GRIÑÁN FERRÉ, Christian

Academic training

PhD in Biomedical Biotechnology, UNIVERSITY OF BARCELONA
Master in Molecular Biotechnology, Faculty of Pharmacy, UB
Degree in Health Biology, Faculty of Biology, UB

Professional experience

After graduating as a biologist from the University of Barcelona (2011), I completed a master's degree in Molecular Biotechnology at the same institution (2011-12). This experience offered me the opportunity to carry out my doctoral thesis focused on epigenetic modifications in murine models of neurodegeneration and Alzheimer's disease (AD), under the direction of Dr. Mercè Pallàs (2012-2016). During this period I became familiar with the scientific method, with the field of pharmacology and neurosciences, and I had the opportunity to
learn and develop new animal behavior, biochemical and molecular biology techniques, from the most routine to the most innovative to study different epigenetic changes that occur during aging and EAMy doctoral thesis, entitled “
Participation of epigenetic modulation in murine models of aging and Alzheimer's disease was recognized with the Extraordinary Doctorate Award in the 2016 academic year. During this pre-doctoral period I had the opportunity to collaborate with different
relevant scientists in the field of aging and neurodegenerative diseases such as dr. Coral Santfeliu (CSIC), Dr. Perla Kaliman and dr. Ortuño-Sahagún (University of Guadalajara). During my doctoral thesis, I also carried out different collaborative studies with the company Oryzon Genomics S.A., through contracts or competitive projects (RETOS collaboration) that allowed me to learn next generation sequencing (NGS) techniques, as well as bioinformatics techniques. , and expand my knowledge of methodologies for studying behavior in mice. These projects were related to the pharmacological development of new chemical entities that targeted epigenetic enzymes; The knowledge acquired in this company-academy project has undoubtedly been the seed of the projects that I am currently developing.
After completing my PhD, I continued collaborating with Dr. Pallàs' group, participating in research projects that addressed cognitive decline related to aging and neurodegenerative diseases as a continuation of application.
of my predoctoral research. During this first postdoctoral period, my interest focused on both pharmacological and non-pharmacological strategies (diet and exercise) to improve and prevent these conditions, exploring compounds that act on new targets involved in cognitive decline. For this reason, I have developed research projects focused on new drugs, which act on new targets that allow us to face one of the challenges of current biomedicine: the prevention and treatment of cognitive impairment.
associated with age and AD. For example, I have actively participated in the preclinical development of new drugs that act on new targets, which we have validated in the laboratory, involved in neuroinflammation (soluble epoxide hydrolase inhibitors, in the transfer process), mitochondrial stress and oxidative stress. (Imidazoline I2 receptors).
Furthermore, in 2019 I stayed in the group of Dr. Casba Söti at Semmelweis University (Budapest), where I had the opportunity to work with the animal model Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans). There I investigated the epigenetic transgenerational inheritance of age-related cognitive decline and acquired the knowledge necessary to work on this nematode model and skills in techniques such as chemotaxis and drug trials using C. elegans, a useful model in early preclinical studies.
My most recent research, as a senior postdoc, after winning a reader position (2020), has been focused on pathological senescence and its relationship with epigenetics (inhibitors of epigenetic enzymes, such as G9a). In parallel, I have also worked with a new murine model of Niemann-Pick type C (NPC) to characterize the epigenetic changes that could underlie cognitive exterior and neurodegeneration in this rare disease.
One of the most significant findings of my research was the discovery of changes in the expression of G9a and its repressive mark H3K9me2 in rodent models of AD. Fascinated by these results, I decided to expand my knowledge in neuroepigenetics.
collaborating with dr. Shukkor from the Wang Lab at Georgia State University, USA. Through this collaboration, we are exploring new drugs that target key enzymes involved in chromatin remodeling and m6A RNA methylation, as well as dual approaches such as G9a/ GSK3 in pathological senescence.