Responsable del Grupo de Neuroimagen Preclínica en el Laboratorio de Imagen Médica del Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón (IiSGM). Además, pertenece al grupo G07 del CIBER de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM) del Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII).

Ha sido investigador principal en 12 proyectos nacionales y ha colaborado en 6 proyectos en los últimos 5 años, siendo uno de ellos un Proyecto europeo (ERA-NET NEURON project, Describing pathophysiology to promote focal therapy in treatment of schizophrenia – an animal experimental study). Ha dirigido 17 TFG, 6 TFM, 1 DEA y 4 Tesis Doctorales; y actualmente está dirigiendo 2 Tesis Doctorales. Es miembro del Grupo de Fisiopatología y Farmacología del Sistema Digestivo de la Universidad Rey Juan Carlos (NEUGUT), del Comité de Ética en Experimentación Animal del HGUGM y de la Sociedad Europea de Imagen Molecular (ESMI). Ha sido revisor de trabajos cienti¿ficos a publicar en las revistas Molecular Imaging and Biology, PlosOne, BMC-Complementary and alternative medicine y Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology; revisor de trabajos a aceptar en el congreso international World Molecular Imaging Congress y evaluador externo para la ANEP (Agencia Nacional de Evaluación y Prospectiva) y de proyectos de investigación para la Croatian Science Foundation (HRZZ). Actualmente es miembro del panel editorial de la revista EC Neurology.

Publicaciones de los últimos 5 años:

