Research Group / About Us

For over two decades, our dedicated research group has immersed itself in the multifaceted domains of amphetamine derivatives, with a particular emphasis on MDMA, amphetamine, and methamphetamine. Our commitment to unravelling the complexities of these classic substances of abuse has driven us to undertake an array of comprehensive studies.

Our exploration embarked in 2010, pioneering the investigation of cathinones such as mephedrone and methylone. Through strategic collaboration with the Institut Químic de Sarrià, we proactively monitor emerging or potential Novel Psychoactive Substances (NSPs). Our research activities encompass a spectrum of methodologies, including in vitro studies using cells expressing human monoamine transporters, behavioral assessments conducted on mice and rats, in silico studies, analytical determinations and detailed examination of gene expression and protein changes linked to addictive potential and toxicity. Our key objective is to yield pivotal insights that not only inform the society about associated risks but also furnish compelling evidence for timely classification and prohibition by relevant authorities.

In recent years, our focal point has pivoted towards exploring therapeutic applications for Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPS). Our aspiration is to harness their inherent potential to promote neurogenesis, modulate gene expression, all while mitigating their proclivity for addiction and hallucinogenic properties. In the pursuit of this goal, our research group actively collaborates with national and international counterparts who share parallel objectives.

On this website, you will find comprehensive details about our ongoing projects and the outcomes we have achieved thus far. We welcome new ideas and collaborations, incorporating an ethos of openness and shared progress in our collective pursuit of knowledge and understanding.

As a product of academia, our basis lies in education and training, serving as the bedrock of our survival. Hence, we seek individuals eager to unite with our group and embark on a journey within the valued realm of research, contributing to the interesting vocation of learning and discovery.

NextGeNPS
Neuropsychopharmacology of amphetamines derivatives and other new psychoactive substances

Dr Jordi Camarasa

Full Professor of Pharmacology. Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy and food sciences.
e-mail: jcamarasa@ub.edu

Dra Elena Escubedo

Full Professor of Pharmacology
mail: eescubedo@ub.edu

Dr. David Pubill

Full Professor of Pharmacology.
e-mail: davidpubill@ub.edu 

Dr. Raul López-Arnau

Associate Professor of Pharmacology
e-mail: raullopezarnau@ub.edu

Dr. Marcel·lí Carbó Banús

Adjunct Professor of Pharmacology.
e-mail: marcel·licarbobanus@ub.edu

Dra Nuria Nadal-Gratacós

Adjunct Professor of Pharmacology
e-mail: nurianadalg@ub.edu

Hired Students

Clara Riera

PhD Student

Pol Puigseslloses

PhD Student

Edurne Urquizu

PhD Student

Marta Lucía Domínguez

PhD Student

Dr Jordi Camarasa

Full Professor of Pharmacology. Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy and food sciences.
e-mail: jcamarasa@ub.edu

Dr. Jordi Camarasa

I am currently a full professor of Pharmacology at the University of Barcelona, specialized in both in vitro and in vivo methodologies.  My postdoctoral training in Paris, France centered on the neuropharmacology of polyphenolic and catechol compounds. During that time, I researched the neuroprotective potential of these molecules based on their antioxidant properties.

Upon returning to the University of Barcelona in 1987 I became the Principal Investigator on a regularly renewed grant project funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science devoted to the study of neurodegeneration induced by amphetamines in rats and mice

I joined Drs. Escubedo and Pubill to form a research group focused on the neuropharmacology of amphetamines. Since then we have developed numerous different neurochemical and behavioral tests. We have great experience in the experimental models of behavioral pharmacology, which constitute the core of our published work.

The inclusion in our research group of PhD students with a degree in chemistry or medicinal chemistry has allowed us to synthesize pure compounds (synthetic cathinones, phenethylamine- and tryptamine-derivatives among these). Furthermore, we have developed several methods for a quantitative analysis of neurotoxicity, hyperlocomotion, addiction and cognitive alterations caused by new psychostimulants.

