Marianna Spatola
About me
Dr. Spatola is a neurologist, Junior Group Leader (R3B) at IDIBAPS–Hospital Clínic–University of Barcelona, and Principal Investigator of an ERC Starting Grant. Her research focuses on neuroimmunological mechanisms of infectious and autoimmune encephalitis, particularly antibody–innate immunity crosstalk and pathogen-triggered brain autoimmunity. She trained in Italy, Switzerland, and the U.S (Harvard University). Her work is supported by major European and national grants and recognized with multiple international awards, including Neurovirology Award, Faculty Prize, Top Science of the American Academy of Neurology, and election as Fellow of the AAN
Featured publications
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Clinical Characterization and Long-Term Outcome in Children and Adults With Anti-AMPA Receptor Encephalitis.
Authors:Reference: Neurology-Neuroimmunology & Neuroinflammation 2025. -
Assessing Commercial Tissue-Based Assays for Autoimmune Neurologic Disorders (I) Antibodies to Intracellular Antigens
Authors:Reference: Neurology-Neuroimmunology & Neuroinflammation 2025. -
Molecular scalpels dissect new GluN1 hot spots in anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis.
Authors:Reference: Science Immunology 2025. -
Humoral signatures of Caspr2-antibody spectrum disorder track with clinical phenotypes and outcomes.
Authors:Reference: Med (N Y) 2024. -
Distinctive antibody responses to Mycobacterium tuberculosis in pulmonary and brain infection.
Authors:Reference: Brain 2024. -
Humoral signatures of MOG-antibody-associated disease track with age and disease activity
Authors:Reference: Cell Rep Med 2023. -
Neurologic sequelae of COVID-19 are determined by immunologic imprinting from previous coronaviruses
Authors:Reference: Brain 2023. -
Human Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor 5 Antibodies Alter Receptor Levels and Behavior in Mice
Authors:Reference: Annals Of Neurology 2022. -
Clinical features, prognostic factors, and antibody effects in anti-mGluR1 encephalitis
Authors:Reference: Neurology 2020.
Featured Projects
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Defining the role of antibody-innate immunity interplay in NMDAR encephalitis pathogenesis
Principal investigator: Marianna SpatolaFunder: Instituto de Salud Carlos IIIDuration: 01/01/2024 - 01/01/2026 -
Functional role of antibodies against herpes simplex virus 1 in brain infection and autoimmunity
Funder: La Caixa FoundationDuration: 01/01/2022 - 01/01/2025 -
Identification of immune correlates of protection from herpes simplex virus 1 encephalitis
Principal investigator: Marianna SpatolaFunder: Swiss National Funding (FNS)Duration: 01/01/2020 - 01/01/2022 -
Pathogenic mechanisms of autoimmune encephalitis with antibodies to metabotropic receptors
Principal investigator: Marianna SpatolaFunder: University of LausanneDuration: 01/01/2018 - 01/12/2018 -
Role of neurotropic viruses and other pathogens in the development of brain autoimmunity
Principal investigator: Marianna SpatolaFunder: American Academy of NeurologyDuration: 01/01/2018 - 01/01/2021
