The Reina Sofia Foundation and CIEN inaugurate the new Neurophysiology Laboratory

• Transcranial magnetic stimulation is a non-invasive, high-precision technique that uses magnetic fields to stimulate specific areas of the brain.
• The technological equipment for the Neurophysiology Laboratory has been funded by the Reina Sofia Foundation.
• The financial contribution from Sabadell Seguros has enabled the hiring of specialised personnel to get the laboratory up and running.

The Reina Sofia Foundation, together with the CIEN Foundation (Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases), has inaugurated the new Neurophysiology and Neuromodulation Laboratory, a strategic space for advancing research into neurodegenerative diseases using innovative, non-pharmacological approaches. The Reina Sofía Foundation has financed the laboratory's technological equipment, while Sabadell Seguros' contribution has enabled the recruitment of the highly specialised personnel needed to get it up and running. The Community of Madrid has also provided the physical space for the laboratory's installation.

The laboratory will enable advanced studies in neurophysiology and brain neuromodulation to be carried out using non-invasive techniques such as transcranial magnetic stimulation, electroencephalography and neuronavigation. In particular, music will be explored as a natural neuromodulation tool, opening up new opportunities to analyse how musical stimulation can influence brain activity and the relationship between cognitive, emotional and behavioural processes, especially in the context of ageing and neurodegenerative diseases.

In addition, it will study how different forms of non-invasive brain stimulation can positively impact neuronal activity and patients' quality of life. Music, understood not only as a cultural experience but also as a means of neuromodulation, will allow research into the connection between the brain, emotion and cognition in real and meaningful contexts, consolidating an innovative and person-centred approach.

During the opening ceremony, the secretary of the Reina Sofia Foundation stated: “Since 1977, the Reina Sofia Foundation has been working continuously to support those most in need, and since 2000, research into neurodegenerative diseases has been one of our priorities. This commitment gave rise to the Queen Sofía Foundation Alzheimer's Centre and active collaboration with CIEN since 2007. On this occasion, we wanted to support CIEN's Neurophysiology Laboratory, with the collaboration of the Nemesio Díez Foundation, thus contributing to the advancement of knowledge and treatment of these diseases that affect so many people and families. Improving the quality of life of people with neurodegenerative diseases through the promotion of research is a commitment of our Foundation, based on the personal decision and initiative of Her Majesty Queen Sofía.”

For her part, the manager of CIEN expressed her gratitude to all the institutions that have made this initiative possible. “We would like to express our deepest gratitude to all the institutions that have made this project possible,” said the manager of CIEN. “The Reina Sofia Foundation, with its strong support for research into neurodegeneration; Sabadell Seguros, whose contribution has made it possible to hire the specialised staff needed to set up the laboratory; and the Community of Madrid, which has provided the physical space for its installation, are essential partners in this initiative. We are convinced that collaboration and coordination between different actors is key to achieving tangible results, and this project is a clear example of what can be achieved when the public and private sectors and foundations work together for the benefit of society.”

Bernardino Gómez Aritmendi, CEO of BanSabadell Seguros Generales, Vida and BanSabadell Pensiones, said: “We are very excited to have contributed to the opening of this laboratory, which we hope will have a substantial impact on the advancement of the study and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, which are one of the greatest concerns in our society today. This collaboration represents another milestone in our Un Seguro con Causa (Insurance with a Cause) project, through which we want to involve our customers in tangible and relevant social causes. We collaborate with foundations and organisations that work actively to improve real and specific problems in our territory, in line with our DNA and with the social objective inherent in insurance, which is to protect people.”

For her part, the Secretary General for Research, Eva Ortega Paíno, thanked all the entities that have made this milestone possible for their work, noting that “the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities remains firmly committed to research in all areas, which is reflected, in this case, in the form of increased support for the CIEN Foundation, ensuring and increasing the annual financial contributions that the Spanish Government allocates to it through its budgets.”

With this initiative, the Reina Sofia Foundation and CIEN reinforce their commitment to scientific innovation and the development of advanced therapeutic interventions, promoting collaboration with nursing homes and social and healthcare organisations and offering direct, multidisciplinary access to patients. The laboratory is thus positioned as a benchmark in applied research to improve the understanding and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.