LABORATORY OF LIPID NEUROBIOLOGY AND OXIDATIVE STRESS
Principal Investigator
- Dra. Gabriela Salvador
Research lines
Our laboratory develops two complementary research lines aimed at understanding and addressing the mechanisms underlying neurodegeneration:
– Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Neurodegeneration
We investigate the biological and biochemical processes that occur in neurons during the loss of their identity and function, ultimately leading to neuronal death. In this context, we focus particularly on the roles of lipid metabolism, oxidative stress, and neuroinflammation in neurodegenerative diseases. Our research addresses conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, iron-associated neurodegeneration, and age-related macular degeneration.
This research line is led by Dr. Gabriela Salvador.
– Development of Innovative Therapeutic Strategies
We explore the therapeutic potential of natural products and their derivatives as tools to target the processes underlying neurodegeneration. Our goal is to identify and develop novel strategies that may contribute to the prevention and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
This research line is led by Dr. Natalia Alza.
Researchers / Fellows
- Dra.Natalia Alza
- Dra. Melisa Conde
- Dra. Athina Maniscalchi
- Bioq. Oriana Benzi Juncos
- Bioq. Mariel Bonjour
- Julia Rossi
Collaborators
- Dra. Patricia Oteiza – UC Davis (EEUU)
- Dr. Nelson Barrera – Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (Chile)
- Dra. Paula Monje – University of Kentucky (EEUU)
- Dra. Romina Uranga – New College of Florida (EEUU)
- Dra. Silvia Antollini – INIBIBB-UNS
- Dra. Verónica González Pardo – INBIOSUR-UNS
Former members
- Dra. Romina Uranga
- Dra. Melania Funk
- Dra. Guadalupe Rodríguez Diez
- Dra. Sofía Sánchez Campos
- Dr. Pablo Iglesias González
Selected publications
- A. Maniscalchi, O.N. Benzi Juncos, M.A. Conde, M.I. Funk, M. Bonjour, N.P. Alza, G.A. Salvador. Maneb-induced neurotoxicity involves dopaminergic cell loss and lipid metabolism impairment. Chemosphere, 2026, 398: 144867. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2026.144867
- F. Musso, N.P. Alza*, G. Salvador, B. Faraoni*. Synthesis and Evaluation of Lupeol-Derived Triterpenic Azines as Potential Neuroprotective Agents. *corresponding author. RSC Medicinal Chemistry, 2026, 17-618. doi: 10.1039/d5md00753d
- O.N. Benzi Juncos, N.P. Alza, J. Cordero, N.P. Barrera, G.A. Salvador. Molecular components of the FPR2/ALX pathway participate in astrocyte-neuron resolution responses to afford maneb-induced toxicity. Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences, 2025, 82:327. doi: 10.1007/s00018-025-05841-3
- N.P. Alza*, O.N. Benzi Juncos, V. Cavallaro, E.M. Pferschy-Wenzig, T. Pirker, R. Bauer, A.P. Murray, G.A. Salvador*. Deacylcynaropicrin from Cyclolepis genistoides attenuates iron-induced oxidative stress and inflammatory signaling in neuron and glial cells. *corresponding author. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2025, 353(Pt A):120348. 10.1016/j.jep.2025.120348
- A. Maniscalchi, O.N. Benzi Juncos, M.A. Conde, M.I. Funk, M.E. Fermento, M.M. Facchinetti, A. Curino, R.M. Uranga, N.P. Alza, G.A. Salvador. New insights on neurodegeneration triggered by iron accumulation: Intersections with neutral lipid metabolism, ferroptosis, and motor impairment. Redox Biology, 2024, 71 (2024) 103074. doi: 10.1016/j.redox.2024.103074
- M.A. Conde, N.P. Alza, M.I. Funk, A. Maniscalchi, O.N. Benzi Juncos, I. Berge, R.M. Uranga, G.A. Salvador. α-Synuclein attenuates Maneb neurotoxicity through the modulation of redox-sensitive transcription factors. Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, 2023, 2023, 5803323. 10.1155/2023/5803323
Awards
- 2025. Distinción mujeres destacadas de la Universidad Nacional del Sur otorgado a la Dra. Gabriela Salvador
- 2023. Mención del Premio L’Oreal Unesco (Argentina) “Por las Mujeres en la Ciencia” a la Dra. Gabriela Salvador.
- 2023. Ernst Mach Follow up Grant (Austrian Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research) otorgado a la Dra. Natalia Alza
Contact:
DRA. GABRIELA ALEJANDRA SALVADOR
salvador@criba.edu.ar
+ 54 291 4037195