The main objective of the QCEXVAL group is to determine, with high precision, chemical mechanisms derived from the interaction between visible-UV radiation and relevant molecular systems in biology, medicine, nanotechnology and the environment, thus establishing the basis for predicting innovative electronic properties and proposing new molecules for their applied use in these fields. To this end, the tools of theoretical and computational chemistry and computationally powerful computer farms are used. Furthermore, we contribute to the development of new methodologies and computational procedures to solve highly complex problems.

The HRI group focuses its research on the development of intelligent systems and algorithms for human-robot interaction in the fields of mobile, industrial and collaborative robotics.

The main objective is to learn the fundamental principles for carrying out tasks of different natures (driving vehicles, manipulating objects, surface treatment, etc.), predict human intentions in situations where there is shared control and provide personalised assistance capable of adapting to the changing conditions of the environment and of the human operator, regulating the level of autonomy of the intelligent assistance system.

It is worth highlighting the lines of research in assisted teleoperation using optical and audiovisual feedback (HAV feedback), advanced driver assistance systems (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, ADAS) in vehicles and intelligent transport systems (ITS), as well as active cooperation and shared control between a human operator and a robotic system in industrial applications.

Studies of prokaryotic diversity in aquatic environments (especially marine) and bacterial taxonomy.

• Polyphasic characterisation of bacteria and archaea, especially marine, for taxonomic purposes, formal description and conservation of new bacterial taxa and generation of databases useful for their identification.
• Phenotypic and functional characterisation: cultural, structural, physiological, biochemical and nutritional characters, determination of chemotaxonomic characters (fatty acids, polar lipids, quinones, majority proteins by MALDI-TOF, G+C).
• Comparative genomics applied to prokaryotic taxonomy: obtaining data (new sequences, extension and/or closed) of type strains and new isolates, comparative analysis and phylogenetic studies based on conserved genes (16S rRNA gene, various essential genes), phylogenomics based on complete genomes. Determination of in silico DNA-DNA hybridisation values and ANI (Average Nucleotide Identity) and AAI (Average Aminoacid Identity) indices from genomic sequences.
• Formal aspects: Nomenclature in prokaryote taxonomy. 

Taxonomic groups: preferably families, genera and species of the phyla Pseudomonadota (especially families Vibrionaceae, Halomonadaceae and Rhodobacteraceae) and Bacteroidota (order Flavobacteriales), among other taxa.

Is there a new symmetry in nature, such as supersymmetry (SUSY), that explains the stability of the electroweak scale? The origin of the electroweak scale along with a better understanding of the flavour and properties of neutrinos are among the most important questions in basic science today. 

Building on Europe's long tradition in particle physics, the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) experimental programme is designed to elucidate the origin of the electroweak scale and the properties of matter at teraelectronvolt energies. Could the LHC also help us understand neutrinos and flavour? Neutrinos are elementary constituents of nature and fundamental building blocks of the so-called Standard Model that describes matter and its interactions. The discovery of the neutrino mass has been a revolution in particle physics, providing strong evidence of new physics that implies that the Standard Model, which explains the other experimental results, needs to be revised. Of all the elementary particles, neutrinos play a special role. What is the origin of their mass, why is it so small, is the lepton number conserved, and can we understand from first principles the observed mixing pattern of neutrinos, which is so different from that of quarks?

Our research group has proposed theoretical models where the origin of the neutrino mass is intrinsically supersymmetric, relating the decay properties of the lightest supersymmetric particle to neutrino oscillation angles measured in underground experiments and confirmed by detecting neutrinos from accelerators and nuclear reactors. This line opens up the tantalising possibility that the LHC programme could help us shed light on the flavour problem and requires dedicated scrutiny, both theoretically and at the level of numerical simulations, which will be one of the priorities of our group in the coming years. In the last two decades it has become clear that particle and astroparticle physics offer complementary ways of understanding the Universe and provide answers to the big questions of basic science. Europe is strongly involved in this issue, recognised by the Aspera roadmap to which Spain contributes decisively. We will also investigate how LHC data can help solve astrophysical mysteries such as the nature of dark matter and its properties. The synergies between high-energy physics and astrophysics or cosmology lie at the heart of a new discipline forged in recent decades and now known as astroparticle physics.

Our lines of research for the period 2014-2017 are structured as follows: 

1. Neutrino properties: in the laboratory, astrophysics and cosmology.
2. Origin of the neutrino mass and the flavour problem.
3. New physics in the LHC era.
4. Dark matter in astrophysics, particle physics and cosmology. 

The proposed research is therefore interdisciplinary, covering all aspects of the search for new physics, from theory to experiments, on all sides. More theoretical ideas on unification, extra dimensions, inflationary cosmology and dark energy are also included.

Firstly, the group's priority line of research is taxonomic, systematic and biogeographical studies on bryophytes, with special attention to the family Orthotrichaceae. The geographical scope of the studies is obviously worldwide. The second area is the conservation of bryophytes, particularly European, Mediterranean and, especially, Spanish bryophytes.

The Cell Cycle Regulation in Eukaryotes group is a basic research group that has been working for years in one of the most interesting areas of Molecular and Cellular Biology: cell cycle control and in particular, the mechanisms of DNA integrity checkpoint, a process directly related to the development of cancer. As a result of this work, the control of the genomic integrity checkpoint by protein kinase C (PKC) has been characterised in recent years. In addition, the group is studying the characterisation of new mechanisms to control the function of cell cycle regulators such as cyclins or transcriptional factors. Our group has recently characterised an important new regulator in the Start transition: Whi7. Whi7 acts as a transcriptional repressor of the Start programme, collaborating with Whi5 in this function, so that, as in mammals with the Rb family, the control of cell cycle initiation depends on the interplay between different repressors. The fact that a member of the Rb family is mutated in almost all tumours further reinforces the importance of studying the role of these G1 repressors. In addition, the relationship between Whi7 and the protein kinase C pathway is being investigated.

The Analysis Group on Climate Change, Meteorological Hazards and Inputs to the Mediterranean Hydrological System (CLIMAMET) carries out two types of activities: research and scientific-technical assistance to the public administration. 

Within the research activity, CLIMAMET works on three scientific lines: 

• Climate change analysis.
• The study of meteorological hazards.
• The examination of new inputs to the hydrological system.

The first of these focuses on the analysis of the spatio-temporal variability of air temperature and precipitation, as well as other climatic elements, with emphasis on the Valencian territory and the Mediterranean area. The research carried out by members of the group on the changes observed in air temperature in the Valencian Community by means of statistical downscaling techniques, or the climatic trends in precipitation according to its typology, stand out for their pioneering nature.

 The group has extensive experience in the monitoring of temperature and precipitation variables, using surface and satellite data, and their short- and medium-term forecasting, as well as the analysis and forecasting of extreme events, with cross-comparisons between statistical and mesoscale models, and observed and satellite data of great importance in meteorological hazard studies. This is done using advanced techniques in reconstruction-homogenisation of observed data, remote sensing, modelling and prediction.

The second line of research focuses on the analysis of the causes and dynamic processes that control meteorological hazard situations in the western Mediterranean basin, with the aim of helping to improve the prediction of three of them: torrential rainfall, extreme temperatures and forest fires. The group counts on tools (change mapping, impact indices and forecasts) to improve the management of the effects of climate change in the IMB and of extreme event warning systems, for the activation of social and environmental intervention protocols.

And the third scientific line is about analysing new inputs to the hydrological system, specifically the contribution of fog water and potential environmental uses. 

These lines of research find support in the scientific infrastructure available to CLIMAMET, specifically in the presence of a series of meteorological sensors supported, in part, by the Network of meteorological towers of the Centre for Environmental Studies of the Mediterranean Foundation (CEAM), and in the spatial data management tools available in the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Laboratory of the Department of Geography. The generation of meteorological databases is essential for climate studies, as well as for feeding the RAMS (Regional Atmospheric Modelling System) meteorological model, adapted to Mediterranean conditions by the group's researchers and used to support weather hazard forecasting. 

CLIMAMET has extensive experience in providing scientific and technical assistance to the public administration. In fact, before the creation of the CLIMAMET group, its members, led by María José Estrela (Director of this group), made up the research team of the Joint Unit Climatology Laboratory CEAM_UV, which actively participated in assisting the public administration. Of particular note is the design and management since 2006 of the "Operational prediction of hazard levels due to heat waves in the Valencian Community" programme for the Regional Ministry of Health, as well as, since 2007, the "Data validation service of the ultraviolet B radiation measurement network and optimisation of UVI level prediction processes in the Valencian Community" for the Conselleria de Territori y Habitatge of the Valencian Government. Subsequently, as the CLIMAMET Research Group (GIUV2014-209), it has continued to provide assistance to the administration, specifically to the Conselleria de Medi Ambient, agua, Urbanisme i Habitatge with a "Study to obtain fog water for the provision of watering places for native fauna in the Muela de Cortes hunting reserve". In turn, the Group's director Dr. Estrela is a member of the Committee of Experts on Climate Change of the Valencian Government.

CLIMAMET is a multidisciplinary Research Group with the participation of researchers from different fields such as Physical Geography, Climatology, Atmospheric Physics, and Hydrology, with objectives around common lines of research. Participating as members of CLIMAMET are Dr. María José Estrela (Director), Dr. Javier Miró, Dr. Alejandro Pérez Cueva and Dr. Ana Camarasa, all of them from the Department of Geography of the UV; Dr. Vicente Caselles and Dr. Raquel Niclós from the Department of Earth Physics and Thermodynamics of the UV. The collaborating researchers are Dr. Igor Gómez Assistant Professor at the University of Alicante, Dr. José Antonio Valiente and Dr. Francisco Pastor Senior Researchers at the CEAM Foundation.

