Carlos Belmonte Martínez

Carlos Belmonte Martínez (born October 24, 1943, in Albacete, Spain) is a neuroscientist recognized for his contributions to sensory physiology, particularly in ocular neuroscience. His research relates to understanding of corneal sensation, including the molecular and cellular mechanisms behind it. He holds multiple patents related to the diagnosis and treatment of ocular pain, dry eye, and neurological conditions. His awards include the National Research Prize Rey Jaime I, the National Prize Severo Ochoa, the National Prize Gregorio Marañón and the Nature Award for Mentoring in Science. Additionally, he has also played a role in the development of several biomedical spin-offs including Newmanbrain, and i-Onion.
==Education==
Belmonte earned his MD with honors from the University of Madrid Medical School in 1966, followed by a PhD in Physiology, also with honors, in 1969. From 1971 to 1973, he continued his research training as an NIH International Fellow at the University of Utah, working alongside C. Eyzaguirre and Nobel Laureate H.K. Hartline.
In 1973, he became the youngest Full Professor and Chairman at a Spanish medical school upon his return to Valladolid. Although he spent sabbatical periods as a Visiting Professor at Harvard, Utah, the Max Planck Institute in Florida, and New South Wales University in Australia, his academic and research career has been primarily based in Spain.
==Career==
Belmonte is recognized for his significant contributions to research, having published over 170 scientific papers in national and international journals. His research has primarily focused on neuroscience, particularly the mechanisms of sensory transduction and pain, contributing to much of the current knowledge in these areas through his publications. His contributions include the study of electrical properties of sensory neurons and their roles in transduction of mechanical and chemical stimuli. He has made several discoveries related to the physiology of the eye and its sensory pathways.
===Scientific contributions===
Belmonte is a scientist in the field of neuroscience, which is the study of the brain and nervous system. His research focuses on how our bodies sense things like touch, pain, and temperature, particularly in areas outside the brain, like the skin and eyes. He has published over 170 papers in national and international journals.
One of his discoveries was that the way nerve cells work can change depending on the type of tissue they are connected to. For example, he found that the nerve endings in the cornea have unique ways of detecting different types of harmful stimuli, such as pressure or chemicals that might cause pain, as well as helping the eye heal and respond to inflammation. His research included developing a special tool called an gas esthesiometer that measures sensitivity on the eye's surface, confirming that there are different types of sensory functions at play and clarifying how specific nerve fibers contribute to our experience of sensations in the eye.
He managed to record the electrical signals from a single nerve ending, which helps scientists understand how pain works at a very detailed level. Overall, his work helps us understand how our bodies feel and respond to pain. His research resulted in the development of different inventions aimed at addressing ocular pain (See patent section).
His research spans a broad spectrum—from recombinant receptor channels and gene knockouts to in vivo electrophysiological studies. For example, he discovered that a specific channel in nerve cells of the trigeminal ganglion, called TRPM8 helps us sense cold temperatures and how concentrated certain substances are and they can be affected by inflammation. He found that when these cold-sensing nerve fibers are activated, they play a role in producing tears, blinking, and the symptoms associated with Dry Eye Disease (DED), while others, known as TRPA1, can be triggered by substances produced by bacteria. He also looked into other channels, such as TRPV1 and Piezo2, which are involved in pain sensation in the eye. This research has led to the creation of new compounds that could help regulate these channels, potentially providing new treatments for eye pain.
One area of his research focuses on the dry eye symptoms that can occur after LASIK eye surgery. He suggested that these symptoms may mainly be due to damaged cold-sensing fibers firing abnormally, rather than problems with all types of sensory fibers. This helps explain why some patients experience pain and reduced tear production even when they blink less after surgery. His insights have enhanced our understanding of the sensory neurophysiology of the eyes and how they perceive different stimuli, as well as led to multiple patented inventions designed for diagnosing and treating eye pain.
Additionally, he showed that injecting a substance called sodium hyaluronan into the knee can help reduce pain. This injection not only provides cushioning to the joint but also interacts with pain-sensing channels in the body, which helps lower inflammation.
He was Secretary-General and later President of the International Brain Research Organization (IBRO) In 1987, he founded the Institute of Neurosciences in Alicante, a joint center of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and the University Miguel Hernández (UMH)., which became a center of excellence.