Now, I am the Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences.

https://webgrec.ub.edu/webpages/000003/ang/jcamarasa.ub.edu.html

Dra. Elena Escubedo

Full Professor of Pharmacolog
mail: eescubedo@ub.edu

Dra. Elena Escubedo

Professor Elena Escubedo Rafa is currently a Full Professor at the University of Barcelona (UB-Faculty of Pharmacy). After a pre-doctoral stay at the University of Paris Sud, she obtained her Ph.D. degree in Pharmacy from the University of Barcelona in 1986. She has also studied the Master in Bioinformatics in Health Science at Pompeu Fabra University (2008-2010) thanks to a sabbatical leave. She has been recognized for her dedication to research for 6 five-year periods. She is an academic at the Real Academia de Farmàcia de Catalunya i Balears.

With an unwavering dedication to scientific inquiry, Professor Escubedo has led a research group for 17 years, focusing on unraveling the mechanisms of action of amphetamine derivatives, particularly cathinone and amphetamines, and their neurotoxic effects. Recognized by the Generalitat de Catalunya, her group has significantly contributed to the field, publishing numerous papers.

Professor Escubedo’s research extends to the neuropsychopharmacology of emerging psychoactive substances. The research group was the first Spanish team conducting preclinical studies on these substances and has made notable contributions to understanding their psychostimulant effects and pharmacokinetics. she has made a lot of efforts to communicate research findings through media channels and specialized agencies, emphasizing the consequences of using psychoactive substances and aiding the work of legislators.

Throughout her career, she has led and contributed to several projects, and is currently in contact with several research groups in different countries acting as scientific collaborators. Currently, she aims to redirect her research towards exploring the therapeutic applicability of these addictive substances.

https://webgrec.ub.edu/webpages/000003/ang/eescubedo.ub.edu.html

Dr. David Pubill

Full Professor of Pharmacology.
e-mail: davidpubill@ub.edu 

Dr. David Pubill

David Pubill graduated in Pharmacy at the Universitat de Barcelona (1991), performed a graduate thesis (1992) and obtained the PhD degree (Pharmacology) in 1997 under the supervision of Profs. Jordi Camarasa and Elena Escubedo. Thereafter, he merited an INSERM Poste Verd grant for a 1-year postdoctoral stage at the Centre CNRS-INSERM de Pharmacologie-Endocrinologie (U-469, CCIPE, Montpellier, France).

After 4 years as assistant professor, in 2001 he was appointed Associate Professor of Pharmacology at the Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, Universitat de Barcelona (UB) and since June 2021 he is Full Professor at the same department.

Since his return from the postdoctoral stage, his research has been focused in the neuropsychopharmacology of amphetamine derivatives and the mechanisms involved in their neurotoxic effects and, from 2011, he joined to the research on cathinone derivatives. From 2005, he is Coordinator of the Generalitat de Catalunya Consolidated Research Group (SGR) “Neuropsychopharmacology of amphetamine derivatives and other new psychoactive substances”. He is member of the Institute of Biomedicine of the UB (IBUB) since its founding in 2007 and of the Spanish Society of Pharmacology from 1995.

To date, he has been PI of five funded Research Projects and participated as researcher in other 18 funded research proposals. He has directed five doctoral theses and numerous master and graduate theses.

He has authored 82 research papers and 10 book chapters, is Reviewer Editor of the Frontiers journals (Neuropharmacology area) and participates as reviewer for many important journals of the field.

https://webgrec.ub.edu/webpages/000003/ang/d.pubill.ub.edu.html

Dr. Raul López-Arnau

Associate Professor – Researcher
e-mail: raullopezarnau@ub.edu

Dr. Raul López-Arnau

Graduated in Chemistry Sciences from the University of Barcelona (UB) in 2010, he began his research activity at the Faculty of Pharmacy, after joining the Neuropharmacology of Amphetamine Derivatives group, led by Professors Dr. Jorge Camarasa and Dr. Elena Escubedo. During his Master Thesis, he started to be involved in the field of new psychoactive substances.

