User:LNM83/Juan Lerma Gómez

Juan lerma Gómez (born June 8, 1955) is a Reserch Professor and Editor-in-Chief of Neuroscience (journal), the flagship journal of IBRO. He was Vicedirector (2005) and then Director (2007-2016) at the Instituto de Neurociencias (Neurosciences Institute). As well as, he is head of the program “Severo Ochoa Center of Excellence” (2014). He served as Chairman of the Pan European Regional Committee of IBRO (2010-2015), President of the Spanish Neuroscience Society and member of the executive board of the Confederation of Spanish Scientific Societies (COSCE) (2013-2016). He was elected member of European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) in 2000 and of the Academia Europaea in 2010. Currently, he is Secretary General of the Federation of European Neuroscience Societies (FENS) (2014) and member of the Board of the European Brain Council (EBC)(2012). He belongs to DANA Alliance and is member of the editorial board of Neuron, Neuroscience, Frontiers in Neuroscience and Neuroscience Bulletin.

Biography
Dr. Lerma followed Biology studies at the University of Madrid until 1979, after which he started research at the Hospital Ramón y Cajal, under the mentorship of Dr. E. Garcia-Austt, obtaining his PhD in Sciences at the Autonomous University in 1983. After spending 6 years as a faculty member of the Hospital’s Department of Research, he became tenure Staff Researcher in the Instituto Cajal from the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC). Shortly after, he moved to the Albert Einstein College of Medicine (NY, USA) with a Fogarty Fellowship. There he worked with Dr. Mike V.L. Bennett and Dr. R. Suzanne Zukin. In 1990, he returned to Spain (Instituto Cajal, CSIC) where he established his own lab. Later in 2000, Dr. Lerma was promoted to Full Professor. In 2004, he moved to Systems Department at the Instituto de Neurociencias (Neurosciences Institute).

Research
Prof. Lerma was focused in analyze the molecular basis of neuronal communication, specifically elucidating the properties and signalling mechanisms of Glutamate Receptors and their role in health and disease. He described the existence of functional kainate receptors (KARs) in central neurons. Prof. Lerma’s group was among the pioneers in applying single-cell RT-PCR to study neurotransmitter receptors. He described the KAR fundamental role in controlling neuronal tissue excitability and epileptogenesis. Also demonstrated that KARs have a dual mechanism of signalling. He studies the role played by KARs in the pathophysiology of brain diseases, in particular those related with the alteration of the mood and particular synapses that impact significantly the behaviour.

Lerma has published over 100 papers in peer-reviewed journals.

Honors and awards

 * Distinction to the Scientific Merit. Government of Valencia Community (2013)
 * Elected to the Academia Europaea (2010)
 * “Highest distinction to the research career". Univ. Mayor de San Marcos, Peru (2015)
 * Member of European Dana Alliance for the Brain (EDAB) (2005)
 * XI Award “Alberto Sols” to the Best Research Activity (2004)
 * CEOE Foundation Award to the Sciences (2004)
 * Award to the Scientific Excellence “Alonso Gabriel de Herrera” (2002)
 * Santiago Grisolía Chair Award (2002)
 * Elected EMBO Member (2000)