Professor of Pharmacology,University of Barcelona,Spain
Professor Francisco Ciruela has built an outstanding research career around the pharmacological modulation of GPCRs, particularly through photopharmacology and bioengineering, with far-reaching implications in pain, neurodegeneration, and dermatological disorders. His publication impact, scientific leadership, and multidisciplinary collaborations reflect excellence, innovation, and relevance in his field.
Profile:
Scopus
Education and Training:
Prof. Francisco Ciruela received his Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences from the University of Barcelona in 1990. He continued at the same institution to earn his Ph.D. in Biological Sciences in 1995. His academic foundation laid the groundwork for an accomplished career in pharmacology and neuroscience, particularly in the study of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs).
Professional Experience:
Prof. Ciruela has held various prestigious research and academic positions. He was an EMBO Fellow and then a Wellcome Trust Fellow at the University of Oxford between 1997 and 2000. In 2002, he began his academic career as an Assistant Professor at the University of Barcelona, later becoming a “Ramón y Cajal” Researcher from 2003 to 2007. He undertook a short-term fellowship in 2007 at Harvard Medical School and served as a Special Visiting Researcher in Brazil between 2012 and 2015. Since 2013, he has been a Guest Professor at Ghent University, Belgium. He has also served as the Rector’s Delegate for Strategic Research Actions at the University of Barcelona (2017–2020) and is currently the Coordinator of the Neuroscience Program at IDIBELL, Spain.
Skills and Expertise:
Prof. Ciruela is a leading expert in neuropharmacology, molecular pharmacology, and bioengineering, with deep specialization in GPCR biology. His technical expertise includes fluorescence-based biosensors, photopharmacology, and bioengineered tools for studying neurotransmission, pain, and neurological disorders. He also has extensive experience in coordinating interdisciplinary teams, clinical trials, and translational research.
Research Focus:
The core of Prof. Ciruela’s research lies in understanding GPCRs to develop novel pharmacological strategies for treating neurological, neuropsychiatric, and pain-related disorders. His work integrates advanced bioengineering techniques with pharmacology to create targeted and photo-controllable therapies. His lab also focuses on developing innovative technologies such as light-sensitive ligands and biosensors, bridging basic neuroscience with clinical applications.
Awards and Honors:
Prof. Ciruela’s work has been widely recognized. He received the Pharmacology Award from the Spanish Society of Pharmacology and Almirall Laboratories in 2008. In 2010, he was honored with the “ICREA Acadèmia” award from the Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies. In 2017, he received the prestigious Grünenthal Foundation Award for his contributions to pain research.
Publications:
1. Temporomandibular disorders and mental health: shared etiologies and treatment approaches
Authors: Wan, Jiamin; Lin, Jiu; Zha, Tingfeng; Chen, Qianming; Chen, Xiaoyan
Year: [Not specified]
Citations: 0
Type: Article • Open access
2. Striatal dopamine D2, adenosine A2A and cannabinoid CB1 receptors balance as a target against non-cognitive symptoms in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Gómez-Acero, Laura; Sánchez-Fernández, Nuria; Subirana, Paula; Ciruela, Francisco; Aso, Ester
Journal: Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior
Year: 2025
Citations: 0
Type: Article • Open access
3. Nanoarchitecture of CaV2.1 channels and GABAB receptors in the mouse hippocampus: Impact of APP/PS1 pathology
Authors: Martín-Belmonte, Alejandro; Aguado, Carolina; Alfaro-Ruíz, Rocío; Ciruela, Francisco; Luján, Rafael
Journal: Brain Pathology
Year: 2025
Citations: 1
Type: Article • Open access
4. Author Correction: Systematic protein-protein interaction mapping for clinically relevant human GPCRs
Authors: Sokolina, Kate; Kittanakom, Saranya; Snider, Jamie D.; Jurisica, Igor; Stagljar, Igor
Journal: Molecular Systems Biology (Correction for 2017 article)
Year: [Correction date not specified]
Citations: 0
Type: Erratum • Open access
5. Lessons from the physiological role of guanosine in neurodegeneration and cancer: Toward a multimodal mechanism of action?
Authors: Tasca, Carla Inês Inês; Zuccarini, Mariachiara; Di Iorio, Patrizia; Ciruela, Francisco
Year: [Not specified]
Citations: 1
Type: Review
6. The dopaminergic effects of esketamine are mediated by a dual mechanism involving glutamate and opioid receptors
Authors: Rizzo, Arianna; Garçon-Poca, Maria Zelai; Essmann, Amelie; Ciruela, Francisco; Bonaventura, Jordi
Journal: Molecular Psychiatry
Year: 2025
Citations: 0
Type: Article • Open access
Conclusion:
Prof. Ciruela exemplifies the qualities of a best-in-class researcher: scientific excellence, innovation, interdisciplinary impact, and translational relevance. His record aligns perfectly with the aims of a prestigious research recognition award and would reflect well on any institution granting it.