Belmonte has also served on the boards of numerous international research organizations, including Human Frontiers, the European Research Council, and ERA-NET Neuron, and has contributed to key journals like Experimental Eye Research, Pain, Molecular Pain, and European Journal of Neuroscience. He is a member of the scientific boards of several research institutes and foundations across Spain, Portugal, Germany, France, the UK, Mexico, Japan, and the USA. (See board memebership table)
===Contributions to the field of education===
Belmonte has been appointed to several academic and administrative positions in educational institutions.
As Professor of Human Physiology in Madrid and Valladolid, and later as Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Medical School at the University of Alicante, which he helped establish in 1980, he implemented innovative teaching methods and a progressive medical curriculum. These reforms were later adopted by many medical schools across Spain. His leadership in medical education was further recognized when he became President of the Spanish Society of Medical Educationhttps://sedem.org/.
Many Spanish professors and researchers in physiology and neuroscience were trained in Belmonte's laboratory. 
In 2017 he received a Nature Lifetime Award for Outstanding Mentorship.
Academic Appointments
Year 	Position
2014-present	Professor Emeritus, Miguel Hernández University
2019-present	Honorary Senior Researcher, Institute of Neurosciences, Alicante, Spain
1997-2014 	Professor of Human Physiology. University Miguel Hernandez Medical School, Dept. of Physiology, Alicante, Spain
1980-1997 	Professor of Human Physiology. University of Alicante Medical School, Dept. of Physiology, Alicante, Spain.
1973-1980 	Professor of Human Physiology. University of Valladolid Medical School, Dept. Physiology, Valladolid, Spain.
2009–2021 	Consultant and Head of the Ocular Surface Unit, Fundación de Investigación Oftalmológica, Instituto Fernández-Vega, Oviedo, Spain
1986–1990 	Chairman, Dept. of Physiology, University of Alicante Medical School, Alicante, Spain
1990–2007 	Director, Instituto de Neurociencias de Alicante, University Miguel Hernández - CSIC, Spain
1983–1985 	Dean, Medical School, University of Alicante, Alicante, Spain
1978–1980 	Director, School of Nursing, University of Valladolid, Spain
1975–1977 	Vice Dean, Medical School, University of Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain
1980–1983 	Vice President, University of Alicante, Alicante, Spain
1973–1980 	Chairman, Dept. of Physiology and Biochemistry, University of Valladolid Medical School, Valladolid, Spain
===Business career===
Belmonte has been the founder and co-founder of several biomedical spin-offs
One of his early ventures was Avizorex Pharma, founded in 2013 , which stemmed from his research on the role of temperature-sensitive neurons in tear production. The company developed AVX-012, an agonist of the TRPM8 ion channel, a receptor for cold temperatures in the eye that increases blinking and tear production to treat dry eye. This treatment successfully completed a Phase 2a clinical trial . In 2019, the company was acquired by Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc., which was acquired in 2022 by Alcon for $770 million.
In 2017, he co-founded Newmanbrain, for which he also acts as scientific advisor. The company's objective is to make cognitive assessments for various brain conditions like mild cognitive impairment and ADHD cost-effective and accesible for mass-screening with the aim to to accelerate the development of brain treatments. Through fNIRs and AI-powered neuroimaging technology, the company provides fast an unbiased assessments of brain activity in the pre-frontal cortex. 
Carlos is the inventor, co-founder, and scientific advisor of i-Onion (formerly Tearful), a company established in 2019 that develops medical devices for measuring tear flow. The device enables a quantitative assessment of the lacrimal glands’ maximum tear secretion capacity in humans and other mammals, offering an alternative to the Schirmer test, which measures only basal tear secretion. The purpose of this device is to support clinicians in identifying appropriate secretagogues to activate lacrimal gland secretion when indicated.
==Patents==
Carlos Belmonte is a co-inventor or principal inventor on 25 patents focused on diagnosing and treating ocular pain, dry eyes, and detecting neuronal conditions, among others.