Our group is focused on morphological and dynamic studies of the organisation of adult neurogenic zones of the central nervous system, and their comparison from fish to mammals (including the human species). We have pioneered the identification of areas of adult neurogenesis, as has been the case in reptiles and other vertebrates, and the identification of the stem cells responsible for such neurogenesis, as has been the case in fish, birds and mammals. These comparative studies have been very useful, allowing us to discover the existence of a cilium that acts as an antenna and is essential for activating neurogenesis. This discovery has helped cancer research groups to use it as a therapeutic target.

One of our main lines of research is based on the study of the activation or modulation of these areas in neurodegenerative diseases, as well as the potential effect on the activation of neural stem cells (NSCs), neurogenesis and oligodendrogenesis for myelination. On the other hand, we are not only dealing with problems with endogenous cells, but we have also tried to use exogenous stem cells, from bone marrow and fat. To this end, we have developed a number of techniques, notably the refinement of immunolabelling for electron microscopy in order to be able to monitor transplanted cells.

Among the models with potential clinical use, we have chosen cerebral stroke and multiple sclerosis (MS). In the case of stroke, we have transplanted human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) and multipotent adult progenitors (hMAPCs), observing that cell transplantation provides neuroprotection and prevents secondary brain damage. This neuroprotective function is mediated through different therapeutic effects such as induction of angiogenesis, decreased inflammation and scarring, and increased proliferation of NSCs. In the case of the MS, we used classical MOG peptide lesion models and injected factors for oligodendrocyte activation, invading adjacent areas. Within the transplantation line, and in collaboration with the University of San Francisco, we have performed transplants of the medial ganglionic eminence from mouse embryos into early postnatal mice. Because the transplanted cells were fluorescent (GFP) we were able to analyse their distribution in the cerebral cortex and surprisingly and contrary to what is accepted, at least for the central nervous system, neuronal populations determine their number intrinsically, rather than due to external factors.

Other ongoing research is the discovery of the existence of neuronal migrations that take place in the human brain from the ventricles to the prefrontal cortex. These migrations are rarely observed in a very short window of life, ranging from embryonic stages to 6 months of life. We interpret this as our brain's ability to rapidly increase the cell population of the prefrontal cortex, which is well known for its importance in memory and learning.

Finally, we have observed that some of these chains appear to be directed to other regions as well, which would add valuable novel information unique to mammals. This series of findings are part of a macro-project, which aims to learn more about the fine and functional organisation of the human brain, and which is framed by other discoveries of ours such as the existence of stem cells in our brain, which helped to change the idea that there are no new neurons formed after birth.

Last but not least, we are a national and international reference in electron microscopy techniques for morphological diagnosis and not only for nerve cells, but also for stem cells, as confirmed by our numerous collaborations.

In a broad sense, this group will be aimed at obtaining a deeper insight into the physical processes taking place in astrophysical magnetized plasmas, which involve a broad range of length and time scales.

To study these scenarios we will employ different numerical codes as virtual tools that enable me to experiment on virtual laboratories (computers) with distinct initial and boundary conditions, in a fully analogous way to the experiments that can be done in an actual laboratory.

Among the kind of sources I am interested to consider, I outline the following: Gamma-Ray Bursts (GRBs), extragalactic jets from Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN), magnetars and collapsing stellar cores.

A number of important questions are still open regarding the fundamental properties of these astrophysical sources. The complete description of the collimation and acceleration of astrophysical jets is still being elucidated. The composition, high-energy emission, and the mechanisms by which jets propagate from their formation sites to the locations where they are observed is a subject of active scientific debate. Predicting source dynamics and gravitational waveforms is important to understand hoped-for observations in the current generation of ground-based, gravitational-wave detectors, and essential to achieve design sensitivity in future space-based detectors. Additionally, there are analytical issues on the formalism in relativistic dynamics that are not completely resolved, particularly in the covariant extension of resistive magnetohydrodynamics.

All these problems are so complex that only a computational approach is feasible. I plan to study them by means of (Magneto-)Hydrodynamics (MHD) numerical simulations with a suitable coupling with the dynamics of populations of non-thermal emitting particles. Most of these astrophysical plasmas are relativistic (e.g., GRBs, AGN jets). Thus, they must be treated with a suitable Special or General Relativity approach. The virtual laboratory I plan to develop will therefore be fully equipped with the most modern algorithms to cope with Special Relativistic MHD (SRMHD) or General Relativistic MHD (GRMHD) fluids. Other scenarios can be appropriately described by a classical or Newtonian MHD approach; hence the virtual lab will also be prepared for that.

A principal focus of the project will be to assess the relevance of magnetic fields in the generation, collimation and ulterior propagation of relativistic jets from the GRB progenitors and from AGNs.

Research lines:

1. Magnetic field amplification in proto-neutron stars (PNS). Inferring the mechanism by which the magnetic field is amplified from seed values in extraordinarily dense plasma to dynamically relevant figures, and predicting which are the preferred field topologies as well as the possible effects of the field onto the dynamics of GRBs (e.g., the formation of jets) is a long standing issue, whose solution can be figured out by means of a combination of local and global (GR)MHD simulations. Since most supernova progenitors are expected to be slow rotators (Heger et al 2000) convection and dynamo effects in the PNS are, most probably, the main magnetic field amplification mechanism in these objects. However a subclass of rapidly rotating progenitors is expected to exist (Woosley & Heger 2006; Yoon et al. 2008) which would explain the observed correlation of some type Ic supernovae (SNe) and long GRBs. The most promising mechanism to account for the rapid growth of magnetic field in the collapse of a rapidly rotating stellar core, conducive to a PNS, is the Magneto-Rotational-Instability (MRI). The extremely small scales at which the fastest growing field modes develop, challenge any numerical approach, even direct (local) numerical simulations of small representative boxes of a PNSs. The disparity of time and length scales over which the field amplification takes place makes it necessary to perform also a global numerical modeling of the system, which includes the whole PNSs and its environment. I plan to develop new computational strategies to feedback the results of local numerical simulations on global ones. One of the ground-braking outcomes of this work shall be sub-grid models for global numerical simulations, which will be able to account properly for the growth of the magnetic field (because of MRI) from unresolved grid scales. Such models will allow us to bridge the existing gap between microscopic and macroscopic scales in this field. Furthermore, in this context we will pay special attention to non-ideal MHD effects, which can be decisive to set the levels at which the growth of the magnetic field saturates (Simon & Hawley 2009). Additional field amplification can be mediated by instabilities crucial for core-collapse SNe, viz. convection and the stationary accretion shock instability (SASI). While their appeal for standard core-collapse SNe lies in the fact that these instabilities do not rely on rapid rotation, they may also be important in intermediate steps of GRBs, e.g., between the formation of a hypermassive proto-neutron star (convection) and its subsequent collapse to a black hole, or in the accretion flow onto the black hole (SASI). I plan to study the corresponding growth of magnetic fields and of the dynamic backreaction onto the flow using models employing simplified microphysics (e.g., replacing detailed neutrino transport by cooling functions) as well as detailed radiation-MHD simulations.
2. GRMHD jet generation. We will try to understand the relevance of the magnetic field in the generation, collimation and ulterior propagation of a relativistic jet from the progenitor of a GRB and from AGNs. We will work under the assumption that the mechanisms of formation and collimation are similar in both astrophysical scenarios and, indeed, we will pursue the objective of finding similarities and universalities in relativistic flows. There is an obvious connection between this goal and objective 1, since progenitors of long GRBs are, most probably, collapsars (see, Woosley 1993; MacFadyen & Woosley 1999), whose central engine -a solar-mass BH girded by a geometrically thick accretion disk- is likely threaded by huge magnetic fields, which originate via MRI from the collapse of the core of the progenitor star. One of the deficiencies of the current numerical approaches is the artificial set up of the central engine and of the magnetic field strength and topology. Typically, a quasi-equilibrium torus pierced by poloidal field lines is placed orbiting around a rotating BH. Perturbations of the initial torus matter trigger the accretion that fuels bipolar outflows. Both the initial accretion-torus configuration and the field topology are set up ad-hoc. I plan to use the outcomes of the global simulations to be performed in point 1 as initial models for GRMHD simulations that, consistently, account for the collapse of the PNS to a BH and the generation of jets in collapsars.
3. Radiative transport and microphysics. Close to the central engine, the accretion disk and jet radiative physics are keys to understand the evolution of the jet and why different systems have different terminal velocity. Through annihilation of photons in AGNs, the radiative physics may illuminate the origin of jet composition by determining the electron-positron mass-loading of the jet, and so its Lorentz factor. For GRBs, the radiative annihilation of neutrinos and the effect of Fick diffusion (Levinson & Eichler 2003) may give an understanding of the Lorentz factor of the jet and the origin of baryon contamination. Furthermore, neutrino-driven winds may originate from the accretion disk. They may change the collimation, stability and baryon pollution of the ultrarelativistic GRB-jet, as well as being of extraordinary relevance to the synthesis of r-process nuclei, which may explain the observed abundances of such elements and yield a radioactivity signal accompanying short GRBs. Therefore, as applied to the field of progenitors of GRBs, a realistic equation of state, photodisintegration of nuclei, general relativistic neutrino transport (ray-tracing similar to Birkl et al. 2006 or two-moment transport as in Obergaulinger 2008), and neutrino cooling (similar to, e.g. Kohri et al. 2005) are missing in the state-of-the-art work in this field and will be implemented in the numerical experiments I am planning for this proposal. In case of AGN jets, simplified photon transport, and photon Comptonization may be included as new elements in our numerical models in order to obtain a more consistent picture. Finally, I plan to estimate the gravitational wave emission associated to the birth of relativistic jets using the tools developed by both my former group at MPA (Obergaulinger et al. 2006) and my current host (Cordero, et al., in preparation). The close relation of non-GRB SNe with collapsars will allow me to apply the methods outlined above also to these systems to study, e.g., the interplay of hydromagnetic instabilities and neutrino transport. Inclusion of many of the former elements is an interdisciplinary task that may involve the common work with computer scientists in order to design numerically efficient algorithms.
4. Radiative processes. The observed differences in the radiative properties of jets in AGNs and GRBs suggest that the environment likely plays a significant role in the emission at large distances from the central engine. Both blazars and GRBs exhibit non-thermal emission. But, emission of long duration GRBs becomes harder with increasing luminosity, while in blazars the opposite happens (Ghirlanda et al. 2004, 2005). Also, GRBs emit most of the energy in ?-rays and less than 10% to the lower frequency afterglow (Piran 2005), while blazars release only 10% in ?-rays, the rest being produced in the radio lobe (Ghisellini & Celotti 2002). On the other hand, a worthy byproduct of the comparison of synthetic spectra and light curves with actual observations can be the determination of the amount of thermal matter present in extragalactic jets. This fact constitutes a proxy to determine their composition (in particular of blazar jets). The radiative physics of jets in AGNs and GRBs at large distances from the source will be subject of a specific work following the approach developed in Mimica, Aloy & Müller (2007) and Mimica et al (2009).
5. Improving previous work. I plan to improve my previous results in two ways: (i) by increasing the number of dimensions in which the models are computed and (ii) by including dynamically important magnetic fields. In case of progenitors of GRBs, 2D axisymmetric models have already been computed. Future simulations will be three-dimensional in order to assess the stability of the generated outflows as well as to account for the proper mass entrainment in the jet. Furthermore, the addition of magnetic fields in either 2D or 3D will extend the range of applicability of the results of Aloy, Janka & Müller (2005) and Mizuno & Aloy (2009). Extending my previous work in the field of internal shocks in relativistic jets from one to two spatial dimensions is needed to account for the lateral expansion of the outflows. This is a key question, e.g., in the transition regime between the prompt GRB emission and the early afterglow. It is also important to have a reliable estimate of the efficiency of the model of internal shocks in converting kinetic into radiated energy. On the other hand, I plan to compute the evolution of ultra-relativistic, magnetized outflows in the GRB context, starting from the end of the acceleration phase, through the internal shocks phase (prompt emission) all the way to the end of the afterglow phase. If successful, even one-dimensional simulations would provide the first consistent prediction for the dependence of GRB dynamics, and both prompt and afterglow emission, on the magnetization of the flow, equation of state and, possibly, presence of non-ideal effects (magnetic dissipation). The relativistic Rayleigh-Taylor instability of a decelerating shell (Levinson 200), and its implications for GRBs will be addressed by means of multidimensional R(M)HD simulations. Together with Dr. Cerdá-Durán, I plan to extend the recent results of Cerdá-Duran et al. (2009) on quasi- periodic oscillations in the tail of giant flares of SGRs. The precise mechanism by which the oscillation spectrum of the magnetar interior modulates the emission in the magnetosphere will be studied by adding realistic magnetosphere models to the present simulations. The emission properties of the flares, including spectra and X-ray maps, can be computed using similar techniques as in points 3 and 4.
6. Beyond ideal MHD. Although an ideal RMHD modeling of the sites where relativistic jets are produced has already proven to be very fruitful, non-ideal effects (particularly, viscosity and resistivity) are important (1) when the flow develops current sheets; (2) where pair creation contributes a non-negligible amount of rest-mass, internal energy, or momentum density; and (3) if the rest-mass flux due to ambipolar and Fick diffusion is not negligible. I plan to develop new algorithms to account for most of these effects. I will address my first efforts to develop a resistive RMHD code following the lines shown by Komissarov (2007). Scattered in the previous objectives, I have sketched a number of astrophysical scenarios where non-ideal effects might be potentially important. To these sources, one may also add solar flares, where non-ideal MHD, even beyond Ohmic resistivity, could be extremely exciting. Let me stress that, even at the theoretical level, the development of a fully covariant theory for the reconnection of magnetic field is, in its own right, a ground-breaking challenge. Finally, I point out that non-ideal effects are also potentially important in some of the MHD applications we are planning (see point 1). Capabities of the group: Our group develops a basic, non-oriented research in the field of Relativistic Plasma Astrophysics. Most of our activities are relatied with the numerical modeling of (magnetized) fluids. Thus, beyond our obvious Astrophysical capabilities, we have exepertise in High-Performance Computing.

The crystal growth group of the Universitat de València focuses its activity on the growth and structural and morphological characterisation of semiconductors, both in volume and in the form of layers and nanostructures. This activity has been carried out mainly within the framework of different research projects in the area of materials for optoelectronics and spintronics. The results obtained have been reflected in a significant academic contribution both in articles in journals of wide scientific dissemination and in congresses and workshops.

The approach to the technological sector has been carried out in two areas: solar energy and humidity and infrared sensors. For the development of this research activity, a laboratory has been set up in which different crystalline growth techniques have been installed: Bridgman, Physical Vapour Transport, Travelling Heater Method, MOCVD, Spray Pyrolysis, Hydrothermal; as well as different preparation techniques and post-growth treatments, which provides a wide range of infrastructures and development possibilities.

In relation to structural and morphological characterisation, the members of the group have proven expertise in high-resolution X-ray diffraction (HRXRD) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). The correlation of material properties with growth conditions has allowed a better understanding of growth processes and structural defects and is the focus of the main part of the group's work. At present, a large part of the activity is focused on the oxides of group II materials (ZnO, CdO and MgO) and their alloys.

Within this framework was the leadership of the European SOXESS project as well as the organisation of Symposium IX at the E-MRS on this topic. The group collaborates on a regular basis with national groups (Uno.Valladolid, Uno. País Vasco, Instituto Jaume Almera, (ISOM) UPM, as well as with foreign groups (CNRS-Bellevue, France; University of Warwick, UK; National Renewable Energy Lab. in Golden, Colorado, USA).

At the beginning, our group was dedicated to the study and characterisation of gastrointestinal disorders related to acid production and motility, becoming an international reference group in this field due to the large number of high-level publications in the area of basic or experimental pharmacology.

New applications for the study of drug effects, such as genetics or molecular biology, have led to a broadening of the topics to be studied.

The most important characteristic of our group from a research point of view is the desire for our different lines of research to be focused on the study of physiological and pathological processes with a broad clinical impact. That is why our lines of research address diseases of particular relevance in today's society: Crohn's disease, NSAID gastroenteropathy, AIDS, diabetes and obesity. Since its foundation in 2007, our group has been part of the Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red: Liver and Digestive Diseases (CIBERehd), whose function is to promote research of excellence at both clinical and basic levels. In addition, we have been recognised by the Valencian Government as a group of excellence within the PROMETEO 2010 call.

Our group has published more than 200 articles and reviews in international journals including, among others, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, PNAS, Circulation, Immunity, Circulation Research, British Journal of Pharmacology and Trends in Pharmacological Sciences.

Ecotoxicology/ecophysiology studies of pollutants (emerging, priority) such as pesticides in aquatic fauna. Acute, chronic and sublethal studies on the standardised invertebrate Daphnia magna and other aquatic invertebrate and fish species. Use of biomarkers to determine endocrine (reproductive, metabolic), physiological (induction of the correct stress response), and enzymatic disruption. Induction of oxidative stress and phase I, II and III detoxification processes) as well as the recovery of individuals after a polluting event. Ecophysiological characterisation of invasive species (Dreissena polymorpha) and fish species standardised as threatened (Danio rerio, Anguilla anguilla) by natural and anthropogenic factors. Monitoring of the state of health and pathologies in wild eel populations, in relation to physico-chemical parameters of the environment and levels of toxins (heavy metals and PCBs) and study of the pathogenic bacteria involved. Monitoring the effects of pollutants (emerging and priority pollutants) and global warming on commercial species through field and laboratory studies. Ecotoxicological implications of chemotherapeutic products used in aquaculture. Biological quality of epicontinental waters. Biomonitoring. Bioremediation.

