Projects per year
Personal profile
Personal profile
Dr. Sonia Villapol graduated from the University of Santiago of Compostela, Spain (2003) with a bachelor’s degree in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology. She received her master's degree and Ph.D. in Neuroscience from the Autonomous University of Barcelona, Spain (2007). She worked as a postdoctoral fellow at CNRS in the University Pierre and Marie Curie VI and at INSERM in Paris, France (2007-2010), and at the National Institute of Health (NIH) and Center for Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine at Uniformed Services University (USUHS) in Bethesda, MD (2010-2014). Following her postdoctoral research work, Dr. Villapol joined the Department of Neuroscience at Georgetown University (Washington, D.C.) as a Research Assistant Professor in May 2014. In July 2018, she started as an Assistant Professor at the Center for Neuroregeneration at Houston Methodist Research Institute. Dr. Villapol has received extramural research funding as Principal Investigator from NIH. She has published over 70 articles in peer reviewer journals and book chapters.
Research interests
Dr. Villapol´s research interests have been mainly focused on elucidating the mechanisms of neurodegeneration, neuroinflammation or neurogenesis via several models of brain injury (traumatic brain injury or cerebral ischemia), and neurodegeneration as Alzheimer's disease. We are investigating the brain-gut axis or drug delivery using nanoparticles for neurorestoration in a gender-dependent manner.
Villapol's lab focus is the pursuit of novel neurorestorative treatments for debilitating brain injuries to open the door to alternative therapies that repair and recover the damaged brain through the periphery.
Research Interests:
- Cerebral ischemia and traumatic brain injury
- Neurodegeneration and Alzheimer's disease
- Neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration
- Sex and gender differences in response to brain damage
- Brain-gut-microbiome axis ~ Brain-Periphery axis
- Glia activation
- Neuroprotection and Neurorestoration
Research Methods:
- Animal models of brain injury
- Immunohistochemistry and microscopy analysis
- Protein analysis
- DNA and RNA purification
- Sequence analysis
- Drug delivery
- Neuroimaging
Education/Academic qualification
Neuroscience, PhD, Autonomous University of Barcelona
Award Date: Oct 19 2007
Neuroscience, MS, Autonomous University of Barcelona
Award Date: Feb 1 2004
Molecular & Cellular Biology, BS, University of Santiago de Compostela
Award Date: Jan 3 2003
External positions
Faculty Academic Visitor, Rice University
Jun 15 2020 → Jun 14 2021
Affiliated Faculty Member, Texas A&M College of Medicine Health Science Center
Feb 17 2020 → Feb 16 2022
Faculty Academic Visitor, Baylor College of Medicine
Jun 1 2019 → …
Assistant Professor, Georgetown University
May 1 2014 → Jun 30 2018
Research Area Keywords
- Neurosciences
- Regenerative Medicine
- Immunobiology & Inflammation
- Clinical Translation & Trials
Free-text keywords
- Apoptosis
- Inflammation
- Microglia
- Immune activation
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
- Cerebral blood flow (CBF)
- Stroke
- Ischemia
- Microbiome
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Microbiota-targeted approaches to resolve dysbiosis-induced AD neuropathology following brain injury.
9/15/23 → 8/31/25
Project: Federal Funding Agencies
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Effects of epidural and transcutaneous spinal stimulation
Sayenko, D., Barber, S., Britz, G. W., Horner, P. J., Kaldis, T., Karmonik, C. & Villapol, S.
9/27/18 → …
Project: Clinical Trial
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High-speed biophysical and biochemical monitoring to discover early markers of unconventional brain injury
6/16/21 → 9/15/22
Project: Federal Funding Agencies
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The role of the gut microbiome in the neuropathology of traumatic brain injury
Villapol, S. & Kumaraswami, M.
10/1/18 → 3/31/22
Project: Federal Funding Agencies
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iDISCO Tissue Clearing Whole-Brain and Light Sheet Microscopy for High-Throughput Imaging in a Mouse Model of Traumatic Brain Injury
Flinn, H., Cruz-Pineda, L., Montier, L., Horner, P. J. & Villapol, S., 2024, Methods in Molecular Biology. Humana Press, p. 589-597 9 p. (Methods in Molecular Biology; vol. 2761).Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
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Microbial Community Profiling Protocol with Full-length 16S rRNA Sequences and Emu
Curry, K. D., Soriano, S., Nute, M. G., Villapol, S., Dilthey, A. & Treangen, T. J., Mar 2024, In: Current Protocols. 4, 3, e978.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Sex-dependent improvement in traumatic brain injury outcomes after liposomal delivery of dexamethasone in mice
Baudo, G., Flinn, H., Holcomb, M., Tiwari, A., Soriano, S., Taraballi, F., Godin, B., Zinger, A. & Villapol, S., 2024, (Accepted/In press) In: Bioengineering and Translational Medicine.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
"Chapter 6: Gastrointestinal Disorders"
Villapol, S., Apr 13 2023, Understanding the Behavioral and Medical Impact of Long COVID: An Empirical Guide to Assessment and Treatment of Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS CoV-2 Infection. 1 ed. New York, NY: RoutledgeResearch output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
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The Renin Angiotensin System as a Therapeutic Target in Traumatic Brain Injury
Villapol, S., Janatpour, Z. C., Affram, K. O. & Symes, A. J., Oct 2023, In: Neurotherapeutics. 20, 6, p. 1565-1591 27 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
Open Access3 Scopus citations
Prizes
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Academic Institute Award for Excellence in Peer-Reviewed Publication
Villapol, Sonia (Recipient), 2021
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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Finalist “Top 10 Women Leaders Aboard”. Mujeres&Co, Spain
Villapol, Sonia (Recipient), 2021
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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Lugo Citizen of the Year 2020 in Science Category, Spain.
Villapol, Sonia (Recipient), 2021
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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Mission Connect Research Award (TIRR Foundation)
Villapol, Sonia (Recipient), Nov 2020
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)