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Galea, Elena
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ICREA Research Professor at UAB (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona). Life & Medical Sciences
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1985: BS Biology, Universidad Autónoma Madrid
1990: PhD Biology, Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Universidad Autónoma Madrid
1991-1994: Postdoc/Research Associate, Department of Neuroscience, Cornell University Medical College, New York.
1995-1997: Instructor, Department of Neuroscience, Cornell University Medical College, New York.
1998-2003: Assistant Professor, Department of Anesthesiology, University of Illinois, Chicago.
2004: ICREA Research Profesor, Institut of Neurosciences, Universitat Autònoma Barcelona.
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Research Interests
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I am interested in astrocytes, the "other" brain cells, and how they contribute to key brain functions such as synaptic plasticity, redox and energy homeostasis and innate immunity in health and disease, in particular Alzheimer´s disease. The overarching goal of one of my projects is to unravel the role of astrocytes in cognition. We are starting by thoroughly characterizing phenotypical changes in astrocytes in response to activation by gliotransmistters, and by examining the consequences of manipulating in astrocytes transcription factors that regulate memory and neuroprotection like CREB. Another, related project is dedicated to explore why non steroideal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen are protective in Alzheimer´s disease. Indeed, they are the only prevention treatment described for this disease. The working hypothesis is that ibuprofen reverses astrocyte dysfunction.
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KeyWords
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Neurodegeneration, neuroinflammation, noradrenergic transmission, glia, ibuprofen, cytoskeleton, Rho-GTPases, CREB, ApoE4, enery and redox homeostasis
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