MARIA DEL CARMEN DIAZ RUIZ

María del Carmen Díaz Ruiz is a Professor in the Department of Morphological Sciences at the University of Santiago de Compostela (USC), affiliated with the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry. She leads research within the Parkinson neurobiol Group of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology of Parkinson's Disease at the Center for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CIMUS). Her work focuses on neurodegenerative mechanisms, particularly the role of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in neuroinflammation and aging-related neurodegeneration in the substantia nigra.

She holds a PhD from the University of Barcelona (1995), where her thesis explored immunochemical studies of TGF-alpha, TGF-beta, and EGF receptors in avian and rodent kidneys. Her research integrates molecular biology, cellular neurobiology, and translational approaches to understand Parkinson's disease pathophysiology.

Key research interests include:

• Molecular mechanisms of neuroinflammation
• Angiotensin II signaling in glial cells
• Role of Sirtuins and IGF-1 in neuroprotection
• Aging-related neurodegenerative pathways
• Therapeutic targets for dopaminergic neuron preservation

Her publications (2001–2023) highlight advancements in understanding RAS modulation, NLRP3 inflammasome activity, and microglial responses in neurodegeneration. Active collaborations involve exploring exercise-induced neuroprotective effects and polyphenol-based interventions for tauopathies.

Currently affiliated with multiple neurobiological research initiatives, her work bridges basic science and clinical applications in neurodegenerative diseases.