José Prius Mengual

José Prius Mengual is a Postdoctoral Research Scientist in Sleep Neurobiology at the University of Oxford's Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics (DPAG), working within the Vyazovskiy Group to investigate molecular mechanisms linking genetic epilepsy and sleep disorders through cellular stress pathways.

Education:

• BSc in Biochemistry, University of Córdoba
• MSc in Biotechnology, University of Córdoba
• PhD in Anatomy, Physiology and Molecular Biology, University Pablo de Olavide

His research integrates Sleep Neurobiology and Epilepsy with molecular neuroscience, examining how cellular stress modulates sleep need and synaptic activity in neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders. Using in vitro and in vivo electrophysiology combined with molecular techniques in animal models, he explores critical periods of plasticity and bidirectional sleep-epilepsy interactions to address therapy gaps in genetic epilepsies.

Recent publications reveal a cohesive focus on molecular sleep regulation and epilepsy mechanisms, characterized by investigations into endoplasmic reticulum stress effects on cortical activity, chemogenetic sleep modulation, and psychedelic-induced wake states. This work bridges neuropharmacology, cellular stress biology, and sleep-wake neurophysiology to uncover therapeutic targets.

Scientific Awards:

• Early Career Fellowship

Funded by his Early Career Fellowship, Dr. Mengual leads independent projects on sleep-epilepsy molecular interactions without documented student supervision. He maintains active collaborations within DPAG and the Vyazovskiy Group, contributing to multidisciplinary sleep neurobiology research.

As a core member of the Vyazovskiy Group, he utilizes advanced electrophysiological and molecular methodologies to dissect sleep homeostasis mechanisms and their disruption in neurological disorders, with emphasis on translating molecular findings into potential clinical interventions.