Before finishing his doctoral thesis and during his postdoctoral period, he had the opportunity to carry out several international stays such as at the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Sweden, at the Università degli Studi di Cagliari, Italy as well as at the American University of Washington, in Washington D.C., USA.

Nowadays, as associate professor at the University of Barcelona, he have obtained funding, as Principal Investigator, by the Ministry of Science and Innovation and an international coordinated project awarded by the Science for Peace and Security Program of NATO, which is focused on the search of new neuroprotectors against industrial chemicals used in terrorist attacks. Moreover, he has been member of the research team of different national projects as well as of a European project, the so-called NextGenPS project, funded by the European Commission.

Finally, the research group where he belongs has started new line of investigations thanks to the information obtained during the last years through the study of novel psychoactive substances. This new and innovative line is focused on psychedelic research, the neuropharmacology of these new compounds and its promising use to treat not only neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, but also other mental disorders such as depression, anxiety and substances abuse.

Dr. Marcel·lí Carbó Banús

Adjunct Professor of Pharmacology.
e-mail: marcel·licarbobanus@ub.edu

Dr. Marcel·lí Carbó Banús

Degree in Medicine and Surgery (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona), PhD in Pharmacology and Psychiatry (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona) and Master in Applied Statistics and Modeling Design in Health Sciences (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona).

In the pharmaceutical industry, he was head of pharmacology department at Lacer S.A. and at Prous Institut for Biomedical Research, and head of pharmacokinetics and bioanalysis department at Uriach y Cía and  Palau Pharma S.A. Actually he teaches Toxicology (Departament de Ciències Experimentals i de la Salut, Universitat  Pompeu Fabra, Spain), Pharmacology (Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry, Facultat de Farmàcia i Ciències de l’Alimentació, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain)  and Molecular Physiopathology (Institut Químic de Sarrià,  Universitat Ramon Llull, Spain).

He has a broad background in pharmacology, pharmacokinetics and toxicology in the pharmaceutical industry and university, with specific training and expertise in pharmacokinetic research and the development of new molecular entities. 

Its research includes pharmacological changes associated with drugs of abuse, drug-drug interactions, pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic relationships and pharmacokinetic analysis of drugs.

As a PI or co-investigator at the university and as an expert in pharmacokinetics in the research and development area of the pharmaceutical industry, he contributes to different research projects by developing effective methods, providing advice, and producing several publications. 

Nuria Nadal Gratacós

Adjunct Professor of Pharmacology
e-mail: nurianadalg@ub.edu

Nuria Nadal Gratacós

Núria Nadal Gratacós earned her Bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy from Ramon Llull University in 2019. Subsequently, she pursued her PhD, completing it in 2023 through a collaboration between Ramon Llull University and the University of Barcelona under the guidance of Dr. Xavier Berzosa Rodríguez and Dr. Raúl López Arnau. Her work during her PhD earned her the Extraordinary PhD Award.

Her doctoral research focused on exploring the Structure-Activity Relationship of Synthetic Cathinones. Throughout her thesis, she actively engaged in synthesizing and assessing the mechanism of action of these compounds in vitro, as well as investigating their behavioral impacts on mice. Additionally, she conducted research on synthesizing and characterizing a range of psychedelics during the final year of her thesis. To further enhance her expertise, she conducted a research stay at the Medical University of Vienna, where she acquired knowledge in more in vitro techniques for characterizing the mechanism of action of new psychoactive substances.

Presently, Dr. Nadal-Gratacós serves as a post-doctoral researcher in Dr. Elena Esubedo’s group within the Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Therapeutic Chemistry at the Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona. Her current research focuses on exploring the neuroplasticity and therapeutic potential of novel psychedelics.

Furthermore, since October 2023, she holds the position of Assistant Professor at the Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Therapeutic Chemistry at the University of Barcelona. In this role, she contributes to laboratory courses focusing on pharmacognosy.

