For more than two decades my research is focusing on the elucidation of the mechanisms that control energy metabolism in skeletal muscle and more recently as an integrative approach to whole-body energy metabolism. During my PhD (University of Oviedo 1999) and post-doctoral periods (Washington University School of Medicine in Saint Louis, USA 2001-2005; and Karolinska Institutet, Sweden 2005-2010) I have been trained in Nutrition, Energy Metabolism, and Integrative Physiology research areas. I have also experience participating in human studies, during my years as a PhD student (University of Oviedo and Loughborough University, UK 1997-98).

 

   Since I started my postdoctoral training most of my work has been conducted using animal models, both rats and mice. In these studies, we have used gene therapy approaches, dietary and pharmacological interventions, and exercise protocols. Biochemical, molecular biology, genetics and in vivo analysis were regularly used. At this stage I did major contributions to the field of skeletal muscle metabolism in relation to exercise or obesity-related type 2 diabetes. Our research was focused on the role of nutrients and energy-sensing in skeletal muscle glucose metabolism and mitochondrial function.

 

   In 2009 I become an Associated Professor at the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet. In 2010 I decided to continue my independent career in Barcelona, I was awarded with a Ramon y Cajal and a Miguel Servet grant, and I joined the IDIBAPS as a Ramon y Cajal fellow.

 

   Later on, in 2015 and after a positive evaluation of my Ramon y Cajal period (I3) I moved to the University of Barcelona where I got an Associate Professorship under the Serra Hunter program. My current research focused on a systemic perspective of the etiology and potential treatments of metabolic diseases (system biology approach). For this purpose, functional parameters, metabolism, genetics, epigenetics, and proteomics platforms are being used and a wide range of bioinformatics tools are implemented for the mapping, combination and integration of datasets. I am recognized as a leader in the field of mitochondrial function assessment. In 2016 I was elected as working group leader in an EU COST action under the Horizon 2020 research and innovation program (MitoEAGLE, CA15203).