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Biology and Biochemistry
Spain
2025

D-Index & Metrics

Biology and Biochemistry

D-Index
105
Citations
33720
World Ranking
1217
National Ranking
12

Rafael Franco publication distribution in Biology and Biochemistry in 2026

The chart shows the distribution of publications by all Research.com ranked scientists in the field of Biology and Biochemistry in 2026. The highlighted bar marks where Rafael Franco sits on this spectrum.

47–56 publications: 8 scientists 57–66 publications: 35 scientists 67–76 publications: 106 scientists 77–86 publications: 231 scientists 87–96 publications: 414 scientists 97–106 publications: 546 scientists 107–116 publications: 704 scientists 117–126 publications: 849 scientists 127–136 publications: 980 scientists 137–146 publications: 942 scientists 147–156 publications: 969 scientists 157–166 publications: 950 scientists 167–176 publications: 951 scientists 177–186 publications: 915 scientists 187–196 publications: 787 scientists 197–206 publications: 841 scientists 207–216 publications: 735 scientists 217–226 publications: 709 scientists 227–236 publications: 651 scientists 237–246 publications: 605 scientists 247–256 publications: 510 scientists 257–266 publications: 524 scientists 267–276 publications: 434 scientists 277–286 publications: 418 scientists 287–296 publications: 350 scientists 297–306 publications: 363 scientists 307–316 publications: 315 scientists 317–326 publications: 296 scientists 327–336 publications: 261 scientists 337–346 publications: 240 scientists 347–356 publications: 219 scientists 357–366 publications: 197 scientists 367–376 publications: 154 scientists 377–386 publications: 161 scientists 387–396 publications: 155 scientists 397–406 publications: 145 scientists 407–416 publications: 124 scientists 417–426 publications: 112 scientists 427–436 publications: 132 scientists 437–446 publications: 116 scientists 447–456 publications: 99 scientists 457–466 publications: 81 scientists 467–476 publications: 91 scientists 477–486 publications: 80 scientists 487–496 publications: 80 scientists 497–506 publications: 60 scientists 507–516 publications: 36 scientists 517–526 publications: 46 scientists 527–536 publications: 54 scientists 537–546 publications: 44 scientists 547–556 publications: 43 scientists 557–566 publications: 43 scientists 567–576 publications: 42 scientists 577–586 publications: 25 scientists 587–596 publications: 34 scientists 597–606 publications: 23 scientists 607–616 publications: 33 scientists 617–626 publications: 31 scientists 627–636 publications: 27 scientists 637–646 publications: 25 scientists 647–656 publications: 28 scientists 657–666 publications: 34 scientists 667–676 publications: 18 scientists 677–686 publications: 16 scientists 687–696 publications: 10 scientists 697–706 publications: 12 scientists 707–716 publications: 21 scientists 717–726 publications: 12 scientists 727–736 publications: 12 scientists 737–746 publications: 10 scientists 747–756 publications: 7 scientists 757–766 publications: 13 scientists 767–776 publications: 15 scientists 777–786 publications: 13 scientists 787–796 publications: 9 scientists 797–806 publications: 9 scientists 807–816 publications: 7 scientists 817–826 publications: 4 scientists 827–836 publications: 9 scientists 837–846 publications: 7 scientists 847–856 publications: 3 scientists 857–866 publications: 5 scientists 867–876 publications: 5 scientists 877–886 publications: 11 scientists 887–896 publications: 3 scientists 897–906 publications: 4 scientists 907–916 publications: 7 scientists 917–926 publications: 5 scientists 927–936 publications: 6 scientists 937–946 publications: 6 scientists 947–956 publications: 3 scientists 957–966 publications: 7 scientists 967–976 publications: 2 scientists 977–986 publications: 2 scientists 987–996 publications: 1 scientists 997–1,006 publications: 5 scientists 1,007–1,016 publications: 2 scientists 1,017–1,026 publications: 2 scientists 1,027 publications: 1 scientists 1,028+ publications: 100 scientists
47 publications 1,028+

This scientist: 472 publications — 94th percentile

94% of scientists in this discipline score the same or lower.

The last bar groups every scientist with 1,028 publications or more.

Rafael Franco D-index placement in Biology and Biochemistry in 2026

The chart shows the D-index (discipline H-index) distribution of Biology and Biochemistry scientists ranked by Research.com in 2026. The highlighted bar marks where Rafael Franco sits on this spectrum.

