Associate Professor of Neuroscience in Neurological Surgery
Our lab focuses on understanding the mechanisms of inflammation and neurodegeneration to develop innovative therapeutic strategies that reverse these processes and restore normal brain function.
Our research team actively explores methods to modulate peripheral signals and leverage the gut microbiome to support brain recovery. Furthermore, we harness cutting-edge technologies in neurorestorative treatments, including the utilization of nanoparticles designed to mitigate neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration associated with both brain injuries and Alzheimer’s pathology.
Biography
Dr. Sonia Villapol is an Associate Professor and neuroscientist at the Center for Neuroregeneration and the Department of Neurosurgery, Houston Methodist Research Institute (Houston, TX). She received her B.Sc. in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology from the University of Santiago de Compostela (2003) and completed an M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Neuroscience at the Autonomous University of Barcelona (2007).
She pursued postdoctoral research at the CNRS–Université Pierre et Marie Curie (VI) and INSERM in Paris, and later at the National Institutes of Health/Center for Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine and the Uniformed Services University in Bethesda, MD. In 2014, she joined Georgetown University as a Research Assistant Professor of Neuroscience, moving to HMRI in 2018. Dr. Villapol’s work, funded by the NIH, Department of Defense, and private foundations, investigates mechanisms of neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration across AD and TBI models, the brain–gut axis, and the development of neurorestorative drug-delivery systems. She has published more than 100 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters.
Distinctions:
Recognition of “Biologist of the Year” by the Official College of Biologists of Galicia, Spain (2024)
President’s Award for Excellence in Peer-Reviewed Publication, HMRI, Houston, TX (2021)
Faculty Award for Excellence in Mentorship in the Master Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Program, Georgetown University, Washington, D.C. (2018)
1st Place for Young Scientist Career Trajectory Award, Foundation Barrié, A Coruña, Spain (2013)
Superior Performance Award as Postdoctoral Fellow, Henry Jackson Foundation, Bethesda, MD (2012)
Fellowship Award, Henry M. Jackson Foundation, Bethesda, MD (2011-2013)
Mairie Paris Postdoctoral Fellowship and PremUp Award, Mairie Paris City Hall, Paris, France (2008-2010)
Extraordinary Doctorate Award Summa Cum Laude, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain (2007)
