Dr. Jordi Duran

I am a Principal Investigator and Associate Professor at Institut Químic de Sarrià (IQS) - Ramon Llull University. I am also an Associate Researcher at IBEC Barcelona. My research group is devoted to the study of brain metabolism, in particular the physiological roles of glycogen in brain function and its pathological implications in neurodegenerative conditions such as Lafora disease. Additionally, I serve as a scientific advisor for the charity foundation Fundació La Marató de TV3.

Oct 16, 2024. Chelsea's Hope

I am incredibly honored and proud to have been nominated as a member of the advisory board of Chelsea's Hope Lafora Children Research Fund. I am committed to dedicating my efforts to help our association grow and work tirelessly towards finding a cure for Lafora disease. 



https://chelseashope.org/chelseas-hope-announces-launch-of-advisory-board/ 

Sep 24, 2024. San Diego, USA

We have been invited to present our work on developing nanomedicine-based treatments for Lafora disease at the Lafora Disease Science Symposium


https://chelseashope.org/annual-lafora-disease-science-symposium/ 

Sep 18, 2024. Ljubljana, Slovenia

We’re in Ljubljana for the International Conference on Brain Energy Metabolism. Núria Moral has won the Best Student Poster Award presenting her work in the lab.


https://www.brainenergymetabolism.org/2024-Meeting 

Sep 9, 2024. Salvador, Brasil

We have been invited to present our research at the X Biennial Meeting of the Neurotoxicity Society


https://www.neurotoxicitysociety.org/ 

Jul 30, 2024. New article

We discuss on the Therapeutic Window for the Treatment of Lafora Disease, highlighting the importance of early diagnosis for the successful treatment of the condition


https://academic.oup.com/book/57972/chapter/476211554  

Jun 3, 2024. 20 years of FECAMM

Congratulations to FECAMM Foundation on their 20th anniversary. It was a pleasure to be a part of the celebration discussing research on #RareDiseases.


https://www.fecamm.org/news/665ecfb5c85b53b9b4ce8b56 

Apr 20, 2024. Betevé

Betevé (Barcelona TV) broadcasts our documentary Fighting the Rare 


Betevé - Doc's 


Apr 9, 2024. Facultat de Medicina, UB

We have presented our results at the Faculty of Medicine of  the University of Barcelona and the Institute of Neurosciences 


https://www.ub.edu/portal/web/medicina-ciencies-salut 

Feb 29, 2024. IRB Barcelona

On Rare Disease Day, at IRB Barcelona, we have discussed the importance of biomedical research to find treatments for rare diseases. 


https://www.irbbarcelona.org/rarediseaseday 

Feb 19, 2024. Hacettepe University

We have presented our research at the Institute of Neurological Sciences and Psychiatry of the Hacettepe University. 

Feb 11, 2024. Interview in COPE radio

He participado en el programa ‘Lo que viene’ para explicar nuestra investigación sobre la enfermedad de Lafora y la importancia de investigar sobre enfermedades raras 


https://www.cope.es/programas/lo-que-viene/enfermedades-raras

(min. 14:40) 

Jan 30, 2024. Opinion article in ASEBIO

#VozBiotech | La importancia de la investigación biomédica y biotecnológica para lograr avances frente a enfermedades que están olvidadas.


https://asebio.com/actualidad/noticias/investigacion-biomedica-biotecnologica-enfermedades-raras  



English version: The importance of biomedical and biotechnological research to find treatments for neglected diseases


https://www.drjordiduran.com/vozbiotech-asebio 

Jan 4, 2024. New article

First article of the year in Journal of Neurochemistry.  Brain energy metabolism: A roadmap for future research. It is an honor to be listed among all these legends of brain energy metabolism.


https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jnc.16032 

Dec 16, 2023. Betevé

Betevé (Barcelona TV) broadcasts our documentary Fighting the Rare 


Betevé - Doc's 


Oct 17, 2023. Setmana de la Ciència

We have participated in "Setmana de la Ciència" to disseminate scientific research among the general public. 


https://setmanaciencia.fundaciorecerca.cat/frontend/detall_activitat.asp?ID=4600 

Oct 14, 2023. Lund University

Wallenberg Center for Molecular Medicine Research School, Lund University


https://www.wcmm.lu.se/wallenberg-center-molecular-medicine 

Oct 3, 2023. Epilepsy Sparks

Hear of the ultra-rare, devastating, terminal epilepsy Lafora Disease and the exciting research taking place to try and improve and save the lives of the children affected. 