40–41 D-Index: 80 scientists 42–43 D-Index: 183 scientists 44–45 D-Index: 317 scientists 46–47 D-Index: 504 scientists 48–49 D-Index: 718 scientists 50–51 D-Index: 900 scientists 52–53 D-Index: 1,026 scientists 54–55 D-Index: 1,150 scientists 56–57 D-Index: 1,236 scientists 58–59 D-Index: 1,253 scientists 60–61 D-Index: 1,163 scientists 62–63 D-Index: 1,131 scientists 64–65 D-Index: 1,032 scientists 66–67 D-Index: 897 scientists 68–69 D-Index: 814 scientists 70–71 D-Index: 715 scientists 72–73 D-Index: 709 scientists 74–75 D-Index: 596 scientists 76–77 D-Index: 512 scientists 78–79 D-Index: 473 scientists 80–81 D-Index: 412 scientists 82–83 D-Index: 373 scientists 84–85 D-Index: 358 scientists 86–87 D-Index: 285 scientists 88–89 D-Index: 273 scientists 90–91 D-Index: 227 scientists 92–93 D-Index: 208 scientists 94–95 D-Index: 193 scientists 96–97 D-Index: 153 scientists 98–99 D-Index: 157 scientists 100–101 D-Index: 148 scientists 102–103 D-Index: 120 scientists 104–105 D-Index: 113 scientists 106–107 D-Index: 100 scientists 108–109 D-Index: 86 scientists 110–111 D-Index: 67 scientists 112–113 D-Index: 72 scientists 114–115 D-Index: 73 scientists 116–117 D-Index: 64 scientists 118–119 D-Index: 53 scientists 120–121 D-Index: 60 scientists 122–123 D-Index: 54 scientists 124–125 D-Index: 43 scientists 126–127 D-Index: 38 scientists 128–129 D-Index: 49 scientists 130–131 D-Index: 26 scientists 132–133 D-Index: 18 scientists 134–135 D-Index: 23 scientists 136–137 D-Index: 32 scientists 138–139 D-Index: 32 scientists 140–141 D-Index: 27 scientists 142–143 D-Index: 19 scientists 144–145 D-Index: 22 scientists 146–147 D-Index: 12 scientists 148–149 D-Index: 16 scientists 150–151 D-Index: 14 scientists 152–153 D-Index: 10 scientists 154–155 D-Index: 13 scientists 156–157 D-Index: 10 scientists 158–159 D-Index: 7 scientists 160–161 D-Index: 9 scientists 162–163 D-Index: 13 scientists 164–165 D-Index: 4 scientists 166 D-Index: 4 scientists 167+ D-Index: 98 scientists
40 D-Index 167+

This scientist: 105 D-Index — 94th percentile

94% of scientists in this discipline score the same or lower.

The last bar groups every scientist with 167 D-Index or more.

Research.com Recognitions

  • 2025 - Research.com Biology and Biochemistry in Spain Leader Award
  • 2023 - Research.com Biology and Biochemistry in Spain Leader Award
  • 2022 - Research.com Biology and Biochemistry in Spain Leader Award

Overview

Rafael Franco is affiliated with the University of Barcelona in Spain. Their research spans a diverse range of topics within medicine, biochemistry, genetics, molecular biology, and neuroscience. The main fields of study in their work include Medicine with 109 publications, Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology with 102 publications, and Neuroscience with 100 publications. Subfields of study prominently featured in their research are Molecular Biology, Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience, Physiology, Pharmacology, and Neurology.

The research topics frequently addressed by Rafael Franco cover areas such as Receptor Mechanisms and Signaling, Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research, Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research, Adenosine and Purinergic Signaling, Neuropeptides and Animal Physiology, Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior, and Tryptophan and brain disorders.

Rafael Franco has contributed scholarly articles to several notable scientific journals. The most frequent venues include the International Journal of Molecular Sciences with 14 publications, Cells with 8, Exploration of Neuroprotective Therapy with 7, Pharmacological Research with 4, and the British Journal of Pharmacology with 4.

Their recent papers demonstrate a focus on neurotransmitter systems and receptor biology. These include:

  • "Dopamine in Health and Disease: Much More Than a Neurotransmitter," published in 2021 in Biomedicines

Frequent collaborators in Rafael Franco's work include Gemma Navarro with 84 joint publications, Rafael Rivas-Santisteban with 35, Irene Reyes-Resina with 33, Jaume Lillo with 32, and Alejandro Lillo with 25. These co-authors suggest active participation in collaborative and interdisciplinary research networks.

Best Publications

  • Alternatively activated microglia and macrophages in the central nervous system.

