Neurobiologiadeldolor agosto23
Iván Rivera Arconada
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Graduated in Biology in 2002 at the University of Alcalá, I finished my doctoral thesis in Neurosciences at the same University in 2006, obtaining the extraordinary doctorate award. Since then I have maintained a continuous line of research focused on the study of the Neurophysiology and Pharmacology of the Nociceptive System, fundamentally focused on the study of the role played by ion channels and membrane receptors present in spinal neurons in the functioning of the spinal cord and the transmission of nociceptive information in normal conditions and in situations of chronic pain. This line of work and the electrophysiological procedures that I make have an important application for the identification of new pharmacological targets, as demonstrated by the collaborations carried out in projects with different national and international pharmaceutical companies. These collaborations have allowed us to access novel pharmacological tools, such as compounds under patent, which places us in a very good position to work on lines of interest for the industry as well as for the transfer of results to the productive sector. During these years I have implemented in the laboratory the whole cell patch-clamp recording technique for recording ionic currents in acute spinal cord preparations. Although this approach is technically complex, it allows the study of neurons and ion channels in a native state while maintaining connectivity between cells. This technique has allowed an advance in the quality of my research, with publications in high-level journals. In addition to electrophysiological techniques, I am familiar with immunohistochemical studies since I spent 3 months in Denmark to learn this technique, which was later introduced in our laboratory. My continuous research work is reflected in a regular scientific production, maintaining a very focused thematic line, with publications in journals located in the upper third of their respective categories, as well as collaborations with other groups and companies. My research work has received continuous funding over time thanks to a good number of projects in competitive public calls and research contracts in which I have participated as a collaborator, I also was principal investigator in some projects financed by the Universidad de Alcalá. |