Marta Agudo Barriuso

Marta Agudo Barriuso is an affiliated researcher at the University of Murcia, part of the Faculty of Optics and Optometry and the Department of Ophthalmology, Optometry, Otolaryngology, and Pathological Anatomy. As a part-time researcher, her work focuses on experimental ophthalmology, particularly neuroprotection mechanisms in retinal degeneration and the role of mesenchymal stromal cells in retinal repair. She holds a PhD from Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (1998) in molecular biology, studying transposable elements in Drosophila melanogaster.

Her research explores the efficacy of cell-based therapies (e.g., olfactory ensheathing glia, bone marrow-derived stromal cells) in treating optic nerve injuries and glaucoma. Key themes include neuroinflammation dynamics, microglial activation, and the impact of systemic inflammation on retinal health. She investigates sex differences in retinal responses to injury and evaluates novel neuroprotective agents like adenosine A3 receptor agonists and minocycline.

Recent studies highlight the interplay between transplanted mesenchymal stromal cells and the immune system, emphasizing challenges in translational cell therapy. Her work also addresses contralateral effects of unilateral optic nerve injury, revealing systemic neural network responses. Ongoing projects include optimizing cell delivery methods (e.g., porous poly(ε-caprolactone) implants) and understanding age-related retinal changes.

Awards: None explicitly listed in the provided text.

Advising/Grants: No supervisees listed. Grants details not provided.

Labs/Teams: Active member of the Experimental Ophthalmology research group, contributing to preclinical studies on retinal regeneration and neuroprotection strategies.