Josep Dalmau

Josep Dalmau
Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Spain
Neuronal circuits, and the mechanisms of memory loss and recovery
Project leader

Our project is focused on a disease called anti-LGI1 encephalitis in which patients develop an immune response that attacks a brain protein called LGI1. This immune response is mediated by antibodies and associates with seizures and problems forming new memories. In the current project we found that residual deficits (cognitive alterations and seizures) persist for much longer than previously thought and can be detected with a set of cognitive tests and comprehensive sleep investigations. We have also modeled the memory problems in mice. The findings will change paradigms regarding the diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of the patients.

Dr. Dalmau is ICREA Research Professor; IDIBAPS-Clinic Hospital; Associate Professor Medicine of the Universitat de Barcelona; Adjunct Professor Neurology, University of Pennsylvania; and Guest Researcher, NIH, USA. He is Editor of Neurology: Neuroimmunology and Neuroinflammation, and member of many academic societies including the National Academy of Medicine, USA. He has received numerous awards, including the Jacoby Award (American Neurological Association), the Zülch Prize (Max Planck Society), and Premio Rey Jaime I (Spain). Since 2015 he is listed as a Highly Cited Researcher by Clarivate Analytics.

https://www.icrea.cat/Web/ScientificStaff/josep--dalmau-obrador-519

His research focuses on immune-mediated diseases of the nervous system. His research group carries out translational studies including the identification of novel diseases (e.g., anti-NMDAR encephalitis among others), the development of diagnostic tests and treatment strategies, as well as basic studies aimed at elucidating the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the immune-mediated brain dysfunction.

• Reduced serial dependence suggests deficits in synaptic potentiation in anti-NMDAR encephalitis and schizophrenia (nature.com)

• Interplay between persistent activity and activity-silent dynamics in the prefrontal cortex underlies serial biases in working memory - PubMed (nih.gov)

• Allosteric Modulation of NMDARs Reverses Patients' Autoantibody Effects in Mice - PubMed (nih.gov)

• High-Throughput Task to Study Memory Recall During Spatial Navigation in Rodents - PubMed (nih.gov)

IDIBAPS – CELLEX
Neuroimmunology P3A
C/ Casanova, 143
08036 Barcelona
Spain
Tel.: +34 93 227 17 38

https://www.clinicbarcelona.org/ca/idibaps