Ana Isabel Rodriguez-Perez

Ana Isabel Rodríguez Pérez is an Associate Professor at the University of Santiago de Compostela (USC), where she co-leads the Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology of Parkinson's Disease group at CiMUS. Her multidisciplinary research explores the molecular and cellular drivers of Parkinson's disease (PD), with a particular focus on the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and immune mechanisms.

She was among the first to demonstrate the pathological role of autoantibodies against RAS components in PD, linking them to blood-brain barrier disruption, alpha-synuclein aggregation, and dopaminergic neuron loss. 

Currently, she leads cutting-edge projects on extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from the brain, aiming to identify novel minimally invasive biomarkers of PD progression and to understand systemic-brain communication in the context of neurodegeneration.

With over 80 peer-reviewed publications and continuous competitive funding over the last decade, she has established a dynamic and collaborative research environment at the intersection of neurobiology, immunology, and cellular signaling. Ana Isabel is also Associate Editor of Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology, serves on national scientific advisory boards, coordinates the USC Body Donation Program as Scientific Director, and maintains strong ties with Parkinson's disease patient associations --ensuring that her research remains closely aligned with both clinical priorities and societal impact.