1. Scientific paper. D Romero-Miguel, M Casquero-Veiga, …, ML Soto-Montenegro. (CA) (11/11). N-acetylcysteine during periadolescence or gestation as a preventive strategy for schizophrenia in a maternal immune stimulation animal model. Translational Psychiatry 2024, jan 8;14. doi: 10.1038/s41398-023-02652-7. Q1, D1.
2. Scientific paper. THC improves behavioural schizophrenia-like deficits that CBD fails to overcome: a comprehensive multilevel approach using the Poly I:C maternal immune activation. N Lamanna-Rama, D Romero-Miguel, M Casquero-Veiga, …, ML Soto-Montenegro. (CA) (10/10). Pychiatry Research 2024 Jan; 331:115643. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2023.115643.
3. Scientific paper. J Orihuel, R Capellán, M Casquero-Veiga, ML Soto-Montenegro,…, A Higuera-Matas. (4/12). The long-term effects of adolescent Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol on brain structure and function assessed through neuroimaging techniques in male and female rats. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol. 2023 Jun 3;74:47-63.
4. Scientific paper. H Edemann-Callesen, N Bernhardt,…., ML Soto-Montenegro, C Winter, R Hadar. (10/12). Supplement treatment with NAC and Omega-3 during pregnancy partially prevents schizophrenia-related outcomes in the poly I:C rat model. Antioxidants 2023. May 9;12(5):1068. Q1
5. Scientific paper. D Romero-Miguel, M Casquero-Veiga, …., ML Soto-Montenegro. (CA) (9/9). Maternal supplementation with N-acetylcysteine modulates the microbiota-gut-brain axis in offspring of the Poly I:C rat model of schizophrenia. Antioxidants 2023 Apr 20;12(4):970. Q1
6. Scientific paper. R Capellán, J Orihuel, A Marcos, …, A Higuera-Matas. (7/14). Interaction between maternal immune activation and peripubertal stress in rats: impact on cocaine addiction-like behaviour, morphofunctional brain parameters and striatal transcriptome. Translational Psychiatry, 2023 Mar 8;13(1):84. Q1
7. Scientific paper. N Lamanna-Rama, K MacDowell, …, ML Soto-Montenegro. (CA) (6/6).  Neuroimaging revealed long-lasting glucose metabolism changes to morphine self-administration withdrawal in rats pretreated with the synthetic cannabinoid CP-55,940 during periadolescence. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol. 2023 Feb 11;69:60-76. Q1
8. Scientific paper. M Casquero-Veiga, N Lamanna-Rama, D Romero-Miguel, …, ML Soto-Montenegro. (CA) (8/8).  The Poly I:C maternal immune stimulation model shows unique patterns of brain metabolism, morphometry, and plasticity in female rats. Front Behav Neurosci. 2023 Jan 6;16:1022622. PMID: 36733452. Q1
9. Scientific paper. C Gálvez-Robleño, Y López-Tofiño, …, ML Soto-Montenegro, R Abalo. (5/6). Radiographic assessment of the impact of sex and the circadian rhythm-dependent behaviour on gastrointestinal transit in the rat. Lab Animal. 2022 Oct 26:236772221124381. D1, Q1
10. Scientific paper. JA Garcia-Partida; S Torres-Sánchez; KS MacDowell;…., Soto-Montenegro;  E  Berrocoso. (7/11). 2022. The effects of mango leaf extract during adolescence and adulthood in a rat model of schizophrenia. Front Pharmacol. 13, pp.886514. Q1
11. Scientific paper. M Casquero-Veiga, N Lamanna-Rama, D Romero-Miguel, M Desco, ML Soto-Montenegro (CA) (5/5). In vivo Positron Emission Tomography to Reveal Activity Patterns Induced by Deep Brain Stimulation in Rats. J Vis Exp. 2022 Mar 23:(181).
12. Scientific paper.  A Belenguer-Llorens; C Sevilla-Salcedo; M Desco; ML Soto-Montenegro (CA); V Gomez-Verdejo. (4/5). 2022. A novel Bayesian linear regression model for the analysis of neuroimaging data.   Applied Sciences. 12, pp.2571.
13. Scientific paper. ML Soto-Montenegro*, V García, G López-Montoya, …, E Ambrosio*. (*CA) (6/6). Neuroimaging reveals distinct brain glucose metabolism patterns associated with morphine consumption in Lewis and Fischer 344 rat strains. Scientific Reports 2022 Mar 17;12(1):4643. Q1
14. Scientific paper. N Lamanna-Rama, D Romero-Miguel, M Desco, ML Soto-Montenegro. (CA). An Update on the Exploratory Use of Curcumin in Neuropsychiatric Disorders. Antioxidants 2022, 11, 353. Q1
15. Scientific paper. D Romero-Miguel, M Casquero-Veiga, …, ML Soto-Montenegro. (CA) (11/11). A characterization of the effects of minocycline treatment during, adolescence on structural, metabolic and oxidative stress parameters in a maternal immune stimulation model of neurodevelopmental brain disorders Int Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology 2021, Sep 21;24(9):734-748.Q1
16. Scientific paper. L Perez-Caballero, ML Soto-Montenegro, M Desco, JA Mico, E Berrocoso (2/5). Sustained escitalopram administration affects glucose metabolism in the rat brain. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol. 2021 Oct:51:1-6.
17. Scientific paper. S Tosi, L Bardia, MJ Barallobre, A Muñoz-Barrutia, ML Soto-Montenegro, J Colombelli (5/6). MosaicExplorerJ: Interactive stitching of terabyte-size tiled datasets from lightsheet microscopy. 1000Res. 2020 Nov 10:9:1308.
18. Scientific paper. M Casquero-Veiga, D Romero-Miguel, KS MacDowell, …, ML Soto-Montenegro. (CA) (13/13). Omega-3 fatty acids during adolescence prevent schizophrenia-related behavioral deficits: neurophysiological evidences from the prenatal viral infection with PolyI:C. European Neuropsychopharmacology 2021. Mar 15;46:14-27. Q1
19. Scientific paper. M Casquero-Veiga, C Bueno-Fernandez, D Romero-Miguel, N Lamanna-Rama, J Nacher, Ml Desco, ML Soto-Montenegro (CA) (7/7). Exploratory study of the long-term footprint of deep brain stimulation on brain metabolism and neuroplasticity in an animal model of obesity. Scientific Reports 2021 Mar 10;11(1):5580.
20. Scientific paper. D Romero-Miguel, N Lamanna-Rama, M Casquero-Veiga, V Gómez-Rangel, M Desco, ML Soto-Montenegro. (CA) (6/6). Minocycline in neurodegenerative and psychiatric diseases: an update. European Journal of Neurology, 2021.28(3):1056-1081. D1
21. Book chapter. D Romero-Miguel, N Lamanna-Rama, M Casquero-Veiga, V Gómez-Rangel, ML Soto-Montenegro. (CA) (6/6). Positron emission tomography of the reward system. Marc Fakhoury (ed.), The brain reward system, publicado en Neuromethods, vol165: 281-305. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-1146-3_14.
22. Scientific paper. Casquero-Veiga M, García-García D, KS MacDowell, L Pérez-Caballero, S Torres-Sánchez, D Fraguas, E Berrocoso, JC Leza, C Arango, M Desco M, Soto-Montenegro ML (CA) (11/11). Risperidone administered during adolescence induced metabolic, anatomical and inflammatory/oxidative changes in adult brain: a PET and MRI study in the maternal immune stimulation animal model. European Neuropsychopharmacology 2019, Jul; 29(7):880-896.
23. Scientific paper. E Gondard, ML Soto-Montenegro, A Cassol, AM Lozano, C Hamani (2/5). Transcranial direct current stimulation does not improve memory deficits or alter pathological hallmarks in a rodent model of Alzheimer's disease. J Psychiatr Res. 2019 Jul:114:93-98
24. Scientific paper. Casquero-Veiga M, García-García D, Desco M, Soto-Montenegro ML (CA) (4/4). Understanding Deep Brain Stimulation: In Vivo Metabolic Consequences of the Electrode Insertional Effect. Biomed Res Int. 2018 Oct 17;2018:8560232.
25. Scientific paper. Casquero-Veiga M, García-García D, Pascau J, Desco M, Soto-Montenegro ML (CA) (5/5). Stimulating the nucleus accumbens in obesity: A positron emission tomography study after deep brain stimulation in a rodent model. PlosOne 2018 Sep 27;13(9):e0204740.
26. Scientific paper. Perez-Caballero L, Soto-Montenegro ML, Hidalgo-Figueroa M, Mico JA, Desco M, Berrocoso E. Deep brain stimulation electrode insertion and depression: Patterns of activity and modulation by analgesics. Brain Stimul. 2018 Jul 9.
27. Scientific paper. Cal-Gonzalez J, Vaquero J, Herraiz JL, Pérez-Liva M, Soto-Montenegro ML, Peña-Zalbidea S, Desco M, Udías JM. Improving PET Quantification of Small Animal [68Ga]DOTA-Labeled PET/CT Studies by Using a CT-Based Positron Range Correction. Mol Imaging Biol. 2018 Jan 19.
28. Scientific paper. R Hadar, L Bikovsky, ML Soto-Montenegro, J Schimke, P Maier, S Ewing, M Voget, F Wieske, T Götz, M Desco, C Hamani, J Pascau, I Weiner, C Winter (3/14). Early neuromodulation prevents the development of brain and behavioral abnormalities in a rodent model of schizophrenia. Mol Psychiatry. 2018 Apr 4.

