About
Diego Gomez-Nicola is a Professor of Neuroimmunology at the School of Biological Sciences. As a neuroscientist, Prof Gomez-Nicola is interested in unveiling the roles of glial cells in the healthy and diseased brain, as a way to understand the fascinating complexity of our brain.
Prof Gomez-Nicola is the current Deputy Head of School (Research)
Research
Research groups
Research interests
- Neuroimmunology
- Neurodegeneration
- Neurodevelopment
- Glial cells
- Microglia
Current research
My research is focused in the understanding of the multicellular response of the CNS to injury or neurodegeneration, aiming at providing an integrative and detailed study of the functions and cross-regulation of the different cell components during neuropathology.
In the past I studied the role of proinflammatory cytokines in the regulation of the activation state of glial cells, in the context of brain inflammation, spinal cord injury, neuropathic pain or multiple sclerosis.
The goal of my current research is to study how changes to the population of microglial cells experienced during development or a healthy lifetime affect their contribution to Dementia, with a focus on Alzheimer's disease. We are studying human microglia in context, using advanced cell models and techniques enabling multidimensional profiling of human brain samples. A detailed understanding of the molecules and mechanisms orchestrating microglial proliferation and activation could open a window to elaborate therapeutic approaches to control the neuroinflammatory component of the disease.
Research projects
Active projects
Completed projects
Publications
Biography
Education
B.Sci in Biological Sciences (Neurobiology). Complutense University of Madrid. 1998-2003.
M.Sci in Molecular biology (Neurosciences). Autonoma University of Madrid. 2003-2005. Work on “Regulation by GD3 of the proinflammatory response of microglia mediated by Interleukin-15”.
Ph. D. in Molecular biology (Neurosciences). Autonoma University of Madrid. 2005-2008. Work on “Role of IL-15 in inflammation regulation in the central nervous system”.
Posts
2022-present: Professor of Neuroimmunology, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Southampton
2017-2022: Associate Professor in Neuroscience, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Southampton
2021-present: Research Scientist (Investigador Cientifico). Cajal International Neuroscience Centre (CSIC), Spain. On leave of absence
2019: Head of Neuroimmunology. Eli Lilly & Co. Erl Wood, Surrey.
2016-2017: Lecturer in Neuroscience, Biological Sciences, University of Southampton.
2013-2016: MRC NIRG Research Fellow (PI), Centre for Biological Sciences, University of Southampton.
2011-2013: Marie Curie Fellow (IEF FP7, European Union), CNS Inflammation Group, Centre for Biological Sciences, University of Southampton.
2010-2011: Postdoctoral Fellow of the Spanish Ministry of Education, CNS Inflammation Group, School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, UK.
2008-2010: Postdoctoral researcher, Neural Plasticity Group, National Hospital of Paraplegics, Toledo, Spain.
Positions of responsibility
2024-present-Deputy Chair of the MRC Neuroscience and Mental Health Board (NMHB)
2024-present- Chair of the MRC Nervous Tissue Resource oversight Board.
2023-present-Deputy Head of School (Research). School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Southampton
2023-present-Member of the Scientific Steering Committee of the UK MND Accelerator (MNDAcc)
2022-Chair of the MRC Enhance Living and Post-Mortem Human Nervous Tissue Resources Board
2021-present-Member of the steering committee of the Southampton and QMUL MRC Doctoral Training Partnership
2021-2024-Member of the MRC Prizes Board (including Millennium Medal).
2020-2024-Member of the MRC Neuroscience and Mental Health Board (NMHB)
2020-Co-Chair of the MRC Neuroimmunology Data Generation Board.
2019-2021-Member of the Executive Team of the Interdisciplinary Dementia and Ageing Centre (IDeAC), University of Southampton
2019-2024 -Member of the University of Southampton Athena Swan Self-Assessment Team
2017-2019-Chair of the Equality of Diversity Committee (Biological Sciences, Faculty of Natural and Environmental Sciences, University of Southampton)
2017-2019-Neuroscience Theme Lead, Biological Sciences Faculty of Natural and Environmental Sciences (University of Southampton)
2017-2018-Staff Engagement Champion, Biological Sciences, Faculty of Natural and Environmental Sciences (University of Southampton)
2017-2018-Co-Chair of the University of Southampton European Staff Support (SESS) Network
2017-2018-Coordinator of the South Coast ARUK Network
2016-2017-Administrator of the South Coast ARUK Network
2014-2019-Member of the managing board of the South Coast ARUK Network
2011-2017- Member of the Board of Spanish Glial Network