SupervisoryTeam

Supervisor Photo

Ana Cristina Calvo

Supervisor Details

Email: accalvo@unizar.es

Organization Type: University

Organization Name: Universidad de Zaragoza

Short Biography: Dr. Calvo obtained her PhD in 2003 in the University of Zaragoza and is currently a Full Professor of Genetics, a member of the LAGENBIO Group (Teragen and Regeneragen) of the Health Research Institute of Aragon (IISA) and the CIBERNED and TRICALS network. She has three six-year terms recognized by the National Commission for the Evaluation of Research Activity, one of them related to the transfer of knowledge. She is a co-author of 51 articles indexed in the JCR and has participated in 29 national and international research projects or contracts, including multicenter European projects, of which 15 are closely related to ALS research, being IP in five of these.

Co-Supervisor Photo

Helene Blasco

Co-Supervisor Details

Email: helene.blasco@univ-tours.fr

Organization Type: Non-academic institution

Organization Name: Hôpital Bretonneau CHRU de Tours, France

Short Biography: Dr. Blasco is the vice-president of research and member of the management board at Tours Hospital. Her research activities focus on biochemical analyses associated with the early diagnosis of metabolic disorders (aminoacids and acylcarnitines profile, organic acid chromatography), clinical research in different diseases, including neurological disorders. At the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Tours, Dr. Blasco is teacher of biochemistry (clinical and fundamental biochemistry) and statistics at the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, and supervise PhD and post-doctoral students. In addition, Dr. Blasco evaluates risk factors (genetic and biological) of ALS, performs metabolomics and transcriptomics approaches in in vitro experiments as well as preclinical and clinical trials to find diagnosis or prognosis biomarkers. Dr. Blasco also carries out pharmacometabolomics approaches and is involved in the development on new therapeutic strategies targeting TDP-43 aggregation.

Added Value: Dr Blasco is involved in the dynamism of ALS research at the national stage and in the local research structuration. Dr. Blasco is (co)-author of 169 peer-reviewed papers in journals such as brain, JNNP, neurology, glia or neurotherapeutics and in an ongoing patent for biopharmaceuticals in ALS. Dr. Blasco is PI in six research projects of ALS, some of them in collaboration with pharmaceutical companies.

Other Co-Supervisor Photo

Philip van Damme

Other Co-Supervisor

Email: philip.vandamme@uzleuven.be

Organization Type: Non-academic institution

Organization Name: University Hospitals Leuven, Belgium

Short Biography: Dr. Van Damme is a neurologist at the University Hospital Leuven, where he is directing the Neuromuscular Reference Center and coordinating the care of ALS patients. His research activities focus on translational ALS research including basic biological studies to understand the disease pathogenesis in various model systems (performed at the Center for Brain & Disease Research, VIB, Leuven), clinical studies on the genetic causes and biomarkers of the disease, and clinical trials with novel treatments for ALS.

Added Value: Dr Van Damme is one of the leading clinician and researcher in development and monitoring of genetic studies of ALS and other neuromuscular diseases in the University Hospitals Leuven. He is a also member of the TRICALS and Mine Consortiums to find a cure for ALS. He is a coauthor of more than 300 research articles. He is a member (as senior academic staff) of the Council of the Faculty of Medicine, and as senior academic staff, member of the Council of the Department of Neurosciences in Leuven. He is currently the principal investigator of 10 projects focused on the monitoring of ALS patients and on the etiophatogenic mechanisms of this disease.

ResearchGroup

Description: The research team belongs to the group LAGENBIO (https://lagenbio.unizar.es/) that has over 40 years' experience working with molecular genetics. Within LAGENBIO, research lines TERAGEN Y REGENERAGEN form a part of the Aragon Health Research Institute, accredited by the Health Institute Carlos III (https://www.iisaragon.es/grupos-de-investigacion/neurociencia-salud-mental-y-organos-de-los-sentidos/giis052-lagenbio-teragen-y-regeneragen/). Importantly, the group also forms a part of Biomedical Research Center Network on Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED). The team has extensive experience in characterisation of animal models and studies of the aetiopathogenesis of the disease. The group is actively involved in the search for diagnostic and/or prognostic biomarkers of neurodegenerative and neuromuscular disease in both skeletal muscle and blood samples. As a close collaboration with the clinical groups is crucial for transfer of basic and preclinical research to clinical practice, the group maintains as a priority collaboration with different national and international groups.

ResearchLine

Description: The research line will be focused on identification of panels of biomarkers related to main prevalent diseases associated with aging (including mild cognitive impairment and fragility), and neurodegenerative diseases (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Alzheimer disease) in mouse models and patients. Such panels of biomarkers will provide a much-needed prognostic tools for these diseases to facilitate clinical decision making, as well as enhance our understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved. The biomarkers will be based on RNA biomarkers, target proteins and preclinical data obtained in animal models of neurodegenerative diseases as well as clinical data obtained in patients of these diseases. Main affected tissues such as spinal cord, skeletal muscle of the mouse models, and blood in the case of the clinical studies, will be investigated to identify specific panels of biomarkers for each disease.

Others

Description: The translocation of people between the collaborating institutions involved in the project shall always, when possible, use low-emission forms of transport such as trains. To avoid non-essential transfer, we shall promote teleconferencing. The ultrafreezers of the laboratory are Eco friendly models that use energy in an efficient manner. Additionally, reusable glassware shall be utilized in the laboratory always when it is possible to replace the plasticware.

CareerDevelopment

Objectives

  • Future postdoc employment at the University
  • Increased employability in the non-academic sector
  • International mobility
  • Building collaborative networks
  • Trainings to enhance career opportunities
  • Application of postdoctoral grants (MSCA, Juan de la Cierva, etc.)
  • Application for projects and funding (Horizon Europe, national plans, etc.)
  • Involvement in teaching, supervision, or mentoring

Expected Outputs

  • PhD defense
  • Application of grants (MSCA, Juan de la Cierva, etc.)
  • Publication of articles
  • Patenting
  • Attendance to international conferences

Training Skills

  • Project Management
  • Time Management
  • Grant Writing
  • Communication to the civil society and public engagement
  • Open Science
  • Gender and diversity dimension of research
  • Ethics and Research Integrity
  • Teaching
  • Supervision
  • Intellectual Property
  • Research Valorization
  • Leadership
  • Responsible use of Artificial Intelligence
  • Spanish
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