ALEJANDRO IVAN RUIZ RIQUELME

Alejandro Ivan Ruiz Riquelme is a distinguished researcher at the University of Santiago de Compostela, affiliated with the Department of Physiology and the Center for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CIMUS). He leads the PatMol-DR group (Molecular Pathology of Rare Diseases). His research focuses on neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Celia's Encephalopathy, Alzheimer's, and Parkinson's, with an emphasis on protein misfolding mechanisms and biomarker discovery. His work integrates molecular biology, genetics, and translational neuroscience.

• PhD (2015): Molecular basis of Celia's encephalopathy, advised by Dr. Jesús Rodríguez Requena and Dr. David Araujo Vilar

Key research interests include:

• Protein aggregation in neurodegenerative disorders
• Mechanisms of prion-like propagation
• Biomarker development for early diagnosis
• Role of BSCL2 gene mutations in lipid metabolism and neurodegeneration

His recent studies highlight innovative approaches in:

• Alpha-synuclein conformational analysis for Parkinson's diagnostics
• β-amyloid seeding activity in Alzheimer's models
• Circulating biomarkers for protein misfolding syndromes

Lab/Team: Leads the PatMol-DR group, focusing on molecular pathology of rare neurodegenerative diseases, combining biochemical, cellular, and genetic approaches.