Proyectos de I+D (nacionales e internacionales)

a. Como investigador principal

• Cannabidiol (CBD) against COVID-19 in an animal model of addiction. Plan Nacional sobre Drogas 2021. 2023-2026. EXP2022/008917
• New nanotechnological tools in the treatment of neuroinflammatory pathology and its interaction with the gut-brain axis. Proyectos de Generación de Conocimiento 2021, MICIN, PID2021-128862OB-I00.
• Cannabidiol as a preventive strategy in the onset of psychosis. Delegación del gobierno para el Plan Nacional sobre Drogas 2017 2018-2022. PNSD2017-085
• Is it possible to prevent the risk of onset of schizophrenia during pregnancy? Study in an animal model of schizophrenia. PI17/01766. Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad. 2018-2022.
• Physical exercise and N-acetylcysteine as preventive strategies during adolescence in the onset of schizophrenia: preclinical imaging and behavioral studies. Fundación Alicia Koplowitz 2016-2018.
• Deep brain stimulation (DBS) in obesity: preclinical study in two animal models. Fundación Mapfre  2016-2017.
• Preventive therapies in the onset of schizophrenia: In vivo imaging (PET and MRI) and behavioral studies. PI14/00860. Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad. 2015-2018.
• Prenatal immune challenge is an environmental risk factor for brain changes relevant to schizophrenia: Evidence from PET and MRI in a rat model for schizophrenia. Proy. intramural del CIBERSAM 2013-2014.
• OBESITY: Treatment by deep brain stimulation in an experimental model. Fundación Mapfre  2013-2014.
• Molecular PET/CT imaging of meningiomas with Ga-68-labelled peptides in a murine model. PI11/00616. Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación. 2012-14.
• Brain effects of morphine self-administration in adult rats that have been pre-exposed to cannabis during adolescence: experimental study using in vivo imaging techniques (PET/CT and MRI). CP08/00017. Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación. 2009 - 2012.
• In vivo monitoring of brain damage caused by ecstasy and methamphetamine, using different high-resolution imaging techniques (PET, SPECT and MRI). Fundación de Investigación Médica Mutua Madrileña. 2008 – 2011.

b. Como colaborador (en los últimos 5 años)

• Salud Mental. CIBER CB07/09/0031 (Ministerio de Sanidad y Consumo). 2007 - actualidad.
• Describing pathophysiology to promote focal therapy in treatment of schizophrenia – an animal experimental study. European Research Projects on Mental Disorders (ERA-NET-NEURON). 2011-2015.
• Advanced multimodal medical imaging in real time. S2009DPI-1802 (ARTEMIS). Comunidad de Madrid. 2010-2013.
• The microbiome as a target for precision medicine. A frontier exploration from established to innovative indications. PIE16/00055. Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad, 2017-2019.
• Medical and Health Technology Innovation Platform (ITEMAS). PT13/0006/0001. Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad, 2014-2018.
• Development of a gene therapy platform for genetic kidney diseases. RTC-2017-6600-1. Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades. 2018-2021.