Federico Salas-Lucia

Federico Salas-Lucia is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology at the University of Chicago's Pritzker School of Medicine. His research integrates neurobiology and endocrinology to investigate thyroid hormone mechanisms in brain development and function, utilizing human iPSC-derived models, transgenic mice, and multi-omics approaches.

His educational background includes a BS in Biology from the University of Alicante (2012), an MSc in Neuroscience from University Miguel Hernandez (2014), and a PhD in Neuroscience from the same institution (2018).

Dr. Salas-Lucia's research focuses on intracellular mechanisms customizing thyroid hormone action during human brain development. His laboratory examines how thyroid hormones regulate bioenergetic processes supporting neurogenesis, with emphasis on mitochondrial function in neural progenitor cells and epigenetic regulation via DNA methylation. Using cutting-edge iPSC-derived cerebral organoids and advanced imaging, his work bridges molecular mechanisms to clinical correlations between maternal thyroid levels and neurodevelopmental outcomes. Current investigations include thyroid hormone transport via MCT8, deiodinase activity (DIO2/DIO3), and nuclear receptor signaling in neural cells.

His publication portfolio since 2018 shows accelerating productivity, with 23 publications through 2025 (8 in 2023 alone). The research demonstrates strong thematic continuity in thyroid-brain interactions, evolving from foundational rodent studies to sophisticated human iPSC models. Recent work increasingly incorporates multi-omics approaches and addresses clinical implications for disorders like Allan-Herndon-Dudley syndrome and Alzheimer's disease.

• Emerging Group Leader Award, International Society for Neurochemistry (2025)

As principal investigator of the Salas-Lucia Laboratory, he directs research on thyroid hormone signaling in neural development. His work receives significant attention, with publications referenced in clinical guidelines and covered by multiple news outlets. The laboratory maintains active collaborations with leading endocrinology researchers including Antonio Bianco and Samuel Refetoff, and participates in interdisciplinary networks exploring metabolic regulation and neurodevelopment. Current projects investigate epigenetic mechanisms in thyroid-mediated cortical development and therapeutic strategies for thyroid hormone transport disorders.