The Sant Pau Research Institute (IR Sant Pau) has secured funding for the creation of the Network for the Integrative Study of Synaptic Circuits and Their Role in Disease. This network will be coordinated by Dr. Àlex Bayés, head of the Molecular Synapse Physiology research group at IR Sant Pau. This thematic network, part of the State Program for Knowledge Transfer and Collaboration within the 2024–2027 State Plan for Scientific, Technical, and Innovation Research, is one of only two networks funded in the area of nervous system diseases. It was funded in a highly competitive call for proposals.
According to Dr. Bayés, “this network aims to foster scientific collaboration among basic and translational research groups working on synaptic circuits from very different, yet complementary, methodological approaches. The goal is to share knowledge and generate synergies to better understand the function of neuronal circuits and their dysfunction in neurodevelopmental disorders and neurodegenerative diseases.”
This is the third network of this kind led by Dr. Bayés from IR Sant Pau, following those established in 2015 and 2019. “We already have a solid track record in coordinating research networks. These initiatives not only help strengthen interdisciplinary research, but also increase the national and international visibility of our work and of IR Sant Pau.”
The network will consist of twelve research groups from different institutions across Spain, with experts in molecular biology, neuroscience, optical and electron microscopy, animal behavior, and optogenetics, among others. Network activities will include regular meetings, mobility programs for early-career researchers, and science outreach initiatives to bring research closer to the public. In addition, the network will promote data sharing, participation in collaborative research projects, and the application for new funding opportunities. The funding granted totals €28,000, to be distributed over two years.
With this initiative, IR Sant Pau reaffirms its commitment to high-quality basic and translational research, “which is essential for the later development of applied research,” says Dr. Bayés, as well as to building knowledge networks that contribute to scientific progress and the improvement of disease treatment. This new project further strengthens the institute’s position as a leader in synaptic circuit research and their role in brain health. It supports both the development of new research lines and the training of young scientists in a highly collaborative and innovative environment.
