What is CAJAL?

CAJAL Project: OsteoCalcin Autophagy to reJuvenate motoneuronAL function

CAJAL aimed to be the first study to unravel the impact of the systemic factors (SF) such as Osteocalcin (Ocn) on locomotion and spinal cord motoneurons. Specific objectives of the action have been:

1) Characterize the impact of systemic milieu/Ocn in regulating autophagy in spinal motoneurons

2) Analyze the therapeutic potential of Ocn in age-related locomotor decline

3) Decipher the role of Ocn-dependent autophagy in locomotor function and its signalling pathway

Outcomes from CAJAL for each objective:

1) Ocn/Gpr158 coupling is essential for locomotion, spinal cord MNs maintenance and spinal cord autophagy 

2) Ocn systemic treatment ameliorates age-related locomotor decline 

3) Ocn/Gpr158 coupling is essential for locomotion by the maintenance of basal autophagy 

What has CAJAL provided me with?

Developing the action has allowed me to develop my research career in several directions, ranging from scientific concepts to managing of young researchers. In particular, during CAJAL I have adquiered/performed the followin skills:

• I have developed huge knwoledge in autophagy, systemic factors, ageing and locomotion, by attending to specific trainings, national and international meetings, or by the collaboration with well-known scientists.

• I have supervisded researchers at all levels (BSc, MSc, PhD, research engineers)

• I have established external collaborations with Dr. Adrián Villalba to understand the role of Gpr158 in glycemia. I am also involved in one external collaboration with Dr. Eric Gilson (Nice, France), Dr. Guido Kroemer (Paris, France) and several inside the Host team (I have participated in 4 publications).

• I have presented my work in national meetings: Spanish Society for Autophagy (Toledo, 2022), Inc Journeys (Paris 2022, 2023), and in international meetings such as FENS (Paris, 2022). Besides, I have explained the projects at the internal seminars of INEM, and during meetings with collaborators like Dr. Guido Kromer.

• In 2021 I assisted to a CAJAL Training (Ageing Cognition, Bordeaux) in which I presented CAJAL and I started to establish my own network in the field of ageing and the nervous system.

• I have developed expertise in organing out-reach activites (Arte y Ciencia, Paris, 2022).

All in all, CAJAL has fostered my research career beyond the expected!!