Section of news and updates about our research group and projects.
The research group at the EBPS 2025 Congress- Almería
The Bases Neurobiològiques i Neurogenètiques dels Trastorns Mentals research group actively participated in the European Behavioural Pharmacology Society (EBPS 2025) Congress, held in Almería (Spain) — the hometown of our principal investigator, Dr. Alberto Fernández-Teruel.
At this international event, several members of the group presented three posters featuring new findings on the neurobiological and epigenetic mechanisms related to mental disorders, using the Roman High- (RHA) and Low-Avoidance (RLA) rat strains as experimental models:
- Cognition and schizophrenia (Toni Cañete et al.)
Marked differences were found between the two rat strains in working memory and long-term memory tasks, revealing that prior habituation to the testing context can improve cognitive performance in RHA rats — a relevant model for understanding the cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia. - Neuronal plasticity and synaptic genes (Alberto Fernández-Teruel et al.)
This study analyzed the effects of neonatal stimulation on behavior and gene expression in the prefrontal cortex, showing that this intervention can modulate neuroplasticity and synaptic processes in an age- and strain-dependent manner, highlighting changes in genes such as Snap25, Nrg1, Homer1, and BDNF. - Social neuroplasticity and c-Fos expression (Daniel Sampedro-Viana et al.)
This work demonstrated that neonatal stimulation enhances social interaction, exploration, and activity in the prefrontal cortex and amygdala, showing increased neuronal activity and plasticity markers (BDNF, trkB, c-Fos), particularly in RHA rats.
This collective contribution reinforces the group’s role in translational research on neurodevelopment and mental health, as well as its international collaborations with teams from Denmark, Chile, and Italy.
And, of course, we also had the chance to enjoy and be amazed by the landscapes and atmosphere of Almeria.
PhD Position Open
The Bases Neurobiològiques i Neurogenètiques dels Trastorns Mentals research group is opening a new call for applications to recruit a PhD student within the research team of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) and the Institut de Neurociències (INc-UAB).
We are looking for a motivated and curious candidate with a strong interest in the neurobiology of mental disorders, epigenetic mechanisms, and animal models of psychological vulnerability.
The selected student will have the opportunity to work in a highly collaborative environment, with access to state-of-the-art research facilities and close supervision by Dr. Alberto Fernández-Teruel.
📄 You can find all the details of the call in the following document:
