Esther Via Virgili

After training as a psychiatrist (Hospital de Bellvitge, 2006 - 2010), I devoted myself to research using neuroimaging techniques (magnetic resonance imaging) to study neurobiological bases and possible biomarkers in the disorders of autism, anxiety and anorexia nervosa. I obtained different competitive scholarships and I completed training periods abroad, and in 2015 I submitted my doctoral thesis, for which I received an extraordinary doctoral award.

Between 2016 and 2018 I carried out research tasks and clinics in the Hospital Parc Taulí, where I was part of the programme of care for individuals with autism during the transition to adulthood (TAVA), ongoing project, being co-PI of the related research. Since January 2018, I have been working in a mixed clinical-research post in the Mental Health Area at the SJD Barcelona Children’s Hospital. 

My area of clinical interest is autism, and, in terms of research, I am interested in the study of changes in neurodevelopmental trajectories in different mental disorders, as well as their potential recovery pathways. The combination of clinical and research work represents a challenge and enormous motivation.

Training

• Rio Hortega Scholarship. Instituto de Salud Carlos III (Carlos III Health Institute). Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities. Hospital Parc Taulí, 2016 - 2018.
• PhD in Medicine. Title: “Alterations in social reward and body perception brain circuits in anorexia nervosa: a functional and structural neuroimaging investigation”. Universitat de Barcelona, 2010 - 2015.
• Australian Scholarship: Endeavour Awards - Australian Government, 2014  - 2015.
• Post-MIR (foundation doctor) training scholarship. Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge-IDIBELL, 2010 - 2014.

International experience

• Research placement. Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre - The Melbourne University. Melbourne, Australia 2014 - 2015.
• Pre-doctoral research placement. Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre - The Melbourne University. Melbourne, Australia 2012.
• Research placement during the MIR period. IOP, King’s College London, United Kingdom, 2009.
• Medical training placement. UPEC - Université Paris-Est Créteil. Paris, France, 2004
• Medical training placement. Universidad Autónoma Nuevo León. Monterrey, Mexico, 2003.

Scientific activity

• Post-doctoral researcher group Affective Neurosciences. Hospital Parc Taulí CIBERSAM, 2016 - 2018.
• Pre-doctoral researcher Psychiatry and Mental Health group Hospital de Bellvitge - IDIBELL.CIBERSAM, 2010 - 2016.

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