Jose Ramon Bayascas RamirezView profile
Associate Professor
Jose Ramon Bayascas Ramirez is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona's Institute of Neuroscience. With a Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from the University of Barcelona (1998), he completed postdoctoral training at the University of Lleida (1998-2002) and University of Dundee, Scotland (2002-2007) before joining UAB in 2007 as a Ramon y Cajal Fellow, becoming a Serra Húnter Associate Professor in 2014. His research focuses on the neurodevelopmental functions of the $$\text{PDK1}$$ signaling network and its implications for neurodegenerative and mental illnesses. His laboratory specializes in the $$\text{PI3K}$$/$$\text{Akt}$$ signaling pathway, utilizing brain-specific conditional knock-in mice with engineered $$\text{PDK1}$$ mutations (K465E and L155E) to study how these affect neuronal development and disease processes. The K465E mutation selectively impairs $$\text{Akt}$$ activation, while the L155E mutation abolishes activation of most $$\text{PDK1}$$ effectors except $$\text{Akt}$$. His work has revealed that reduced $$\text{Akt}$$ activation in $$\text{PDK1}$$ K465E mice protects against neurodegenerative insults, while the exclusive $$\text{Akt}$$ activation in $$\text{PDK1}$$ L155E mice causes severe mental disorders resembling human schizophrenia. His recent publications span molecular insights into $$\text{PDK1}$$ structure, behavioral studies in Alzheimer's models, and investigations into lysine crotonylation and metabolic homeostasis. His research has been recognized with a Ramon y Cajal Fellowship, and he has led multiple research projects including: "Assaig de l'inhibidor d'$$\text{Akt}$$ MK-2206 pel tractament de la Malaltia d'Alzheimer" (2022-2023) "Implicació de la ruta de senyalització $$\text{PI3K}$$/$$\text{PDK1}$$/$$\text{Akt}$$ en la Malaltia d'Alzheimer" (2019-2022) "Participació de $$\text{PDK1}$$ en les respostes a $$\text{PI3K}$$ durant el desenvolupament neuronal" (2015-2018) His group has published 53 research outputs with significant citations, demonstrating impactful contributions to understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying brain pathology and potential therapeutic targets for neurodegenerative and mental disorders.