Our research group is dedicated to a multi-scale study of evolutionary processes and the application of acquired knowledge to improve the health status of human collectives. This description is necessarily generic and ambiguous, and it focuses on a series of research activities that are detailed below:

• Epidemiology and evolution of pathogenic microorganisms. We take advantage of the research capability granting us access to genetic information (gene sequences and genomes) on recent history and evolutionary processes that act and have acted on microorganisms, normally bacteria and viruses, and enable follow-up and monitoring as a way to track the origin of transmission paths, the introduction and expansion of genes and drug-resistant variants, etc.
• Evolutionary systems biology. The recent developments in massive sequencing techniques and bioinformatics allow a rebuild of the evolutionary history of organisms, their genes and genomes, as well as that of components formed by all the various systems. The implementation of these methodologies in pathogenic organisms and their hosts makes us reach a better understanding on pathogenesis as well as alternatives and possibilities to act against them.
• Mutation and viral evolution (VIRMUT). A mutation represents the ultimate source for genetic variation and, as such, a key factor that clarifies the great variability and rapid evolution of ARN viruses. In this field, we estimated the virus mutation rate in animals, plants and bacteriophages (RNA as well as DNA ones). As of today, we are working on an in vitro and in vivo mutation rates estimate of different, biomedically relevant human viruses, such as HIV-1 or hepatitis C. With the use of different experimental approximations, we count on being able to detect mechanisms yet unknown in the creation of RNA diversity.
• Biologic complexity and robustness. The organisms’ capacity to withstand mutations (genetic or mutational robustness) determines the strength of natural selection and plays an important role in evolution. With the directed mutagenesis technique, we characterised the distribution of mutational effects based on the biological efficacy of various RNA viruses. This allowed us to observe notoriously low robustness levels. Moreover, our group pointed out the existence of a correlation between epistasis (interaction between genes or loci) and genomic complexity. The Systems Biology currently offers tools that allow to test these predictions.
• Experimental evolution of oncolytic viruses. Different RNA viruses show a certain degree of spontaneous selectiveness towards cancer cells, which is convenient in potential candidates for the development of therapeutic applications. The vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) is a RNA virus with natural oncolytic activity and it’s usually used in our laboratory for studies on experimental evolution. The VSV adaptation to different cancer cell lines by experimental evolution will enable the obtainment of potential oncolytics, provided it results in a relevant decrease of its efficacy in primary cells. The virus candidates will be tested in vivo through infections in mice.

This line of research studies the intrinsic properties of neutrinos. It investigates the phenomenon of oscillations between neutrino families by measuring the parameters that define these oscillations and tries to elucidate the nature of the neutrino, i.e. whether it is a Dirac fermion or a Majorana fermion. IFIC is leading the NEXT experiment to search for double beta decays without neutrino production, the detection of which would imply that the neutrino is a Majorana particle. It is also involved in several neutrino oscillation experiments with accelerators: the T2K experiment, which is being carried out in Japan, and the next-generation DUNE experiment in the United States. In addition, the IFIC neutrino group develops advanced nuclear instrumentation, which could have important industrial applications, in particular in medical physics and nuclear proliferation control.

The standard cosmological model needs to be tested against cosmological observations to check its validity and to determine the values of its parameters. This project makes use of different cosmological observations in which the members of the research team are involved for this purpose. 

On the one hand, we are working on large mappings of galaxies and quasars that provide precise measurements of the redshift in large volumes of the Universe. These catalogues are both photometric (J-PAS) and spectroscopic (DESI). These are major international projects, which will measure very precisely the characteristics of baryonic acoustic oscillations, a fundamental tool for understanding the nature of dark energy, a basic component of the standard cosmological model. 

On the other hand, we use the phenomenon of gravitational lensing, through observations from different telescopes (GTC, LBT), to study also the properties of dark energy through time delays of multiple images of gravitationally lensed quasars. 

In addition, and in a more local setting, our team will continue to work on the study and characterisation of the populations of massive stars in the Galaxy. This will continue with the exploitation of scientific data from the IPHAS photometric mapping, and with the development and exploitation of the VPHAS+ southern hemisphere analogue mapping. 

Finally, we will carry out microlensing studies on nearby stars, with the aim of detecting Earth-type exoplanets, determining their abundance and characterising the percentage of those located in the region known as the habitability zone.

The research activity will focus on the following lines of research:

1. Development and implementation of Food Quality and Safety.
2. Elucidation, research and study of extracts and/or bioactive compounds of food origin.
3. Development of new food products.
4. Basic and applied research through the development and study of clinical trials in the field of pathologies associated with nutrition.
5. Development of new tools based on information and communication technologies (ICT) for use in food education at teaching and care level.
6. Anthropometric and nutritional assessment and ergogenic aids in sport.

Our fundamental interest is to understand how cells respond to the signals they receive by modifying their gene expression. Our aim is to address changes in gene expression by studying its different stages, from the transcriptional activation of genes to the formation of messenger RNA molecules and their translation, paying attention not only to the factors involved and the mechanisms, but also to the connection or crosstalk that is established between them and makes gene expression not a linear process but one that is interconnected forwards and backwards, in time and space.

In addition, we pay special attention to some factors that appear to be key in the control of gene expression and that often act in a multidisciplinary way in several biological processes and different cellular compartments. One such factor is the eIF5A protein, highly conserved from yeast to humans and essential in eukaryotic cells. eIF5A is a translation elongation factor required in the synthesis of proteins containing amino acid motifs with consecutive proline or combinations of proline, glycine and charged amino acids.

Our interest is to understand the mechanism of translation regulation by eIF5A, determining which are the proteins whose synthesis requires this factor and how, directly or through its targets, eIF5A acts in pathological processes such as fibrosis, cancer or during ageing. In our group, we mainly use the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a model organism, since it is the best known eukaryote and a model for understanding evolutionarily conserved molecular processes at the cellular level. Furthermore, we have found that the conclusions of our research can be generalised to mammalian cells using mouse or human cell cultures. 

Based on the prior research experience of María Celia García Álvarez-Coque, the activity of the FUSCHROM group began under her lead in 1992, in the Micellar liquid chromatography field, applied to drug analysis in biological fluids and to the improvement of the characteristics of chromatographic peaks in basic compounds. As a result of these researches, the group specialised in fundamental studies and chemometric developments, aimed at extracting the potential information contained in chromatographic signals and improving separations, extending its application field to other chromatographic modes. In particular, new optimisation strategies, peak models, purity tests, deconvolution methods and quantitative structure-retention relationships have been developed. In addition, numerous analytical methods for the analysis of pharmaceutical, clinical and food samples have been published. The group is currently involved in the use of secondary equilibria in liquid chromatography, development of clean analytical methods, rapid chromatography, chromatographic column characterisation, column coupling and two-dimensional separations.

The members of the group have jointly published more than 400 scientific articles, approximately half of them in journals belonging to the first quartile of the ISI Web of Knowledge, with more than 110 articles in Journal of Chromatography A. In addition, they have published 40 review articles, 25 book chapters, and three books (Micellar liquid chromatography, Chemometrics and Ionic Liquids in Analytical Chemistry: New Insights and Recent Developments, published by Marcel Dekker, Síntesis and Elsevier, respectively). The group director is part of the editorial board of the Journal of Chromatography A, Analytica Chimica Acta and Separation and Purification Reviews.

For its researches, the group has received continuous funding from several Ministries for more than 30 years. Under the direction of group members, 30 students from different countries have received their PhDs. Of these students, 8 have been awarded doctoral prizes, 3 have received Marie Curie grants from the European Community, 3 have been awarded Ramón y Cajal contracts, and 12 have been professors at various universities.

It is noteworthy the collaborations with Alain Berthod (Université de Lyon, France), Desiré Massart (Vrije Universeit Brussel, Belgium), Michael Abraham (University College London, UK), Daniel Armstrong (University of Texas, Arlington, USA), Peter Schoenmakers (van't Hoff Institute of Molecular Sciences, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands), Elisabeth Bosch and Martí Rosés (University of Barcelona), and Benjamín Monrabal and Alberto Ortín (manufacturing company of scientific instrumentation for polyolefin characterisation, Polymer Char, Valencia).

The study area of the Global Change Unit is related to the changes that our planet has experienced, which are analysed with the support of remote sensing satellites and the digital processing of the images provided by them. The aim of the research group is to develop operational algorithms in order to estimate different parameters such as land and sea surface temperature, land surface emissivity, albedo, thermal inertia, evapotranspiration, net radiation, total atmospheric water-vapour content, etc. The spatio-temporal dynamics of land cover from satellites is also studied. All of this is done based on the data provided by satellite-based sensors located on satellites platforms (AVHRR, TM, AATSR, MODIS, SEVIRI, METOP, ASTER, etc.) and airbone sensors (DAIS, AHS, etc.). In addition, the UCG also organises and carries out frequent field campaigns to determine some of these parameters using radiometers, thermal cameras, etc. 

The UCG has, among other scientific instrumentation, satellite image reception antennas corresponding to the MSG (Meteosat Second Generation) and NOAA satellites, as well as a reception station for obtaining images from the TERRA and AQUA satellites (www.uv.es/iplsat/). The UCG is a reference group that allows to apply the developed algorithms to the images received in real time; to maintain an archive of satellite data that can be available to any public body interested in monitoring natural disasters, desertification, forest fires, etc.; and to participate in projects for the development of future space missions for earth observation, both nationally and internationally.

The UCG also has extensive experience with active participation in different research projects, leading two European projects:

• WATERMED "WATer use Efficiency in natural vegetation and agricultural areas by remalnom sensing in the MEDiterranean basin”, in which 5 groups from Spain, Denmark, France, Egypt and Morocco have participated. 
• EAGLE "Exploitation of Angular effects in Land surfacE observations from satellites”, in which groups from Spain, the Netherlands and France have participated.

And participating in numerous European projects: WATCH "Water and Global Change" of the 6th framework programme and CEOP-AEGIS "Coordinated Asia-European long-term Observing system of Qinghai - Tibet Plateau hydro-meteorological processes and the Asian-monsoon systEm with Ground satellite Image data and numerical Simulations" of the 7th programme. In addition, we have participated and/or led other projects financed by the European Space Agency (CEFLES2, AGRISAR, SEN2FLEX, SPARC, SIFLEX y DAISEX), the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science and the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation (AECI).

It is also worth mentioning the numerous collaborations of the UCG with research staff from national and international research centres, particularly with the International Institute for Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC) of the Netherlands, NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), the Alterra Research Institute at Wageningen University and Research Center in the Netherlands, the University of Washington (USA), the National Aerospace Laboratory (NLR) of the Netherlands, the Institut National de Recherche Agronomique of Avignon and Bordeaux (France), the Groupe de Recherche en Télédetection Radiométrique at the Louis Pasteur University of Strasbourg (France), the Laboratory of Sustainable Agriculture of the CSIC in Córdoba, the Department of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resources at the University of Chile, the University of Marrakech (Morocco).

