Javier García Nafria

Centre: Dpto. Bioquímica y Biología  Molecular y Celular
Institution: University of  Zaragoza, Zaragoza (Spain)
Position: Researcher from the “Ramón y Cajal” program
E-mail: jgarcianafria@posta.unizar.es
Phone: 876555494
Web: https://sites.google.com/view/signal-transduction-lab/homepage
Profile:  Ver

Personal statement
I completed a PhD at the University of York (UK, 2011) and then worked as a post-doctoral researcher in two laboratories at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology (Cambridge, UK). During that time, I contributed to understanding the structural and functional mechanisms of neuronal ion channels and G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Since 2020, I have led the “Signal Transduction and Membrane Protein Therapies” group at the Instituto de Biocomputación y Física de sistemas complejos (BIFI). The group focuses on discovering new mechanisms to modulate therapeutic targets and on the development of new drugs. Throughout his career, Javier has collaborated with several pharmaceutical companies including MedImmune (AstraZeneca) and Heptares Therapeutics (now Nxera).

Researcher profile identity
I am a Ramón y Cajal researcher and head of a research group. My research focuses on understanding a family of cell surface-localised proteins called G protein-coupled receptors or GPCRs. These proteins are found in all major organs and are the therapeutic target of one-third of all drugs in the clinic. For this, we use high-resolution electron cryo-microscopy, where from images of these proteins we obtain 3D reconstructions at the atomic level, and we can observe how drugs modulate the therapeutic targets. We then use pharmacology experiments to understand how they act and to be able to improve these drugs.

¿Por qué es importante lo que investigo?
Understanding drug modulation at the atomic level helps us discover new ways in which we can regulate therapeutic targets, which has the potential to ultimately generate improved, more effective drugs with fewer side effects. One of the main lines of research is dopamine receptors, the targets of treatments for Parkinson’s disease and schizophrenia. We are therefore trying to generate better drugs for these diseases.

Know more about me and my research
– https://bifi.es/es/biofisica/
– https://sites.google.com/view/signal-transduction-lab/
– https://sites.google.com/view/signal-transduction-lab/
– https://www.linkedin.com/in/javier-garcia-nafria-a9008b31/
– Twitter/X: @jgarcianafria