    Rafael Franco;Diana Fernández-Suárez

  • Presynaptic Control of Striatal Glutamatergic Neurotransmission by Adenosine A1–A2A Receptor Heteromers

    Francisco Ciruela;Vicent Casadó;Ricardo J. Rodrigues;Rafael Luján

  • Coaggregation, cointernalization, and codesensitization of adenosine A2A receptors and dopamine D2 receptors

    Joëlle A. Hillion;Meritxell Canals;Maria Torvinen;Vicent Casado

  • Adenosine A2A-Dopamine D2 Receptor-Receptor Heteromerization QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE ASSESSMENT BY FLUORESCENCE AND BIOLUMINESCENCE ENERGY TRANSFER

    Meritxell Canals;Daniel Marcellino;Francesca Fanelli;Francisco Ciruela

  • Dopamine D1 and adenosine A1 receptors form functionally interacting heteromeric complexes

    Silvia Ginés;Joëlle Hillion;Maria Torvinen;Stèphane Le Crom

  • Building a new conceptual framework for receptor heteromers

    Sergi Ferré;Ruben Baler;Michel Bouvier;Marc G. Caron

  • Synergistic interaction between adenosine A2A and glutamate mGlu5 receptors: implications for striatal neuronal function.

    Sergi Ferré;Marzena Karcz-Kubicha;Bruce T. Hope;Patrizia Popoli

  • Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutical Implications of Intramembrane Receptor/Receptor Interactions among Heptahelical Receptors with Examples from the Striatopallidal GABA Neurons

    Luigi F. Agnati;Sergi Ferré;Carme Lluis;Rafael Franco

  • Detection of heteromerization of more than two proteins by sequential BRET-FRET.

    Paulina Carriba;Gemma Navarro;Francisco Ciruela;Sergi Ferré

  • Adenosine receptor-dopamine receptor interactions in the basal ganglia and their relevance for brain function.

    Kjell Fuxe;Sergi Ferré;Susanna Genedani;Rafael Franco

  • METABOTROPIC GLUTAMATE TYPE 5, DOPAMINE D2 AND ADENOSINE A2A RECEPTORS FORM HIGHER-ORDER OLIGOMERS IN LIVING CELLS

    Nuria Cabello;Jorge Gandía;Daniela C. G. Bertarelli;Masahiko Watanabe

  • Striatal adenosine A2A and cannabinoid CB1 receptors form functional heteromeric complexes that mediate the motor effects of cannabinoids.

    Paulina Carriba;Oskar Ortiz;Kshitij Patkar;Zuzana Justinova;Zuzana Justinova

  • Cell surface adenosine deaminase: Much more than an ectoenzyme

    Rafael Franco;Vicent Casadó;Francisco Ciruela;Carles Saura

  • Receptor heteromerization in adenosine A2A receptor signaling Relevance for striatal function and Parkinson’s disease

    Kjell Fuxe;L. F. Agnati;K. Jacobsen;J. Hillion

  • An Update on Adenosine A2A-Dopamine D2 Receptor Interactions: Implications for the Function of G Protein-Coupled Receptors

    Sergi Ferré;César Quiroz;A S Woods;Rodrigo Antunes Cunha

  • Cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2 form functional heteromers in brain.

    Lucía Callén;Lucía Callén;Estefanía Moreno;Estefanía Moreno;Pedro Barroso-Chinea;David Moreno-Delgado;David Moreno-Delgado

  • Adenosine A2A and dopamine D2 heteromeric receptor complexes and their function

    Kjell Fuxe;Sergi Ferré;Meritxell Canals;Maria Torvinen

  • CD26, adenosine deaminase, and adenosine receptors mediate costimulatory signals in the immunological synapse

    R. Pacheco;J. M. Martinez-Navio;M. Lejeune;N. Climent

  • Identification of dopamine D1-D3 receptor heteromers: Indications for a role of synergistic D1-D3 receptor interactions in the striatum

    Daniel Marcellino;Sergi Ferré;Vicent Casadó;Antonio Cortés

  • Combining mass spectrometry and pull-down techniques for the study of receptor heteromerization. Direct epitope-epitope electrostatic interactions between adenosine A2A and dopamine D2 receptors.

    Francisco Ciruela;Javier Burgueño;Vicent Casadó;Meritxell Canals

Frequent Co-Authors

Gemma Navarro
Gemma Navarro University of Barcelona
Enric I. Canela
Enric I. Canela University of Barcelona
Carmen Lluis
Carmen Lluis University of Barcelona
Josefa Mallol
Josefa Mallol University of Barcelona
Sergi Ferré
Sergi Ferré National Institute on Drug Abuse
Vicent Casadó
Vicent Casadó University of Barcelona
Kjell Fuxe
Kjell Fuxe Karolinska Institute
Francisco Ciruela
Francisco Ciruela University of Barcelona
José L. Lanciego
José L. Lanciego University of Navarra
Luigi F. Agnati
Luigi F. Agnati University of Modena and Reggio Emilia

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