The study of the properties of hadrons based on their structure described by quarks, antiquarks and gluons and their strong, electromagnetic and weak interactions. The theory describing the structure of hadrons is Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD), a theory whose exact solution has not yet been possible since its formulation in 1973. 

There are currently two main lines of research in the study of the structure of hadrons, on the one hand effective models or theories that incorporate mechanisms that describe approximately the properties and symmetries of QCD. Another line of action is the numerical solution of the theory by means of complex computer calculations called QCD on the lattice, since the spacetime is discretised on a lattice, and an attempt is made to find a solution of the theory on this lattice. 

Our work follows the first line, i.e. the modelling of QCD. Within this scheme of studying hadrons and their properties, several regimes are investigated:

• Short distances: by studying deeply inelastic processes. In recent years this study has focused on the description of generalised pattern functions (GPD) and transverse momentum distributions (TMD). These quantities, which allow access to the structure of the proton and pions, are being measured experimentally and lead to observables whose theoretical analysis helps us to understand the non-perturbative properties of QCD. 
• Intermediate distances: the primary interest here is in understanding the hadronic spectrum. The number of hadrons, as can be seen in the Particle Data Group compendium, is enormous. But they all seem to consist of five valence quarks (antiquarks): u,d,s,c,b, since the t quark (antiquark) is so heavy that it does not have time to bind. Our work consists of analysing the spectrum to understand the interaction between quarks that gives rise to hadrons. From this phenomenological interaction we try to learn properties of QCD. In recent years, the possible existence of so-called exotic states, multi-quarks and glueballs, have required our special attention. Gluons are also part of the description of QCD and gluons have self-couplings, therefore they could give rise to states of only valence gluons called glueballs and in the last years we have been intensively devoted to them. Our study consists of analysing the structure and possible decays of hadrons in order, by comparing with experimental data from laboratories around the world, Belle BaBar, Bes, to draw consequences for the fundamental interaction. We are also engaged in predicting future processes to be observed in the future FAIR accelerator and its PANDA detector. The contrast of theoretical and experimental data allows us to understand the interaction of quarks and gluons with each other and their strong, electromagnetic or weak decay channels through the properties of the spectrum: masses and decay widths. 
• Large distances: hadron-hadron interaction. Nuclear physics is governed by the interaction between hadrons. Due to a property called confinement, quarks and gluons cannot appear free, they must always be bound together to form hadrons. However, they must be the cause of the observed interaction between hadrons, in particular between the proton and the neutron to form atomic nuclei. Our work consists in explaining the interaction between hadrons from the interaction between quarks.
• Hadronic matter at high temperatures and densities: interactions between heavy ions allow us to study hadronic matter outside normal conditions, which are now available in accelerators such as RHIC and LHC, and it is expected that hadronic properties different from normal ones will indicate possible QCD phase transitions.

Analysis of histone post-translational modifications and the responsible machinery using Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast as a model eukaryotic organism. 

We are currently focused on studying histone modifications during the chronological ageing process of yeast. The cells are subjected to severe nutritional restriction. To prevent proliferation and growth, histone marks, globally and on particular gene sequences, as well as the composition and characteristics of histone modification enzyme complexes, are analysed throughout the time of senescence. 

These studies are intended to provide new insights that are basic and common to eukaryotic cells. They are therefore the starting point for similar projects in mammalian and human cells.

Imaging Sciences represent a renewed research field in all its aspects, while also being a development for Physics that’s currently characterised by a frenetic scientific and innovative activity. Nowadays, the term “image” doesn’t only refer to optical imaging and its multiple techniques for analysis, rebuild and visualisation, but also to artificial, computer and three-dimensional vision, medical imaging and algorithms for image processing, among many other areas. In the last two decades, Imaging Science researches achieved a lot. There are multiple new microscopy procedures allowing to go over the classic resolution limit. The computer industry is particularly interested in the astonishing results of computer imaging techniques. The progress in obtaining images through turbid media allows to achieve good resolution for images involving, for example, deep tissue layers in living beings or the cosmos through telescopes located on the earth’s surface. The new non-invasive imaging modalities for in-vivo biologic material and the tools for the transfer of said knowledge and procedures to the study, diagnosis and treatment of illnesses. The entangled photons sources in quantum photonics allow to achieve high-quality images with low-level lighting. It’s also necessary to include many other areas in full development, such as adaptive optics, nuclear medicine imaging, photonic tweezers (which are offering new paths for the individual study of cells), new generations of spatial light modulators, etc.

On the other hand, the radiation associated with femtosecond laser systems present a series of singular properties: very short duration, high peak power, high spectral width and structured spectral coherence. The combination between Diffractive and Pulse Optics enabled the design of new technological applications for the micro and nanostructuring of surfaces, the in-volume processing of transparent samples such as glass or polymers, the fluorescence multiphoton stimulation in microscopy systems and the generation of other non-lineal effects in matter, such as filamentation.

Materials science and technology covers a wide range of disciplines, techniques and methods designed for the development of materials in the service of society’s new challenges. 
In this context, the INNOMAT group, integrated in the Institute of Material Science of the Universitat de València, focuses its research around two subjects with a clear complementarity. The first deals with the development of innovative protocols for preparing porous, mesoporous or nanostructured materials with characteristics that allow its use in a wide variety of applications: sensors, catalysts, coatings, analysis, restoration and preservation of historical heritage, etc. These materials are specifically designed either to amplify some of the physical or chemical properties of their components, or to devise new ones from an intelligent design. This goal requires the monitoring of many parameters related to the physical, chemical and structural nature of the compounds obtained. Thus the use of the appropriate characterisation techniques is needed, as well as the development of other techniques of innovative nature, distinguished by their specific properties and high added value: high spatial resolution, high sensitivity, versatility or portability. The analysis of the physical and chemical properties of materials and the development of new characterisation techniques is therefore the second main activity of the group. This double purpose on characterisation and development combines the collaborative effort of physics and chemistry researchers, by whom it is integrated. Then, it provides the group with a clear multidiscipliinary nature. More specifically, the group develops the following activities:

1. Design and synthesis of innovative materials:
   • Oxidic and non-oxific materials: preparation and characterisation of oxidic materials with variable-sized particles.
   • Massive and porous nanoparticles with the incorporation of several multifunctional groups for applications in diagnosis and drug delivery.
   • Mesoporous nanocomposites containing gold nanoparticles for the catalytic decomposition of CO and VOCs (volatile organic compounds).
   • • Silica-polymer nanocomposites for controlled delivery applications, remediation (CO2 capture) and sensors.
   • Porous silica modified with inorganic species, organic groups and coordination complexes, as heterogeneous catalysts for green chemistry.
   • Hybrid functionalised silica for detecting VOCs.
   • Materials for the restoration and conservation of cultural heritage.
2. Development of material characterisation innovative techniques
   • Adaptation of a spectrometer Ramar to use it on the research of cultural heritage items, allowing measures in situ, without simple taking.
   • Adaptation of a portable spectrometer EDXRF to use it on the research of cultural heritage items, allowing measures in situ, without simple taking.
   • Adaptation of an atomic force microscope for the optical and electric characterisation of high spatial resolution nanomaterials.

Since 1986 we have been studying the brain of reptiles, birds and mammals. Our aim has been to understand the common traits of organisation of the vertebrate brain. In this never-ending task we have focused our attention mainly in the amygdala, but also in other structures of the 'limbic' forebrain such as the septum and hippocampus, as well as in the visual systems at all levels (from the retina to the visual cortex). We have collaborated with several grups from Europe and the USA, such as those of Luis Martínez-Millan (Euskal Herriko Unibersitatea, Leioa, Spain), Tomás González-Hernández (Universidad de La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain), Salvador Guirado (Univ. Málaga, Spain), Piet Hoolgand (Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands), Jeús Perez-Clausell (Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain), Margarita Belekhova (Russian Academy of Sciences, Saint Petersburgh, Russia), Ceri D Davies (Imperial College, London, UK) and Mimi Halpern (State Universty of New York, Health Science Center at Brooklyn, USA). We are currently collaborating with Joseph LeDoux, (New York University, USA), Alino Martinez-Marcos, (Univ. Castilla La Mancha), Jane Hurst (Univ. of Liverpool, UK), Karim Nader (McGuill Univ, Canada), Mike Ludwig (Univ. Edimburgh) and Trése Leinders-Zufalla and Pablo Chamero (Saarland Univ., Germany).

