Cano-Astorga, Nicolás (Nico for short), postdoctoral fellow at the School of Biomedical Engineering, Hainan University. Under the guidance of Professor Javier DeFelipe in Madrid, Spain, Nico investigated the synaptic organization of the human cerebral cortex by analyzing its microanatomy and the ultrastructural synaptic characteristics of its neuropil. He also studied original Cajal´s histological samples along with his books. He obtained his Ph.D. in Neuroscience from the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid in October 2024. In January 2026, he entered the postdoctoral mobile station of Hainan University.
Research direction：
Microanatomical and ultrastructural analysis of different brain regions in normal and disease conditions, primarily using postmortem human tissue samples.
Publications：
1. Plaza-Alonso S; Cano-Astorga N; DeFelipe J; Alonso-Nanclares L. Volume electron microscopy reveals unique laminar synaptic characteristics in the human entorhinal cortex. eLife, 34, 2025. DOI: 10.7554/eLife.96144
2. Cano-Astorga N; Plaza-Alonso S; DeFelipe J; Alonso-Nanclares L. 3D synaptic organization of layer III of the human anterior cingulate and temporopolar cortex. Cerebral Cortex, 34, 2024. DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhae312
3. Cano-Astorga N; Plaza-Alonso S; Turégano-López M; Rodríguez JR; Merchan‐Perez A; DeFelipe J. Unambiguous identification of asymmetric and symmetric synapses using volumen electron microscopy. Frontiers in Neuroanatomy. 18:1348032, 2024. DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2024.1348032
4. Cano-Astorga N; Plaza-Alonso S; DeFelipe J; Alonso-Nanclares L. 3D synaptic organization of layer III of the human anterior cingulate and temporopolar cortex. Cerebral Cortex, 33. 2023. DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhad232
5. Alonso‐Nanclares L; Rodríguez JR; Merchan‐Perez A; González‐Soriano J; Plaza‐Alonso S; Cano‐Astorga N; Naumann RK; Brecht M; DeFelipe J. Cortical Synapses of the World's Smallest Mammal: An FIB/SEM Study in the Etruscan Shrew. Journal of Comparative Neurology, 531, 2022. DOI:10.1002/cne.25432
6. Domínguez-Álvaro M; Montero-Crespo M; Blazquez-Llorca L; Plaza-Alonso S; Cano-Astorga N; DeFelipe J; Alonso-Nanclares L. 3D Analysis of the Synaptic Organization in the Entorhinal Cortex in Alzheimer’s Disease. eNeuro, ENEURO.0504-20.2021, 2021. DOI: 10.1523/ENEURO.0504-20.2021
7. Cano-Astorga N; DeFelipe J; Alonso-Nanclares L. Three-Dimensional Synaptic Organization of Layer III of the Human Temporal Neocortex. Cerebral Cortex, 31, 2021. DOI: doi:10.1093/cercor/bhab120
Research Projects：
1. Microorganization of the Hippocampus in Normal Individuals and Alzheimer's Disease (PID2021-127924NB-100). MCIU; Spanish Government. From: 1/09/2022 to: 31/08/2025. 315.579€. Participation.
2. Human Brain Project (SGA3 – WP1). European Commission. From: 1/04/2020 to: 31/03/2023. 150.000.000€. Participation.
3. Cellular and Synaptic Alterations in the Cerebral Cortex in Alzheimer's Disease (ref: PGC2018-094307-B-100). MCIU; Spanish Government. From: 1/01/2019 to: 31/12/2021. 380.107€. Participation.
Other merits：
- Three-month predoctoral research stay at Weill Cornell Medicine (New York, USA) to learn tissue-clearing histological methods.
- Awarded a competitive four-year predoctoral fellowship (PRE2019-089228) from the Spanish Ministry of Science to conduct his Ph.D. Also received travel grants for international conferences and general undergraduate scholarships.
- Cum laude and international distinctions on his Ph.D. Honors distinction on his Bachelor’s Thesis. Participant in a competitive scientific photography exhibition. Recipient of a Best Poster Presentation Award.
- Invited seminar speaker at Yale School of Medicine (New Haven, USA), Boston University School of Medicine (Boston, USA), and Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (Madrid, Spain). Presented 6 short-talks and 14 posters at international (e.g., FENS Forum, IBRO, HBP) and national brain research conferences. Delivered 8 workshops and talks to disseminate brain research to the general public.
- Served on the Scientific Committee for the 7th Human Brain Project Student Conference.
