The Neurometabolic Diseases Lab, led by ICREA Research Professor Aurora Pujol, is integrated in the Neurosciences Area of IDIBELL. The lab was created in January 2005 thanks to the support of the Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA), the European Commission (FP6 program) and the European Leukodystrophy Association.

Our main interest lies on deciphering the pathophysiology of neurometabolic diseases for developing rational therapeutic strategies. For this aim, we are using state-of-the-art-technology, including transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics and lipidomics following an integrative, systems biology approach. We have mostly focused our work on elucidating the molecular basis of X-adrenoleukodystrophy, in particular towards oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction pathways. Further, we are using a comparative genomics approach to studying the evolutionary origin of peroxisomes and their related metabolic routes, with focus in lipid metabolism. The derived knowledge might contribute to unravelling the role of this poorly studied organelle in ageing and neurodegenerative diseases.

The Neurometabolic Diseases Lab is as today a consolidated research group recognised by the Catalan Government (GRC 85). The group is integrated in the CIBERER (the Spanish Network of Research in Rare Diseases), the COST Myelinet action and the FP7 Leukotreat Project.