ROSARIO MORATALLA

• Cajal Institute, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Madrid, Spain. Vice-Director (2017-current). Research Professor (2008 – current), Research Scientist (2004 – 2008), Senior Scientist (1996-2003).  
• Harvard Medical School Boston, Massachusetts, USA, Instructor in Neurology (1997-1998).
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.I.T.), Cambridge, MA, USA. Research Associate, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences. (1995 – 1997). Research Assistant, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences. (1989 – 1995). Rearch Fellow, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences. (1988 – 1997)
• School of Pharmacy, London, UK. Post-Doctoral Fellow, Department of Pharmacology, (1986-1988).
• Cajal Institute, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Madrid, Spain (1980-1985). PhD studies. Neuropharmacology Department.

• Keywords: Dopamine | Basal Ganglia | Receptors | Parkinson´s disease | L-DOPA | Dyskinesias | Synaptic plasticity | Non-motor symptoms | Alpha-Synuclein | Autophagy | Mitochondria dysfunction | lucocerebrosidase | Therapy

We are interested in studying the molecular mechanisms that govern dopamine degeneration in Parkinson´s disease (PD) and dyskinesias induced by L-DOPA. We investigate the changes in synaptic plasticity produced by dopamine depletion in the two main types of striatal projection neurons that control movement, motivation, and cognition via dopamine receptors. Also, we want to understand the neuroanatomical bases of the non-motor symptoms of PD and the neural pathways involved in the clinical complications derived from L-DOPA treatment. Our main goals are to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying the pathophysiology of PD and to develop new therapeutic approaches aimed at preventing or halting the degenerative process of PD.

• Prize Alberto Rábano 2018 awarded to the Best Thesis in Neurocsience, Oscar Solís. Romanillos Foundation. 
• Direction of the work of First Prize Archimeses, XVI Archimedean Contest 2017 “Salud Mental”, Adrian Sanz. Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities.
• Direction of the work of First Prize Archimedes, XV Archimedean Contest 2016, Samuel Alberquilla. Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities.
• Direction of the work of Special Prize Fundación ONCE 2016, XV Archimedean Contest 2016, Samuel Alberquilla. Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities.
• Direction of the work of First Prize Best presentation, VIII Archimedean Contest 2010, JM Caramés. Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities.
• Woman Research Award 2009. Comunidad Autónoma de Castilla La-Mancha (Spain).

• L-DOPA oppositely regulates synaptic strength and spine morphology in D1 and D2 striatal projection neurons in dyskinesia. (2017). 17th Congress of the Spanish Society of Neuroscience (SENC). Alicante, Spain.
• Compensatory changes to methamphetamine-induced dopaminergic degeneration and motor impairment in mice. (2017). 6th International Drug Abuse Research Society (IDARS). Dubrovnik, Croatia.
• Synaptic plasticity changes after L-DOPA in the lesioned striatum. (2017). Mediterranean Neuroscience Society 6th Conference 2017 Radisson BLU St Julian’s Malta, Italy.
• Opposite structural and synaptic plasticity in D1- and D2-projection neurons in L-DOPA-induced dyskinesias. (2016). 2nd FALAN Congress. Buenos Aires, Argentina.
• Synaptic Plasticity of Denervated Striatal Neurons. (2016). 20th International Congress of Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders. Berlin, Germany.
• Methamphetamine damage dopaminergic neurons and the motor consequences. (2015). 12th World Congress of Biological Psychiatry. Athens, Greece.
• Activation of DREAM, a calcium-binding protein, reduces L-DOPA-induced dyskinesias in mice. (2015). Mediterranean Neuroscience Society Meeting. Santa Margherita di Pula, Italy.
• Multiple mechanisms of neurodegeneration and progression: Plasticity mechanisms induced in the striatum after dopaminergic degeneration in animals models of PD. (2014). Satellite FENS: Baveno, Italy.
• Role of dopamine receptors in the neurotoxicity of methamphetamine. (2013). IV International Drug Abuse Research Society (IDARS). México.
• Role of DREAM protein in L-DOPA induced dyskinesias in hemiparkinsonian mice. (2013). VI Biannual Meeting of the Neurotoxicity Research Society. Valdivia, Chile.
• Role of dopamine D2R in methamphetamine-induced toxicity. (2011). 13th International Neuroscience Winter Conference. Sölden, Austria.
• New molecules and mediators in drug-abuse. (2010). 12th International Neuroscience Winter Conference. Sölden, Austria.
• Pattern distribution of the signalling molecules associated with L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia in mic. (2009). 1st Meeting of the Ibero-Latin-Basal Ganglia Club (ILABG CLUB). Basal Ganglia Research: From the Bench to the Bed-Side. Búzios, Río de Janeiro, Brazil.
• Mechanisms for dyskinesia in L-DOPA treatment. (2009). IV Neurotoxicity Society Meeting: Neurochemical Mechanisms of Neurodegenerative Disorders. Arica, Chile.
• Opposing roles of D1 and D2 dopamine receptors in L-DOPA-induced dyskinesias. (2008). International Symposium “Novel advances in Parkinson’s Disease”. Ramón Areces Foundation. Salamanca, Spain.
• Molecular mechanisms of L-DOPA-induced dyskinesias in parkinsonian mice: Role of D1 and D2 dopamine receptors. (2007). III Cajal Winter Conference, Benasque, Spain.
• Molecular mechanisms of abnormal involuntary movements in Parkinson’s disease. (2006). Congress of the Neurology Society of Brazil University of Riberao Preto, Brazil.
• ERP-phosphorylation and FosB expression correlates with L-DOPA-induced dyskinesias. (2005). IX International Congress on “Amino Acids and Proteins”, Vienna, Austria.
• Differential responses mediated by dopamine D1 and D5 receptors. (2004). II Human Brain Conference “Modeling and Remodeling”. Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy.
• Different roles for D1 and D2 receptor subtypes in L-DOPA-induced dyskinesias in a mouse model of Parkinson’s disease. Neuronal degeneration and novel therapeutic approaches in Parkinson’s disease. (2003). Juan March Symposium. Madrid, Spain.
• Molecular bases of L-DOPA-induced dyskinesias: role of D1 and D2 receptors. (2003). Annual Meeting Neurotoxicity Society. La Serena, Chile.
• Role of D1 and D2 dopaminergic receptors in behavioral responses to cannabinoids. (2002). 1st Congress of the National Institute on Drug Abuse Research. Madrid, Spain.
• Implication of dopaminergic receptors in the Synaptic plasticity of the striatum. Basal Ganglia Symposium. (2001). IX Congreso de la Sociedad Española de Neurociencias. Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
• Differential distribution and phenotypic characterizationon of striatal neurons that express D4 or D5 receptors in the striatum. Neural mechanisms of addiction. (1999). Juan March Symposium. Madrid, Spain.