Clara Riera

PhD Student

Clara Riera

I have a degree in Pharmacy (Universitat de Barcelona), and I am currently a first year PhD student at the group of “Neuropsychopharmacology of amphetamine derivatives”, holding a position in “Investigo AGAUR-1” programme.  

After completing my degree in Pharmacy, I decided to take on a PhD. I am of the opinion that conducting such studies poses a great challenge, which makes one grow remarkably at a personal and intellectual level. Furthermore, I firmly believe that working in research is highly motivational given that it constantly induces the development of critical thinking and creativity.

My research is focused on finding innovative treatments against neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and depression. Thus, the realisation of my PhD has given me experience in both in vitro and in vivo assays as well as in behavioural animal studies.

Pol Puigseslloses

PhD Student

Pol Puigseslloses

Graduated in Chemistry in 2018 from Universitat de Barcelona, he participated in research projects at centers such as Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC) and the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC). He also did an internship in the pharmaceutical industry, in the production and R+D departments at UQUIFA.

He completed an MSc in Pharmaceutical Chemistry at IQS School of Engineering and underwent an eight-month internship at Cardiff University on a medicinal chemistry project in 2020. Afterwards, he worked at IQS in the development of synthetic routes and analytical methods for pharmaceutical companies during 2021-2022.

He is currently performing a PhD in “Drug research, development and control” at Universitat de Barcelona, under the supervision of Dr. Raul López-Arnau, Dr. Xavier Berzosa and Prof. Elena Escubedo, focused on the design, synthesis and biological characterization of novel psychoactive substances, specializing on psychedelic research.

Edurne Urquizu Llop

PhD Student

Edurne Urquizu Llop

Graduated from Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona with a B.S. degree in Biochemistry (2019), she studied a M.S. degree in Biomedicine at Universitat de Barcelona (2020). She developed her master thesis in Professor’s Elena Escubedo’s research group, studying the expression of genes related to addiction after the acute exposure to several novel synthetic cathinones.

After that, she worked as a research assistant in the Neurogenetics and Molecular Medicine laboratory, in the research institute Sant Joan de Déu. She worked investigating the role of the protein ankyrin repeat and kinase domain containing 1 (ANKK1) in drug addiction.  

Since February 2022, she has been doing her PhD in the Amphetamine derivatives group under the direction of Dr. Raúl López Arnau and Prof. Elena Escubedo. Edurne is working in the NATO project of ‘New generation of drugs protecting against neurotoxic industrial chemicals’ and her focus is on developing a survival mouse model of acute paraoxon poisoning in order to test novel neuroprotective peptides. Meanwhile, in October 2022 she started being an Adjunct professor of the subject of Toxicology, teaching practical courses in the Bachelor of Pharmacy.

Marta Lucia Dominguez

PhD Student

Marta Lucia Dominguez

Martalu Dominguez Pazos, a FI-SDUR fellow (2024) in the Ph.D. program on Drug Research, Development, and Control at the “Neuropsicofarmacologia dels derivats amfetamínics i altres noves substàncies psicoactives (NextGenPS) Research Group, Universitat de Barcelona. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy from the University of Santiago de Compostela (2019) and her M.Sc. in Pharmaceutical Sciences, specializing in Drug Discovery and Development, from the University of Copenhagen (2021).

She held a SUND Mobility Grant for her one-year master’s thesis at the Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London.
She worked as a research technician for over two years (2023) in response to the COVID-19 pandemic to carry out the PTI Global Health Project from The Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and the H2020-SC1-PHECORONAVIRUS project at the NanoBiosensors and Bioanalytical Applications Group, Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology.

Her research has been published in Advanced Healthcare Materials and Sensors & Diagnostics. Her current research focuses on the synthesis and the structure-activity relationship of new psychoactive substances (NPS), especially synthetic cathinones, phenethylamines, and tryptamines.

Her work aims to characterize their mechanism of action and psychostimulant and psychedelic effects.

Beyond academia, she is an active collaborator in the recreational drug use risk reduction program, Energy Control, where she performs internal trainings on substances analyzed by the drug-checking services.