Tel. +34 913941680
Tel. +34 913941402
Faculty of Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid
Pl. de Ramón y Cajal, s/n, 28040 Madrid
One line of research in our group started with the study of brain metabolic sensors and their relationship with peptides regulating food intake, especially glucagon-related peptides (GLP-1, GLP-2). This has been continued with the study of the interrelationships between different brain metabolic sensors, such as AMPK, mTOR, PASK, and GCK. Some of the results obtained were achieved in PASK-deficient mice. In recent years, this line of research has continued to compare the mechanisms of adaptation to nutritional changes with normal and high-fat diets in these mice that are resistant to the development of obesity.
We are discerning the importance of PASK in oxidative metabolism, oxidative stress, in the ageing process, thermogenesis. The results of these studies are very attractive for improving the molecular pathophysiological understanding of various metabolic diseases and associated pathological alterations (development of hepatic steatosis, diabetic retinopathy, oxidative stress, etc.).
On the other hand, studies are being carried out on the relationship between two highly nosological diseases such as type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease, which share many common pathophysiological aspects, such as resistance to insulin action and cerebral hypometabolism of glucose, both at molecular level and using molecular imaging studies (Micro-PET). A common feature present in different neurological pathologies, especially those with a neurodegenerative component, is the presence of hypometabolism at the cerebral level. Thus, impaired brain glucose metabolism can be considered an indicator of neurodegenerative processes. Positron emission tomography (PET) with the radiotracer 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) has demonstrated its clinical ability to quantify in vivo and minimally invasively regional alterations of brain metabolism in different neurological pathologies.
In addition, we are interested in the characterisation of novel mutations associated with familial MODY2 hyperglycaemia and glucokinase activating mutations in hyperinsulinism phenotypes.
Elvira Álvarez García holds a PhD in Biology from the University of Oviedo. She develops her research and teaching activity at the Faculty of Medicine of the Complutense University of Madrid (UCM). He is currently Honorary Professor at the Complutense University of Madrid. ORCID code: 000-0002-9074-3857
PI of the U.C.M. Research Group “920808 METABOLIC SENSORS, REGULATING PETIDS, OBESITY AND TYPE 2 DIABETES” (2006-2019).
Our research group has been part of the Diabetes and Associated Metabolic Diseases Network since 2007 and subsequently of the Centre for Biomedical Research Network on Diabetes and Associated Metabolic Diseases (CIBERDEM).
PI of the CIBERDEM research group CB07/08/0010 (2017-2020).
Participation in projects: 30 research projects with both public and private grants and from regional and national foundations (Ministry of Education and Science, Ministry of Education and Culture, Ministry of Health and Consumer Affairs, Carlos III Institute (CIBER), Ministry of Science and Innovation, MIMECO (Retos-Colaboración), Community of Madrid, Mutua Madrileña Foundation).
Direction of predoctoral and postdoctoral research staff training projects: 3 Master’s theses, 4 doctoral theses and tutor of 2 postdoctoral research projects.
Scientific Publications: 58, Articles 46, Review 4 and book chapters 8; 65% in Q1; 19% in D1; h-index =22 (Google Scholar); total citations: 3239.
María del Carmen Sanz Miguel is Full Professor in the Department of Cell Biology (Faculty of Medicine, UCM).
PhD in Biology from the UAM and Extraordinary Doctorate Award, she has conducted her research at the Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas “Alberto Sols”-CSIC, Guy’s Hospital and King’s College (London), Salk Institute for Biological Studies (USA), CIBER de Diabetes y Enfermedades Metabólicas and Universidad Complutense de Madrid.
PI of the UCM research group. “920808 METABOLIC SENSORS, REGULATORY PEPTIDES, OBESITY AND TYPE 2 DIABETES” (2019-2022).
Focused on the study of the mechanisms of cell detection and response to changes in nutrient availability. Particularly on proteins that act as nutrient and energy sensors and their relationship with the development of obesity and type 2 diabetes and with ageing.
He has participated in 25 research projects (5 as PI) and has 60 scientific publications (29 in JCR), 79.3% in Q1 (17.3% of them in D1), 6 book chapters. Index H=18 and 1056 citations (Google Scholar).
He has co-directed 3 Doctoral Theses, 6 TFM, 6 TFG and numerous students on internships.
She is a member of evaluation committees for projects, awards and contracts. Reviewer and editor of international scientific journals.
ORCID Code: 000-0001-7025-6667; Research ID: L-7266-2014
