As in previous years, our group is open to master and advanced undergraduate students for extending their scientific training through hands-on experience in our laboratory during the summer recess (1 July – 30 September). In addition to carrying out a supervised research project, the students will also attend CNIC seminars.

The aim of the CICERONE program is to give university students first-hand knowledge of biomedical research so that they can make more informed choices about the possibility of pursuing a scientific career.

To apply, you must register at CNIC website before 15 April 2019.

For the 2019 call, we are offering the following research projects:

• Role of p38MAPK in metabolic diseases: Metabolic syndrome is a medical disorder defined by the co‐occurrence of obesity, impaired glucose tolerance, dyslipidemia and hypertension. Stress activated protein kinases have been shown to control both obesity by itself and diabetes associated to obesity. These stress kinases are activated by several MAPK activated kinases (MKK). We want to investigate the role of MKK3 in this process and the molecular mechanism by which this kinase could affect diabetes.
• p38MAPK in heart physiology: The p38MAPK pathway transduces a variety of extracellular signals regulating cellular responses to stress, being implicated in cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. Its implication in the development of human diseases it is being deeply studied. Four p38MAPK family members have been identified: p38α, β, γ and δ. Preliminary data from our laboratory show that these kinases may control cytokine production during acute and chronic inflammatory processes. Moreover, studies with genetically modified mice made in our laboratory confirm that p38MAPKs have a role in the development of the heart. Our main objective is to determine if the regulation of the p38MAPK signalling pathway could have beneficial effects in the cardiac response to exercise.