Our main lines of research are:

1. Anatomy of the amygdala. Our main goal is to try to characterise the organisation of the amygdala, a portion of the brain involved in both chemoreception and emotions. This functional heterogeneity parallels the anatomical complexity ofthe amygdala which includes derivatives of the embryonic pallium (thus, portions of the cerebral cortex), of the subpallium (striatum and pallidum) and even of portions of the hypothalamic neuroepithelium. We are using tract-tracing techniques and the presence and distributoin of many neurochemical markers.
2. Neurobiology of the reinforcing properties of sexual pheromones in mice. In fact, the cortico-medial and basolateral-central divisions area apparently involved in independent functions, related to chemosensibility (cortico-medial) and to eliciting innate and learned emotional responses (basolateral-central). The results of our research on the reinforcing properties of a vomeronasal stimulus, sexual pheromones in mice, suggest that both functions of the amygdala are interrelated, thus giving a functional explanation for the profuse interconnections found between the different divisions of the amygdala in different vertebrates.
3. The neural basis of maternal aggression. In the last years we have moved to further understand the role that the amygdala and its connections with the rest of the brain are playing in the control of soxio-sexual behaviour in response to conspecific chemosignals, e.g. pheromones. We are currently analysing how the brain of female mice changes from a regular status in which the animal likes male pheromones, to a maternal status in which the female fiercely attacks male intruders. This will allow better understanding the neural basis of aggressive behaviour. In this respect we are developing two lines of research:
   • Neuropeptides and sociosexual behaviour. In the change from attraction to aggression ocurring in the brain of lactating females, the circuits using neuropeptides (especially vasopressin and oxytocin) are likely fundamental. Therefore we are currently analysing these nonpeptide-containing circuits in the brain of males and of females in different physiological situation.
   • Neuroendocrinology of maternal aggression. In addition, we are trying to understand the endocrine agents acting during pregnancy, delivery and lactation, that may explain this behavioural changes in females. We are currently exploring how sexual steroids and prolacting combine their actions to promote maternal behaviours including aggression.

The Materials Technology and Sustainability Research Group (MATS) of the Department of Chemical Engineering of the Universitat de València focuses its research activity on the design, development, characterisation and validation of technologies for the preparation and functionalisation of materials with a multi-sectoral character, and with a focus on sustainability within the concept of circular economy. 

MATS' lines of work include: 

• the development of technologies for obtaining and functionalising (nano/micro) polymeric fibres and films, composites and hybrids, and their transfer to industrial sectors based on membrane technology: effluent treatment, packaging and biomedicine, among others; 
• research into the correlation between the physico-chemical properties of polymeric and hybrid materials and their performance in service conditions, aimed at design re-engineering; 
• the evaluation of alternatives for the material, chemical, energy and biological recovery of plastic waste, under the concept of circular economy and the use of bio-resources; 
• the development of advanced reaction techniques using supercritical fluids or emerging solvents to obtain polymers of interest; and 
• the design of nanostructured catalysts using electrochemical techniques for the preparation of hybrid membranes.

MATS is made up of a multidisciplinary team, with expertise in (bio)polymer and composite technology, advanced reaction processes with sustainable emerging solvents, hybrid catalyst generation for environmental technologies and corrosion control techniques. In this way, they are able to address the challenges of industries and institutions committed to sustainable innovation in environmentally efficient and value-added products and processes. MATS is also committed to the transfer of research and innovation results to society, by means of

• the training of qualified professionals in a scientific-technological and international environment, through internships, academic stays and the development of doctoral and master's theses; 
• the preparation of specialised training courses and workshops in the field of sustainability and the circular economy of materials; 
• dissemination in general and specialised environments and 
• collaboration in networks and technological platforms for the development of Research, Development and Innovation projects.

The morphophysiological effects of various abiotic stresses on plants are studied, in particular on photosynthetic and respiratory metabolism, as well as water balance and alterations in the functionality of cell membranes and nutrient distribution in the plant. The project focuses mainly on stresses caused by salinity and heavy metals, in this case both by excess (toxicities) and deficiencies (nutritional deficiencies), and the mechanisms regulating plant responses to these adverse environmental conditions.

Chemistry of Molecular Materials: Polyoxometalate chemistry, Inorganic magnetic clusters, Inorganic molecule-based magnets, New molecular conductors, Hybrid organic-inorganic molecular materials combining magnetism with conducting or optical properties, Organized magnetic films, Electroactive conducting polymers.

Physical Characterization of Molecular Materials: Magneto-structural properties (ac and dc susceptibilities, magnetization, ESR, Inelastic Neutron Scattering, single-crystal X-ray diffraction), Transport properties (single-crystal electrical conductivities, magnetoresistance).

Models In Molecular Magnetism: Exchange interactions in large magnetic clusters and low dimensional magnets, Energy levels and magnetic properties, Exchange interactions between orbitally degenerate centers, Double exchange and electron delocalization in Mixed Valence systems.

Molecular Electronics Devices: SPIN- OLEDs (Organic Light-Emitting Diode), SPIN Valves, OFETs (Organic Field Effect Transistors).

Our research consists of the design of new chemical compounds, especially new drugs, using topological descriptors. The main task of our group has been the use of topological indices in reverse to the conventional, i.e. instead of predicting properties of molecules already existing, our group generates new molecules just from the existing properties, obtaining, thus, molecular fingerprints which enable the search for new compounds with improved features. Currently we use a large number of topological indices -most of them original- which allowed us to design and select new lead compounds in the following fields: Analgesics, antibacterials, hypolipidemics, hypoglycaemics, bronchodilators, antivirals, antihystaminics, antimalarials, antineoplastics and anti-Alzheimer. Moreover, good results have been obtained also in Green Chemistry by predicting reaction pathways, yields and times, which allows designing more sustainable and profitable chemical processes. These results demonstrate the great effectiveness of the topological method used, to the point that it could be considered as an alternative and independent way of describing molecular structures. The results of our research have also been reflected in more than 100 research articles published in international journals, book chapters, patents, conferences, congresses, etc.

Quality and methodology applied to laboratories of routine (ISO 17205 Standard) and research: Development of ad hoc metrological tools, technical protocols, acceptance criteria, validation, quality assurance, control charts, uncertainty, including supporting software. Design of experiments, optimisation, simulation of future results. Research and development of high-throughput (bio)analysis methods (Liquid chromatography, Capillary electrophoresis, Mass spectrometry) for the separation and determination of molecules (including chiral) with analytical and bioanalytical applications. (Bio)sensors. Chemical assays of relevant compounds in environmental samples (water, sludge, soil, etc.).

Added value: In vitro estimation of ecotoxicological parameters. Chemical assays of bioactive molecules (in urine, plasma, saliva, etc.). Added value In vitro estimation of ADME/TOX indicators. Development of molecular biointeraction models. Computational simulation methods (“in silico” via “Molecular Docking”). Pharmacophores. QSAR.

The main objective of the EVER Research Group is to study the early evolution and diversification of vertebrates through the taxonomic, histological, sclerochronological and functional characterisation of the main structures of their skeleton. Our group tries to answer questions related to the origin and early evolution of the large groups of basal vertebrates (i.e. non-tetrapod vertebrates), as well as the time and form of the appearance of the different types of tissues and skeletal structures, key to delimit their evolutionary scenario. In this way, our research combines the traditional palaeontological study of basal vertebrate remains (biodiversity and phylogeny), with the application of some of the most advanced techniques in virtual palaeontology (tomographic techniques and computational analysis); as well as studies of comparative anatomy and developmental biology in present-day organisms. Some of the specific questions we are currently working on are:

(i) The origin of dentition in vertebrates.
(ii) The homology or not of some of the mineralised tissues in different groups.
(iii) To provide new data to help resolve the deep phylogeny of the different groups of fish: agnathans (jawless fish) and gnathostomates (jawed vertebrates).
(iv) The identification of the functional diversity of the basal vertebrate exoskeleton using various biomechanical analysis techniques.

EVER is the first working group focused on the early evolution of our own lineage (vertebrates) in our country, a new line of research in the Spanish Science System. Collaborating members of the team are internationally renowned researchers, such as Prof. Donoghue (Bristol, UK) and Dr. Dupret (Canberra, Australia).

For several years we have been researching the mechanisms involved in inflammatory processes. Our activity has focused on a number of aspects such as the study of the mediators that determine the progression of joint injury, the possible protective mechanisms and the main signalling pathways involved, in order to increase knowledge of the pathogenesis of inflammatory-based diseases and find new therapeutic targets. To this end, we conducted in vivo and in vitro studies. We use different animal models of acute inflammation (rat and mouse air pouch, carrageenan oedema, skin inflammation, bowel inflammation) and chronic inflammation, such as rheumatoid arthritis models (adjuvant arthritis, collagen arthritis, serum transfer arthritis from K/BxN transgenic mice). Models of osteoarthritis due to ageing have been developed: such as spontaneous osteoarthritis in STR/ort mice, following the temporal evolution of the disease, with biochemical studies of biomarkers in serum and joint tissues, radiological studies, histological studies, etc. All these findings have made it possible to relate the appearance and progression of the injuries to the age of the animal and to propose various mechanisms that may regulate these processes. Animal models of osteoarthritis/osteoporosis in rats (ACLT+ovariectomy) and arthritis/osteoporosis in mice (CIA+ovariectomy) have also been developed.

We conducted studies on cartilage explants, chondrocytes in normoxia and hypoxia, synoviocytes and osteoblasts from osteoarthritic patients to determine gene and protein expression of factors that may be related to disease progression. We have determined the consequences of over-expression (sometimes by transfection with adenovirus) or inhibition (sometimes by gene silencing with siRNA) of these factors on cellular metabolism, synthesis and degradation of extracellular matrix components, production of cytokines, chemokines, growth and cell differentiation factors, eicosanoids, reactive species, etc. Signalling and transcription pathways related to these factors have also been studied.

 One of our lines focuses on cellular senescence and the effects of ageing in different systems, in vivo and in vitro approaches.

We are studying the anti-inflammatory and protective properties of mesenchymal stem cells within in vitro and in vivo models as a source of new therapeutic strategies in inflammatory diseases and joint diseases. In particular, we focus on the properties of extracellular vesicles as potential therapeutic agents, biomarkers and cell communication factors.

 We also used culture systems from healthy fibroblasts and keratinocytes and from psoriatic patients to determine the inflammatory mediators and mechanisms involved. In vitro studies have also been conducted in models of human microendothelial cells, fibroblasts and keratinocytes, focusing on adenosine as a target that may lead to new therapeutic strategies for wound healing in highly susceptible population groups such as diabetics, the obese and the elderly.