• Teaching:
  • Coordinator and lecturer of the subject: Neurobiological Bases of Drug Addiction. Master in Neuroscience. Universidad Autónoma de Madrid-Cajal Institute. (2015-2016)
  • Coordinator and lecturer of the subject: Neurobiology of Brain Aging and Diseases of Nervous System. Master in Neuroscience. Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM)-Cajal Institute (2010)
  • Guest Lecturer: PhD in Neuroscience (UAM), Master in Neuroscience (Universidad Complutense de Madrid), Research Courses and National and International Congresses.
• External Reviewer:
  • Lund University, Sweden, Research Assessment and group evaluations (2020).
  • European Science Foundation AXA Chair Assessment (2019).
  • Italian Institute of Technology, Italy, (2018).
  • Karolinska Institute, Evaluation Assessment Italian Institute of Technology, Evaluation Assessment (2017).
  • FONCyT: Scientific and Technological Research Projects, Buenos Aires, Argentina (2017).
  • Dystonia Medical Research Foundation (DMRF): Basic and Clinical Aspects of Dystonia, Chicago, IL, USA (2017).
  • European Science Foundation AXA RF Post-Doctoral Fellowship (2016).
  • FONDECyT, Chilean Education Ministry (2015).
  • CONICYT/CNPq: Evaluation of Research Networks, Brazil (2015).
  • European Science Foundation AXA RF Post- Doctoral Fellowship (2015).
  • European Science Foundation AXA RF Post-Doctoral Fellowship (2014).
  • The French National Research Agency, ANR (2012).
• Journal Reviewer:
  • PNAS, Brain, Biological Psychiatry, Molecular Psichiatry, Journal of Neuroscience, Movement Disorders, Cerebral Cortex, Experimental Neurology, Progress in Neurobiology, Mov Dis; Neurotox Research, Neuroscience, Progress in Neurobiology, Neuropsychopharmacology, Neurobiol of Dis, etc.
• Membership in Advisory Board:
  • Editorial Board,  Journal of Neurochemical Anatomy (2021-current)
  • Associate Editor, Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience (2018-current).
  • Editorial Board, Neurobiology of Disease (2015-current).
  • Editorial Board, Neurotoxicity Research (2010-current).
  • Editorial Board, Frontiers in Neuroanatomy, (2008-current).
• Symposium Organization:
• • XIII International Basal Ganglia Society Meeting, Biarritz, France. 2019, May.
  • XII International Basal Ganglia Society meeting, Symposium, Mejico, 2017
  • VII Mediterranean Neuroscience Meeting, Malta, Italy. 2017 Jun, 12-15.
  • VII International Neurotoxicity Meeting. Cuenca, Spain. 2015 Apr, 12-16.

• Director of the Centro de Investigaciones Interdisciplinares de Alcalá, (CI2A), CSIC (2021-current)
• Deputy Director of Cajal Institute, CSIC (2017-current).
• Vicedirectora of Cajal Institute, CSIC (2017-current).
• Collaborator of the evaluation team of the Research Evaluation Agency. Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities (2018-2020).
• Commission Member for Accreditation of Health Institutes of the Carlos III Health Institute (2009-2017).
• President of the Commission for the Evaluation of Networks and Cooperative Research Centers, Carlos III Health Institute, Ministry of Health and Consumption (2004-2007).