Ricardo J. Rodrigues, principal investigator and head of the Brain Development and Diseases research group at CNC-UC, took part in a special session honouring the scientific career of Juan Lerma, a researcher emeritus at the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Spain’s state agency for scientific research. The session took place at the Institute of Neurosciences in Alicante, Spain, on September 25.

Ricardo J. Rodrigues was among the participants and spoke about his academic career, highlighting the profound influence Juan Lerma has had on his career and his development as a scientist. The event brought together researchers who have maintained scientific and personal ties with Lerma over the years, highlighting his contributions to the advancement of neuroscience, his role as a mentor, and his influence on the training of new generations of researchers.

Ricardo’s participation reflects his time collaborating with Juan Lerma, highlighting the pivotal role that Juan Lerma played in shaping his research trajectory and scientific development. After obtaining his PhD from the University of Coimbra, he joined Lerma’s laboratory for a five-year postdoctoral training in receptor signalling systems. He returned to the CNC-UC years later, where he further developed his scientific career and currently leads research on brain development and how defects in these processes might lead to neurological and psychiatric disorders.

The programme for the tribute also featured researchers from institutions such as the University of Sussex, the Institute of Biomedicine in Seville, the Cajal Institute of Neurosciences at the CSIC and King’s College London, as well as former members of Juan Lerma’s laboratory.

Juan Lerma’s scientific career focused on understanding the mechanisms that allow neurons to communicate with one another, with particular attention to glutamate receptors and, especially, kainate receptors. His work has contributed to advancing our understanding of the molecular and cellular mechanisms that regulate synaptic communication and plasticity.

Throughout his career, he has published more than 100 scientific papers and received several distinctions. In 2024, he was elected a full member of the Royal Academy of Exact, Physical and Natural Sciences of Spain.

In addition to his research, Juan Lerma has held various positions within the national and international scientific community, having served as president of the Spanish Society for Neuroscience (SENC) between 2011 and 2013 and as Secretary-General of the Federation of European Neuroscience Societies (FENS) between 2016 and 2018. His career as a researcher and mentor to young scientists was among the aspects highlighted during the tribute.