Our research is focused on the neurobiological mechanisms of addictive disorders, specifically the environmental factors that influence cocaine-associated psychiatric comorbidities (including stress) and their impact on the different stages of development (prenatal, infancy, adolescence and adulthood), as well as gender differences. Cocaine remains the second most commonly used illicit drug in Europe, and levels of cocaine use are particularly high in Spain. The age at which initial consumption takes place is of special significance, as well as the environmental/epigenetic factors that modulate an overt clinical phenotype of cocaine addiction. Chronic consumption of cocaine can lead not only to addiction but also to several associated disorders, including psychiatric complications (depression, psychosis, attentional deficits/hyperactivity and anxiety disorders.

Cocaine remains the second most widely used illicit drug in Europe and levels of cocaine use are particularly high in Spain.

The age at which initial use takes place is of particular importance, as are the environmental/epigenetic factors that modulate the clinical phenotype of cocaine addiction. Chronic cocaine use can lead not only to addiction, but also to several associated disorders, including psychiatric complications (depression, psychosis, attention deficit/hyperactivity and anxiety disorders).

As part of our work, we develop animal models for translational research in humans. In addition, we assess the influence of cannabis, alcohol, heroin and MDMA use on the occurrence of comorbid disorders in cocaine addiction. Our specific objectives are:

a. To identify the neurobiological substrates underlying the increase in drug seeking triggered by social stress (brief and repeated social defeat), as numerous studies indicate that different types of physical and social stress are risk factors in the onset, escalation and relapse of psychostimulant use.

b. To identify the contribution of individual traits underlying the propensity for drug addiction, such as a high novelty-seeking phenotype

c. To study the long-term effects of drug use in adolescence, as this is a critical period in the maturation and final development of the CNS.

d. To study the neurobiological mechanisms of relapse in order to understand addictive disorders as a chronic and persistent disease.
 

We are currently working in collaboration with other groups of the Addictive Disorders Network (RTA), specifically with Dr. Consuelo Guerri, Dr. Jorge Manzanares, Dr. Olga Valverde, Dr. María L. Laorden, Dr. Fernando Rodríguez de Fonseca and Dr. Paz Viveros. We have the following behavioural procedures in our laboratory: conditioned place preference (CPP), self-administration (SA), open field, elevated maze, water maze, active and passive avoidance boxes, ethopharmacological evaluation system (social interaction), prepulse inhibition (PPI), recognition test, computerised measurement of motor activity. The following neurochemical techniques are also frequently used in our research: high-precision liquid chromatography system to detect catecholamines in brain tissue; western blot to determine monoamine transporters; corticosterone and ELISA determination.

Models in molecular magnetism:

1. Exchange interactions in large magnetic clusters and low dimensional magnets, Energy levels and magnetic properties, Exchange interactions between orbitally degenerate centers,
2. Crystal field interactions in single ion magnets for quantum computing.
3. Double exchange and electron delocalization in Mixed Valence systems. Chemistry of polyoxometalates: Polyoxometalates for quantum computing: The possibility of using polyoxometalates to develop new magnetic clusters of interest as q-bits for quantum computing, and as single molecule magnets will be explored. Physical characterization of molecular materials: Magneto-structural properties (ac and dc susceptibilities, magnetization, ESR, Inelastic Neutron Scattering, single-crystal X-ray diffraction).

The REDOLi group seeks to improve society through research in the fields of recognition, sustainability and innovation. The REDOLi group develops its research in the fields of recognition, sustainability and innovation. Its lines of work include: 

•  Development of molecules and nanomaterials to modulate the activity of proteins, in particular the enzymes polyphenol oxidase and lipase/pancreatin. 
• Development of molecules and nanomaterials for sensors. 
• Development of strategies for more sustainable processes and products, in particular in agriculture and the chemical, materials and food industries. 
• Dissemination of current aspects of bioeconomy, circular economy, climate change and life cycle analysis. 
• Support to companies in innovation processes, identification of knowledge, transformation of knowledge into products, development of protection strategies and projects.

The “Social Neuroscience” research unit is focused on the scientific study of different social issues from a biopsychosocial perspective, considering the humanistic approach to understand human behaviour. The work being carried out is mainly focused on the study of cooperation and empathy, violence and social stress.

Neurocriminology aims to apply the methodology and techniques of neuroscience in order to understand, predict, treat and even prevent violence and criminality. Neurocriminological knowledge could be used in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of violence, as well as in the estimation of the probability of recidivism. While this is not free of ethical-legal issues, neuroscience is becoming an important influence on the understanding and study of violent and criminal behaviour. In this context, positive neurocriminology focuses on positive processes such as empathy, altruism, positive emotions and prosocial behaviour, among others. This knowledge derived from the research lines implemented could be used in the development of crime prevention and intervention programmes.

Cooperation is a typically human behaviour focused on social relationships, which can be defined as an adaptive strategy consisting of acting jointly with one another, increasing the probability of achieving a common purpose. Such cooperative behaviour is the result of cognitive and emotional processes related to constructs such as altruism and empathy.

Therefore, the most relevant application of this research is the use of the results obtained in the promotion of prosocial behaviour and the prevention and treatment of antisocial behaviour. However, there is still little research, under controlled laboratory conditions, that has analysed the psychobiological changes that occur when cooperating. One particular situation where cooperation, altruism and empathy occur is surrogacy, in which many women freely choose to participate in order to help others who are unable to be pregnant with their child. They expose their bodies and endanger their health to help others achieve their dream of parenthood. There are few comparable examples, perhaps a similar situation is when a living person donates an organ to someone they do not know. One of the most satisfying parts of the process for these women is the sight of the parents' faces as they hold their own baby in their arms at the moment of birth. Studying how these people’s brains work, the neurobiological mechanisms and the psychological aspects that lead them to be able to do something so wonderful for other people can help us to a large extent to be a more caring society, with greater moral development and, in short, more empathetic and less violent.

All of the above gives this research line a special neuroscientific relevance, since its main objective is to analyse the changes in activation, emotionality and stress induced by cooperation, as well as by other modulating factors such as gender and the result obtained in it. The results we are obtaining could be extrapolated to educational, work, political and any other social context in which interpersonal relationships are established.

Knowledge of the psychobiological mechanisms of cooperation would provide us with relevant information to advance in the development of a more cooperative and empathetic social model. In recent years, mindfulness has established itself as a very useful intervention strategy in the healthcare setting, as it has a beneficial influence on the health of different populations. In addition, some research has indicated that mindfulness-based interventions positively influence empathy in university students and healthcare professionals. These results are promising for the introduction of mindfulness in the training of psychologists. However, the studies conducted so far have only included self-report measures to assess empathy, which does not allow us to affirm that these interventions are really useful, since the increase in the subjective perception of the participants does not ensure an improvement in their empathic ability. In this regard, further research that includes situational assessment of empathy is needed, including performance measures and biological markers such as oxytocin, a hormone that has been linked to empathy and bonding. People with alcohol and/or drug dependence problems present neuropsychological and psychophysiological deficits that lead to alterations in emotional, cognitive and behavioural regulation. As a result, they tend to behave impulsively, without considering future consequences, whether negative or positive, and fail to use the information available in the environment to foresee the consequences of their actions and inhibit their behaviour. These impulsive behaviours in men convicted of violence against women in intimate partner violence (so-called batterers) have been directly related to violent behaviour, with this association being modulated, in a high percentage of cases, by the consumption of alcohol and/or other substances of abuse. However, other types of abusers often use a premeditated or proactive type of violence that has been consistently linked to psychopathy and is often also associated with alcohol and/or other drug use. These studies provide additional information on gender-based violence by allowing us to concretely describe its neurocriminological profile and to delimit the role of alcohol and/or drug use in the propensity to violence. It also makes it possible to analyse the effectiveness of the treatments on the neuropsychological and psychophysiological variables analysed. The results of this work are being applied nationally and even internationally, and could be extended to a multitude of people in similar situations. The fact that it includes physiological parameters together with psychological indicators makes it very valuable. The increase in life expectancy, together with advances in current health systems, are some of the most relevant factors in explaining the phenomenon of dependency in our country. This fact, together with the social change resulting from the progressive incorporation of women into the workplace, is detrimental to the traditional family-based care system, where the family caregiver was solely responsible for the care of the sick person. However, the informal caregiver continues to represent the main care resource for dependent people, in most cases embodied in women. Prolonged caregiving is a chronic stressor that has serious consequences for the caregiver’s health, directly affecting their quality of life. Our studies are aimed at the analysis of specific variables of particular conditions, with the aim of creating explanatory models of the caregiving situation. The search for happiness is universal and as ancient as humanity, which has pursued it incessantly since its origins. This desire to be happy is so important that some countries have now begun to measure their development in terms of Happiness Index per capita. Moreover, in recent decades the science of Psychology has gone from studying only mental disorders and their treatment to deciphering how to achieve an optimal functioning of the mind that allows us to live happily. This latter science is called Positive Psychology. Research is currently being carried out into the origins of happiness and the pleasant feelings that accompany it: contentment, hope, optimism and joy. Thanks to the great advance in knowledge about the brain, we know that happiness is not a state that is reached by chance, but is the result of the activity of brain circuits designed by evolution to produce this state of well-being.