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6-GW-VfVJo 

https://www.torierobinson.com/epilepsy-sparks-insights/jordi-duran-lafora-diesease 

Sep 21, 2023. Barcelona

Una teràpia gènica per a la malaltia de Lafora, via IQS Barcelona 

Jul 14, 2023. VibeCast

Podcast on the challenges funding rare disease research, Lafora disease and Fighting the Rare VibeCast Ep 19 

Jul 04, 2023 - New article

Glycogen accumulation modulates life span in a mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis - We show that excess #glycogen in #astrocytes plays a toxic role not only in #laforadisease but also in another neurodegenerative condition like #ALS 


https://doi.org/10.1111/jnc.15906 

Jun 26, 2023. Barcelona

Fighting the Rare presentation at IQS Barcelona

Jun 21, 2023. CheckRare

Interview by 'CheckRare'. Dr. Jordi Duran and Niki Markou, discuss the documentary Fighting the Rare and the symptoms and pathophysiology of Lafora disease.


1. checkrare.com/fighting-the-rare 

2. checkrare.com/lafora-disease-explained 

Apr 15, 2023 - Project Granted

We have received a Project Grant award from Fundación Ramón Areces. We will try to speed up the search for an effective cure for #laforadisease 

Feb 24, 2023 - New article

Role of Astrocytes in the Pathophysiology of Lafora Disease and Other Glycogen Storage Disorders - A review on how the accumulation of #glycogen in astrocytes contributes to #laforadisease and other neurodegenerative conditions.

https://doi.org/10.3390/cells12050722  

Feb 17, 2023 - La Marató

En 31 anys de solidaritat, La Marató de TV3 i Catalunya Ràdio ha finançat prop de 1.000 projectes de recerca que han aportat millores en la qualitat i l'esperança de vida de tots nosaltres.

https://www.ccma.cat/tv3/alacarta/programa/doctor-jordi-duran  

https://twitter.com/la_marato/ 

Jan 30, 2023 - New article

Active Glycogen Synthase in the Liver Prevents High-Fat Diet-Induced Glucose Intolerance, Decreases Food Intake, and Lowers Body Weight.

https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24032574

Jordi Duran

Jan 27, 2023 - Fighting the Rare

Shooting Fighting the Rare at IRB Barcelona

https://twitter.com/FightingTheRare/status/1619004690485882881?s=20 

Jan 18, 2023 - Fighting the Rare

Shooting Fighting the Rare at IQS Barcelona

https://twitter.com/IQSbarcelona/status/1615715773493792770?s=20  

Dec 5, 2022 - Fighting the Rare

Shooting Fighting the Rare at CCCB Barcelona

https://twitter.com/FightingTheRare/status/1599795805790949376?s=20 


Sep 28, 2022 - Fighting the Rare

Shooting Fighting the Rare at Lafora disease Symposium (San Diego, USA)

https://twitter.com/DrJordiDuran/status/1574898889387233280?s=20 

Sep 09, 2022 - New article

Hepatic overexpression of protein targeting to glycogen attenuates obesity and improves hyperglycemia in db/db mice

https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2022.969924 

Jun 03, 2022 - New article

Malin restoration as proof of concept for gene therapy for Lafora disease - we identify malin restoration as the first therapeutic strategy to show effectiveness when applied at advanced stages of Lafora disease

https://doi.org/10.1093/braincomms/fcac168 

Feb 17, 2022 - IQS interview

Brain Glycogen and Neurodegenerative Diseases

https://techtransfer.iqs.edu/en/news/brain-glycogen-and-neurodegenerative-diseases/    

Jan 1, 2022 - New article

Lack of p62 Impairs Glycogen Aggregation and Exacerbates Pathology in a Mouse Model of Myoclonic Epilepsy of Lafora - we demonstrate that p62 participates in the formation of glycogen aggregates to reduce the deleterious consequences of its accumulation in the brain.

https://doi.org/10.1007/s12035-021-02682-6 

Lafora disease

Apr 20, 2021 - New article

Scientists at IRB Barcelona discover the cause of neurodegeneration in Lafora disease

https://www.irbbarcelona.org/en/news/scientists-at-irb-barcelona-discover-the-cause-of-neurodegeneration-in-lafora-disease 


Astrocytic glycogen accumulation drives the pathophysiology of neurodegeneration in Lafora disease - we demonstrate the contribution of astrocytes to the pathology of Lafora disease. 

https://doi.org/10.1093/brain/awab110