==Publications==
Belmonte has authored and co-authored over 170 scientific papers and over 20 books. His research primarily focuses on the sensory mechanisms involved in pain and temperature sensation, particularly in relation to the ocular surface. He extensively explores the functionality of various ion channels, such as TRP (Transient Receptor Potential) channels, and their role in nociceptive pathways (for the perception of pain), especially in the cornea. His studies elucidate the physiological responses of cold-sensitive neurons and the impact of sensory nerve activity on tear production. Notably, he investigates how conditions like dry eye and ocular surface disorders influence sensory nerve function and the experience of pain. His work also contributes to our understanding of neuroimmune interactions and the physiological mechanisms underlying sensory disorders, employing a combination of experimental models and clinical insights to advance knowledge in sensory neuroscience and ophthalmology. His publications cover the effects of different treatments on ocular discomfort, including the analgesic effects of novel compounds such as arginine-rich peptides on TRPV1 channels. This body of work not only enhances our understanding of corneal sensitivity and nociception but also highlights potential therapeutic targets for managing ocular pain, providing a foundation for future investigations into the neurobiology of ocular discomfort.
==Awards, honors, and recognitions==
Belmonte's contributions have been recognized in Spain, among others, with the National Research Award "Rey Jaime I"https://fprj.es/, the National Prize for Biology and Biomedicine "Severo Ochoa" and the National Award in Medicine "Gregorio Marañón", all presented by the Kings of Spain and internationally, with the Luis Federico Leloir Award of the Government of Argentina. In eye research, he was awarded with the EA Balazs Prize of the International Society of Eye Research, the ALCON Award, the EA Balazs Medal of the German Ophthalmological Society, the Eucornea Medal and the European Vision Award.
Belmonte is ARVO Golden Fellow and Honoree of the ARVO Foundation (USA). He is a member of the Academia Europaea, the National Academy of Sciences of Spain and the Akademie der Wissenschaften und der Literatur of Mainz,Germany, and Doctor Honoris Causa by the University of Castilla la Mancha, Spain and University of Cordoba, Argentina.
Presently, Belmonte continues his academic activities as Emeritus Professor and Senior Researcher at the Instituto de Neurociencias, UMH-CSIC in Alicante, Spain.
Awards, honors, and recognitions
Year	Awards, Honors, and Recognitions
2024	Claes Dolman Lecture Speaker, Bienal Cornea Conference, Harvard University
2024	Keynote Speaker, European Dry Eye (EuDEC) Congress, Madrid, Spain
2021	Annual Cajal Lecturer, Real Academia Nacional de Medicina, Madrid, Spain
2019	Endre A. Balazs Medal for Achievements in Ophthalmology, awarded by the Coronis Foundation & Deutschen Ophthalmologischen Gesellschaft (DOG)
2018	EuCornea Medal, European Society of Cornea, Vienna, Austria
2017	Nature's Lifelong Mentoring Award
2017	ARVO Fellow Gold, Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, USA
2016	Doctor Honoris Causa, National University of Cordoba, Argentina
2016	Scientific Award in Biomedical Research "Constantes y Vitales," A3 Media, Madrid, Spain
2015	Researcher of the Year, Prize of the Sociedad Española del Dolor, Group on Neuropathic Pain, Spain
2015	Selección Española de la Ciencia 2015, QUO Magazine, Madrid, Spain
2014	Maestro de la III Lección Magistral Andrés Laguna, Fundación Lilly, Spain
2014	Luis Federico Leloir Prize for International Cooperation in Science, Technology, and Innovation, Government of the Republic of Argentina
2013	Special Honoree of the ARVO Foundation and Dowling Society, USA
2012	Antonio Gallego Prize, Sociedad Española de Ciencias Fisiológicas, Spain
2012	FUNDOLOR Prize for contributions to the study of pain and pain treatment, Valencia, Spain
2011	Distinction for Scientific Merit 2011, Government of the Valencian Community, Spain
2011	Doctor Honoris Causa, University of Castilla-La Mancha (Medicine), Spain
2011	Biosanitary Personality of the Year 2011, awarded by the Colegios Profesionales Biosanitarios de Alicante
2011	European Vision Award, European Vision Institute (EVI), Belgium
2009	Medalla de Honor en el ámbito científico, Ateneo Científico Literario y Artístico de Alicante, Spain
