, patient stratification, disease progression, prognosis or response to treatment.
• Identify new molecular targets for potential therapeutic intervention and prevention.
• Develop novel therapeutic strategies with disease-modifying potential.
• Unravel molecular pathways common to other neurodegenerative diseases and, in a broader sense, brain aging.
CORE/MISSIONS
- Aging
- AI, Data, Imaging & Digital Health
- Innovative & Advanced Therapies
- Rare Diseases
PROGRAMS
- Woman, Gender & Diversity Perspective in Health Research
TEAM
Group Leader
Miquel Vila
Principal Investigator (PI)
Marta Martínez Vicente, Jordi Bové Badell, Jorge Hernández Vara, Ariadna Laguna Tuset, Oriol de Fabregues-Boixar Nebot
Researchers
Javier Hoyo Pérez, Marta González Sepúlveda, Mercedes Arrúe, Eduardo Soares de Sousa, Felipe Grunenwald, Jacopo Marongiu, Eduarda Godfried Nachtigall, Sara Lucas del Pozo, Maria Belen Garcé Rivarola
PhD Students
Gerard Roch Alba, Joana Margalida Cladera Sastre, Marina Lorente Picón, Sabrina Gatti, Arthur Cardoso Souto, Pol Rodríguez Carreras, Alba Nicolau Vera, Camille Guillard Sirieix, Pablo Castillo, Eddi Pradas García, Pau Sarle Valles, Daniela Samaniego Toro (MD), Silvia Enríquez Calzada (MD), María Camprodon (MD).
Lab Technicians
Annabelle Parent, Jordi Riera Heredia, Paola Monterosso; Maria Millet Milian
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
Blasco-Agell L, Pons-Espinal M, Testa V, Roch G, Montero-Muñoz J, Fernandez-Carasa I, Baruffi V, Gonzalez-Sepulveda M, Richaud-Patin Y, Jimenez S, Cuadros T, Cladera-Sastre JM, Compte J, Manglano-Artuñedo Z, Ventura S, Juan-Otero M, Tolosa E, Raya A*, Vila M*, Consiglio A*.
LRRK2-mutant microglia and neuromelanin synergize to drive dopaminergic neurodegeneration in an iPSC-based Parkinson’s disease mode
Communications Biology (2025) 8(1):1203
DOI: 10.1038/s42003-025-08544-4
IF: 5.2
Filimontseva A, Fu Y, Vila M*, Halliday GM
Neuromelanin and selective neuronal vulnerability to Parkinson’s disease
Trends in Neurosciences, Volume 48, Issue 6, 2025, Pages 445-459,
DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2025.04.005.
IF: 15.1
Ramos-Vicente D, Monterosso P, de Fàbregues O, Roch G, Vila M, Bové J
Single-cell transcriptomics for immune profiling of cerebrospinal fluid in neurological diseases
Frontiers in Immunology (2025) 16:1599303.
DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2025.1599303
IF: 5.9
Castillo-Ribelles L, Arranz-Amo JA, Hernandez-Vara J, Ferrer-Costa R, Martínez-Vicente M*, Carnicer-Caceres C*
Systematic Assessment of Matrix Effect, Recovery, and Process Efficiency Using Three Complementary Approaches: Implications for LC-MS/MS Bioanalysis Applied to Glucosylceramides in Human Cerebrospinal Fluid.
ACS Omega. 2025 Oct 29;10(44):52449-52458
DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.5c05399
IF: 4.3
SELECTED PROJECTS
Activity and connectivity drive neuronal vulnerability and disease progression in Parkinson’s disease
Principal Investigator: Miquel Vila
Agency: Aligning Science Across Parkinson’s (ASAP, USA)
Funding: 1,985,066 €
Period: 2021-2026
Neuromelanin and PD: mechanisms and therapeutic perspectives
Principal Investigator: Miquel Vila
Agency: Michael J Fox Foundation (USA)
Funding: 500,000 €
Period: 2025-2027
New nanotechnological therapy for Parkinson´s disease: nose to brain delivery of GBA-polymer nanoconjugates
Principal Investigator: Marta Martínez-Vicente
Agency: Obra Social Fundación la Caixa
Funding: 599,723 €
Period: 2022-2025
GBA1 Consortium: Joint Analysis to Inform Clinical Trials (MJFF-025301)
Principal Investigator: Jorge Hernández-Vara, Ariadna Laguna and Marta Martínez-Vicente
Agency: Michael J Fox Foundation
Funding: 1,304,737 €
Period: 2025-2027
Parkinson’s Intergenerational Care (PAIR). IMPETUS for Citizen Science, Quick-Starting and Sustaining Grant
Principal Investigator: Ariadna Laguna
Agency: European Union and “La Caixa” Banking Foundation (Spain)
Funding: 120,000 €
Period: 2024-2027
PATENTS
5-S-cysteinyl-DOPA (5SCD) and 5-S-cysteinyl-dopamine (5SCDA) in peripheral biological samples as biomarkers for neurodegenerative diseases associated with loss of pigmented neurons
Priority Number: EP25382848.7
Priority Date: 07/08/2025
Applicants: VHIR and ICREA
DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES
Participation in the International Day of Women and Girls in Science as facilitator of a science workshop for primary school students at Vall d’Hebron Research Institute
Place: Vall d’Hebron Research Institute
Date: 11/02/2025
Brief: Science workshop for primary school students at VHIR
Una malaltia incurable i progressiva és un gran adversari per a la procrastinació
Place: Vilassar
Date: 08/05/2025
Brief: Researchers explain Parkinson's disease to the public
Festa de la Ciència 2025
Place: Ajuntament de Barcelona
Date: 31/05/2025
Brief: A bridge between generations for Parkinson's
Community of Practice around Parkinson at Vall d’Hebron Research Institute
Place: Vall d’Hebron Research Institute
Date: 2025
Brief: An exhibition that brings together shared experiences, creativity and learnings to rethink support for people with Parkinson's disease.
IV Jornada de Parkinson Vall d’Hebron
Place: Vall d’Hebron Research Institute
Date: 12/06/2025
Brief: Meeting people living with Parkinson and their caregivers
