In memory of Dr. Ernest Arenas Cases (1962 – 2024)

Professor Ernest Arenas has left us prematurely and unexpectedly. A brilliant neuroscientist and an exceptional human being, he dedicated his life to science, addressing one of the major medical challenges of our society: the search for treatments for neurodegenerative diseases.

Dr. Arenas was born in 1962 in Lleida, although he spent his childhood in Manresa. He studied Medicine and Surgery at the University of Lleida. He later completed his doctoral thesis at the University of Barcelona under the supervision of Dr. Jordi Alberch. During his predoctoral phase, Ernest already stood out for his work ethic and his critical, innovative, and creative spirit. In addition to multiple articles on the pharmacological regulation of acetylcholine release in the striatal nucleus, published during his predoctoral phase, one of his noteworthy achievements was an article published in the Journal of Neuroscience. This can be considered one of the first works produced by an exclusively Spanish group in 1991, at a time when neuroscience, and science in general, was not highly competitive in Spain. This adds an additional special merit to Ernest’s work and genius. His doctoral thesis was awarded the Extraordinary Prize, and after completing it in 1991, he moved to the Karolinska Institute (Stockholm, Sweden) for a postdoctoral stay with Professor Håkan Persson. There, he aimed to study the function of neurotrophins in the central nervous system, which was an emerging and highly competitive field in the 1990s.

Naturally, Ernest also excelled in Sweden. In 1994, he earned a position as an Associate Professor at the Karolinska Institute, and in 1998 he secured a role as Assistant Professor. Since 2002, he has been a full Professor in Stem Cell Neurobiology, leading the Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory at the Department of Biochemistry and Clinical Biophysics at Karolinska Institute. His significant scientific contributions to understanding the development and regeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the nigrostriatal pathway, and the potential involvement of stem cell differentiation in regenerative therapies for Parkinson’s disease, have been published in top scientific journals like Science and Nature. Ernest also received numerous awards and recognitions both nationally and internationally.

Ernest was diagnosed with kidney failure at an early age, which only strengthened his character. His pragmatic and determined outlook on life allowed him to lead a productive scientific career and a fulfilling personal life. He focused on his research into neurological diseases, striving to understand their causes and seeking innovative and effective treatments. He has always been an example of resilience, with exceptional intelligence and the ability to overcome adversity. He was deeply dedicated to others, especially to his family—his wife Carmen and their daughters Clara and Julia—as well as to his colleagues, building strong professional and personal bonds.

Despite spending most of his professional career in Sweden, Ernest maintained a strong connection with Catalan and Spanish science. His critical and constructive spirit led him to serve as an external advisor for various Catalan and Spanish institutions, contributing creative ideas that helped improve our scientific institutions. Since 2018, he has been a valuable member of the Scientific Advisory Board of UBneuro, having been involved since the formation of the committee. He also participated in numerous European and international projects, collaborating with researchers from Spain.

Professor Ernest Arenas is an example of intellectual capacity, creativity, and perseverance. He is, and will continue to be, a national and international scientific reference in the field of Neuroscience, particularly in the study of the therapeutic potential of stem cells for Parkinson’s disease. His scientific and personal legacy will endure for future generations. His passing is a great loss for Catalan, Spanish, and international neuroscience.

All his colleagues and friends will remember him both professionally and personally.

Barcelona, September 16, 2024

Jordi Alberch, Esther Perez-Navarro, Josep M Canals
Institute of Neurosciences, University of Barcelona