PORRAS GARCIA, Bruno Oriol

Academic training

PhD in Clinical and Health Psychology, UNIVERSITY OF BARCELONA
Master's Degree in Research in Behavior and Cognition, UNIVERSITY OF BARCELONA
Psychology graduate, UNIVERSITY OF BARCELONA

Professional experience

POSTDOCTORALRESEARCHFELLOW, Consorci Sanitari Terrassa (Spain) Research group: Brain, Cognition, and Behavior Group. I am an active research member of the Brain, Cognition, and Behavior Group (C3-CST) under the guidance of Dr. Maite Garolera Freixa. My research primarily focuses on the application of novel technologies to prevent, assess, and treat mental health disorders. As part of the C3-CST research team, my work will be dedicated to understanding and enhancing cognitive function and mental health in diverse populations. I will also engage in translational research to evaluate the effectiveness of psychological preventive interventions for younger (school-aged children and adolescents) and older populations. A key aspect of my research will involve developing innovative digital solutions to improve behavior, functionality, and quality of life through gamified, Virtual Reality-based cognitive training paradigms.
POSTDOCTORALRESEARCHASSOCIATE, Department of Population Health Sciences(University of Utah)- GApp lab. 2021-2022 Research project: NIMH Early Phase Psychosocial and Confirmatory Efficacy Clinical Trials. Neuroplasticity-Based Computerized Cognitive Remediation (nCCR) for Treatment Resistant Late-Life Depression. Responsabilities: Under the supervision of Dr. Morimoto and Dr. Altizer, participate in the evaluation of usability, implementation, of digital mental health interventions, and their influence efficacy. Meet regularly and collaborate with engineering colleagues including and aid in design modifications and back-end data analysis. Develop an independent line of research with emphasis on study inception, development and support of clinical trials for digital medicine ongoing in the GApp lab, digital medicine methods development, manuscript writing and grant applications.
PHD CANDIDATE, Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology (University of Barcelona) 2017 – 2021 Research group: VR-Psy Lab. MINECO/FEDER/UE/ Project PSI2015-70389-R: Development of virtual reality-based exposure techniques for improving anorexia nervosa treatment. Responsibilities: This PhD project aims to develop a new virtual reality-based software to treat fear of gain weight in Anorexia Nervosa patients by exposing the patients to the virtual representation of their own body that increases gradually its weight during the exposure sessions. It is expected the extinction of anxious responses generated by exposure toward the virtual body, improving, consequently, the emotional, cognitive and behavioral responses of the patients toward their body image and thusfacilitating the attainment of the objectives of the clinical treatment.
MAIN RESEARCHERAND COORDINATOR, Psiconexia digital platform (under development). Area: Mental health, new technologies and research. 2019 – Act. Creating and developing a digital multi-platform application, to improve mental health assessment through new technologies. Specifically, coordinate and manage the correct achievement of all tasks aimed at achieving the goals of the digital project. For example, coordinate the design and development of the platform, hire technical personnel, obtain the funds and technological resources necessary to develop the platform and the research project.
GENERALHEALTH PSYCHOLOGIST, Psychopediatric center Guía / Medical center Teknon (Barcelona). 2016-2017 Area: Child andAdolescent Clinical Psychology. Conducting clinical interviews with patients and their relatives. Selection,application, correction and interpretation of assessment instruments and formulation of explanatory hypotheses related to each specific case. Design, planning, application and evaluation of specific treatment programs. Design of prevention programs. Drafted of psychological reports. Participation in clinical sessions and communication with other professionals involved. Attendance to courses and conferences held by the Medical Center team.
RESEARCH ASSISTANT- European Study Fem-NAT-CD- Neurobiology and Treatment of Adolescent Female Conduct Disorder: The Central Role of Emotion Processing). 2014 – 2015 Children and Youth Psychiatry Service of the Mutua of Terrassa Hospital. Area: Research in Child and Adolescent Clinical Psychology. Responsibilities: Collaborate in the clinical research in the following tasks: Entering data, review of study documents in the ISF folders and participation in the international audition conducted in the study.