Happiness is therefore a product of the brain, which can be studied scientifically like any other function of the human mind. Knowledge on what activates these circuits allows us to act, voluntarily, to our benefit. We know that the brain is constantly changing throughout life, which is called neuroplasticity, no matter how old we are or what experiences we have had. Thus, by managing our thoughts and actions, we can bring about those brain changes that make us feel happy. This knowledge, based on the latest research in Neuroscience and Psychology on the neuroplasticity of the brain, enable us to restructure our brain in order to control our emotions and enjoy greater well-being and happiness. Scientific research shows that happiness is very beneficial, since it enhances the resources and tools that allow us to cope with the ups and downs that occur naturally throughout life. It also improves intellectual capacity and motivation, enhances creativity and increases interest in the world, cooperation and empathy, and is also very beneficial for health.

The Supramolecular Chemistry group focuses its research work on the synthesis and characterisation of polynitrogen compounds, as well as on the study of their interaction with metal ions, anions and neutral species. Special attention is dedicated to the study of systems of environmental and/or biological interest. In particular, to the development of molecules and/or complexes with antioxidant and/or anti-inflammatory, antiparasitic and/or antitumour activity. In order to prepare more efficient systems, the implementation of molecules on different solid surfaces such as nanoparticles, mesoporous solids, etc. is studied. These systems are applied to the detection of compounds of environmental interest and the development of new types of drugs. Finally, new compounds for nuclear magnetic resonance imaging are prepared and studied.

The group’s research activity focuses on the design, preparation and characterisation of any type of organic molecules, both natural and synthetic substances, and their use for various biotechnological applications. These include, fundamentally, obtaining antibodies and developing immunoassays for the determination of analytes of interest in agri-food and environmental samples, and the development and scaling of the synthesis of pheromones for its application in ecological integrated control of agricultural pests.

The group's research activity focuses on the theoretical characterisation of the structural, electronic and self-assembly properties of molecular systems that act as electroactive/photoactive materials in Molecular Electronics devices (light emitting devices, photovoltaic cells, sensors, etc.). Since the performance of such devices is highly dependent on the physical processes taking place in the active layer (light absorption/emission, charge injection, charge and exciton transport, charge separation, etc.), a thorough understanding of the relationship between the constituent molecule structure of the active layer and its properties is crucial to understand the device performance and to design new materials to improve its performance. Quantum-chemical calculations are particularly useful for establishing structure-property relationships, for predicting the supramolecular organisation of molecules in the material, and for determining optical and charge and energy transport properties.

In particular, the group has worked extensively on the following types of molecular materials:

1) Macrocyclic compounds: porphyrins and phthalocyanines.
2) Conductive polymers: pi-conjugated polymers.
3) Pi-conjugated oligomers: aromatic oligothiophenes and quinoids.
4) Pi-conjugated donor/acceptor compounds: electron- and hole-bearing materials.
5) Fullerenes and supramolecular associates of fullerenes and nanotubes.
6) Electroluminescent systems: transition metal ion complexes.
7) Electroactive supramolecular polymers: structure, optical and transport properties.
8) Organic semiconductors: charge and energy transport properties.
9) Metal-organic networks (MOFs): structure and conductive properties.
10) Perovskite solar cells: organic electron/hole carriers and properties.

The Thermal Remote Sensing Group has contributed to basic and applied research in remote sensing over the last 35 years, developing its own methodology for the treatment and digital processing of images (calibration, geometric correction, cloud detection), the necessary corrections to obtain primary physical magnitudes from satellite images (atmospheric and emissivity correction; obtaining surface temperature and emissivity), the development of multispectral methods, the subsequent application for the estimation of secondary parameters related to the environment (evapotranspiration, water stress and desertification indices, water quality, etc.), and the development of new sensors to measure the temperature and emissivity of the surface. ), and the development of new sensors. There is coincidence with the activities of other groups as well as with public and private entities in Spain, and in international, preferably European, environments. Suffice it to point out, for example, the following:

•  The group is involved in an international team calibrating and validating the land surface temperature provided by the AATSR sensor on board the ENVISAT satellite. Additionally, it is working on the calibration of ASTER and MODIS sensors on board NASA's EOS-Terra and EOS-Aqua platforms, as well as Landsat5-TM, Landsat7-ETM+ and the recently launched Landsat8-TIRS, whose thermal infrared spectral bands were established on the basis of previous results of our group (Caselles et al., 1998).
• Currently, our research group is a supporting member of the validation and calibration team of the future ESA Sentinel-3 satellite (Sentinel-3 CalVal Team) through a collaboration with the University of Leicester (UK).
• The applicant research group belongs to the Land Surface Temperature and Emissivity (LSTE) Focus Group, within the Land Product Validation (LPV) group of the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS). The LSTE Focus Group is responsible for fostering international collaboration to define protocols and develop databases for the validation of satellite temperature and emissivity products.
• Collaboration has also been established with the Hydrology and Remote Sensing Laboratory, USDA-ARS (USA) for the estimation of latent and sensible heat fluxes by remote sensing, and with the Instituto de Hidrología de Llanuras (IHLLA, Argentina) for studies of evapotranspiration and water availability in crops.
• The group participates in the SMOS (Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity) mission to validate the soil moisture product and establish relationships with thermal infrared emissivity through ESA's CAT-1 AO-4748 project.
• Recently, another collaboration has been established with the US Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) for the validation of Earth's surface temperature products.
• A collaboration with the Arid-Land Agricultural Research Center (ALARC) of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA-ARS) has allowed the group to participate in a NASA-funded project as part of the activities within the study phase of the HyspIRI mission, in addition to carrying out some studies on the dependence of emissivity on humidity.
• The group actively collaborates with some companies (Cartographic Institute of Catalonia, LandStudios, Dorna Agri, Norma Agrícola, Deimos Imaging, Repsol YPF, etc.), which allows interconnecting academic research and the productive sector.

The research group "Immunology of fungal infections" has focused its research over the last fifteen years on the study of the host immune response to Candida albicans. The group has a multidisciplinary background, both in Microbiology and Immunology, so it has an ideal profile to study the interactions between pathogenic fungi and cells of the immune system both in vitro and in vivo. Although the research conducted is primarily basic in nature, it has clear applied potential in the development of new immunotherapeutic approaches for the treatment of fungal infections.

C. albicans is an opportunistic pathogen that, depending on the underlying host defect, is capable of causing a variety of infections ranging from superficial mucocutaneous candidiasis to severe invasive candidiasis. The frequency and severity of the latter has increased considerably in recent decades, due to the increase in the at-risk population that is immunocompromised or weakened by various causes.

Resistance to candidiasis requires the coordinated action of innate and acquired immune defences. Mature cells of the innate immune system use different PRRs (pattern recognition receptors) to directly recognise MAMPs (molecular patterns associated with micro-organisms), so that with a limited number of these receptors they can recognise a wide range of pathogens. The most important families of PRRs in C. albicans recognition are Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and C-type lectins (CLRs, such as dectin-1). In this context, our group demonstrated that the TLR2 receptor is involved in the recognition of C. albicans, both yeast and hyphae, inducing cytokine and chemokine secretion through a pathway dependent on the adaptor molecule MyD88 and that such recognition is critical for protection against invasive candidiasis in a mouse model of infection. 

In 2006 it was described that haematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs), from which all immune system cells are derived, express functional TLRs, and that signalling via TLRs in haematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) triggers their entry into the cell cycle and their differentiation into the myeloid lineage. This discovery opened new perspectives on pathogen-host interactions, as these receptors could be involved in modulating haematopoiesis in response to micro-organisms during infection. At that time our group decided to study the involvement of PRRs in the interaction of C. albicans with HSPCs and its consequences for the resolution of the infection. Working along these lines, we have shown that C. albicans induces the proliferation of HSPCs and their differentiation towards the myeloid lineage, both in vitro and in vivo. This response requires signalling via TLR2 and dectin-1, and results in functional macrophages that are able to internalise and destroy yeast, as well as secrete inflammatory cytokines. These results indicate that pathogens can be directly recognised by HSPCs through PRRs, thereby promoting the replenishment capacity of the innate immune system during infection. These receptors may therefore be at least partly responsible for the emergency myelopoiesis that occurs during most infections, including invasive candidiasis.

On the other hand, numerous recent studies have challenged the dogma that immunological memory is an exclusive feature of specific immunity, as cells of innate immunity can exhibit some "memory" and respond differently to a second encounter with the same or another microbial stimulus. For example, exposure of monocytes and macrophages to C. albicans increases their response to a second encounter (trained, dectin-1-dependent immunity), while TLR4 or TLR2 ligands confer a reduced inflammatory response to macrophages (tolerance).

In parallel to the studies on the memory of innate immunity, our group set itself the new goal of studying the function of phagocytes formed after HSPCs contact with microbial ligands. Using in vitro and in vivo models, we have shown that stimulation of PRRs in HSPCs affects the functional phenotype of the macrophages they subsequently generate. Therefore, our results show that this new concept of "memory" of innate immunity can be applied not only to mature myeloid cells, but also to HSPCs, which contributes to increase the durability of innate memory over time.

Based on these results, and those of other authors in the same line, an active role is now assigned to HSPCs in the fight against infection. The hypothesis we are currently working on is that HSPCs can directly detect microorganisms and contribute to protection against infection by different mechanisms, including their ability to differentiate into myeloid cells with an enhanced phenotype to confront the pathogen and initiate the immune response.

The results already obtained open up new perspectives, which may be of great interest at the intersection between Immunology, Microbiology and Haematology. The existence of new mechanisms in the host-pathogen interaction, and their consequences in modulating the immune response during infection, may represent a new target for intervention against serious infections by enhancing the immune response. In addition, modulation of haematopoiesis by microorganisms could reveal new strategies for the treatment of diseases with alterations in myeloid cell production, such as myeloid leukaemias.