2009	ARVO Fellow (FARVO), Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, USA
2008	Tribuno del Año, La Tribuna de Albacete, newspaper from Albacete, Spain
2008	Award from Fundación Diógenes for Research on Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (E.LA), Alicante, Spain
2008	National Prize for Biomedical Research "Gregorio Marañón," presented by the King of Spain, Spain
2008	National Prize Daza Valdés 2007 for a career in vision research from the Fundación Instituto Español de Ciencias Visuales (INCIVI), Madrid, Spain
2007	Gold Medal of the Instituto de Neurociencias de Alicante, Universidad Miguel Hernández - Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Spain
2006	Biographical sketch in the "Diccionario Biográfico Español," Real Academia de la Historia, Spain
1999	Ordre National du Lion, Republic of Sénégal
1998	A street in Alicante named "Avenida del Dr. Carlos Belmonte" by the City Hall Council
1998	Award for Research in Neurobiology, "Recognition to Biomedical Sciences in Spain, 1998," Fundación de Ciencias de la Salud, Madrid, Spain
1998	Endre A. Balazs Prize for Ocular Research, awarded by the International Society for Eye Research (ISER)
1997	Alcon Research Institute Annual Award for Vision Research, Alcon Research Institute, USA
1997	Medal "Emilio Diaz Caneja" for excellence in eye research, awarded by IOBA, Universidad de Valladolid, Spain
1996	First National Prize for a Research Career "Cátedra Severo Ochoa," awarded by the Ministry of Education and Science, Spain, and presented by the King of Spain
1992	National Prize "Rey Jaime I" for Research in Neurosciences, presented by the King of Spain
1991	Prize "Alberto Sols" for a research career in the Valencian Community, Spain
==Personal life==
Belmonte comes from a distinguished family of Spanish ophthalmologists spanning four generations. His grandfather, Nicolás Belmonte Dumont, was a pioneering ophthalmologist who founded the Belmonte Eye Clinic in Albacete and held prominent roles, including president of the local medical college and a notable political figure during Spain's Second Republic. Nicolás had three sons, Nicolás, Manuel, and José who each pursued significant careers in ophthalmology. Of José's five children, Carlos and his brother José continued the family legacy in medicine.
Belmonte resides in Alicante, where he continues to work in the medical field.
His son, Pablo Belmonte, is also involved in the medical field through the company Newmanbrain., while his other son, Diego Belmonte, works in the same sector with the company i-Onion
==Memberships and associations==
Carlos Belmonte has held various elected memberships in academic scientific institutions and the editorial boards of several scientific journals.
Elected official positions
Date 	Institution 	Position
2007-2010; 2010- 2013	IBRO) 	President
1997 - 2000 	IBRO) 	Secretary-General
1992-1996 	International Society for Eye Researchhttps://iser.org/	President
1990-1991 	International Society for Eye Research 	President-Elect
1988-1991 	International Society for Eye Research 	Secretary
1985-1987 	International Society for Eye Research 	Member of the Council
1994 	Academia Europaea 	Member of the Neuroscience Committee
1996 	Academia Europaea 	Member of the Section Committee for Physiology and Medicine
1991-1993 	Spanish Society of Neurosciences 	President
1989-1991 	Spanish Society of Neurosciences 	President-Elect
1987-1991 	Spanish Society of Medical Education 	President
1982-1987 	Spanish Society of Medical Education 	Vice-president
1987-1993 	International Society on Arterial Chemoreception 	Country Representative for Spain
1998 – 2002 	International Union of Physiological Sciences IUPS 	Member of the Somatosensory and Pain Committee
1994-2016 	Hellen Keller Eye Research Foundation 	Member of the Hellen Keller Prize Committee
Editorial board memberships
Dates 	Journal
2005 – 2016 	Pain
2004-present 	Molecular Pain
1989-2016 	The European Journal of Neuroscience
1990-2017 	Experimental Eye Research
2013-present 	Eye & Contact Lens
2012- present	Annals of Neurosciences
2008-present 	Journal of Optometry
2007-present 	Open Anesthesiology Journal
1985- present	Dolor
1975-1998 	Journal of Physiology and Biochemistry
1995-2003 	Sensory Neuron
1998-2001 	Tempo Ophthalmo
Category:1943 births
Category:People from Albacete
Category:Neuroscientists
Category:Spanish people