Talk's title: Cholesterol and sphingomyelin in neuroimmunometabolism: a balancing act

Jorge Montesinos is the group leader of the Lipid Regulation of Immunometabolism Lab based at CIB Margarita Salas, Madrid. His lab studies how lipids shape microglial metabolism and function, with a focus on ageing and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease. The lab builds on work linking lipid metabolism, neuroinflammation, and Alzheimer’s disease risk, and aims to define how disrupted lipid handling at membrane contact sites (ER–mitochondria and ER–lysosome interfaces) contributes to microglial dysfunction in ageing and disease. Dr. Montesinos completed his PhD in Neuroscience from the Príncipe Felipe Research Center, followed by postdoctoral training at Columbia University focused on mitochondria-associated ER membranes and lipid homeostasis in glia and neurons. He has received competitive funding including an Alzheimer’s Association project, a Juan de la Cierva-Incorporación contract, and a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship. In 2025, he established his independent group, supported by a Talento-César Nombela grant and AEI-funded project funding.