Curriculum
ERIKA RIMONDI
CURRENT POSITION
Associate Professor BIOS-12/A-Human Anatomy at the Department of Translational, University of Ferrara.
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
20/03/2002 - Degree in Biological Sciences (Biomolecular and Molecular Biotechnology curriculum), University of Ferrara.
24/02/2006 - PhD in Biomedical, Endocrinological, and Neurophysiological Sciences, University of Ferrara.
TEACHING ACTIVITIES
Professor of Human Anatomy and Histology and Embryology at the Universities of Ferrara and Trieste in the following degree courses:
Medicine and Surgery; Dentistry and Dental Prosthetics; Pharmacy; Health Professions; Motor Sciences; Morphofunctional Biotechnologies.
TRAINING AND RESEARCH ACTIVITIES
Professor Rimondi has carried out training and research activities at the following universities:
- University of Ferrara:
- 2002: Research Fellowship for Scientific-Training Collaboration at the Department of Morphology and Embryology, Section of Human Anatomy.
- From 01/2003 to 12/2005: PhD student at the Department of Morphology and Embryology, Section of Human Anatomy.
- From 02/2006 to 12/2008: Research Fellow at the Department of Morphology and Embryology.
- From 01/2011 to 10/2012: Research Fellowship within the Laboratory of Technologies for Advanced Therapies (LTTA), Emilia-Romagna Region's ERDF Operational Program 2007-2013 – Activity I.1.1 'Creation of Technopoles for industrial research and technology transfer', at the Department of Morphology and Embryology.
- From 11/2016 to 10/2017: University Researcher (BIOS-12/A-Human Anatomy), at the Department of Morphology, Surgery, and Experimental Medicine.
- From 11/2017 to 11/2020: University Researcher (BIOS-13/A-Histology and Embryology), at the Department of Morphology, Surgery, and Experimental Medicine.
- From 12/2020 to present: Associate Professor (BIOS-12/A-Human Anatomy), at the Department of Translational Medicine.
- University of Trieste:
- From 01/2009 to 12/2010: Research Fellow at the Department of Life Sciences.
- From 11/2012 to 10/2016, University Researcher (BIOS-12/A), at the Department of Life Sciences.
- Cornell University, Ithaca, (NY):
- From 09/2003 to 12/2003: Visiting Fellow at the Department of Biomedical Sciences.
Main research projects:
- MIUR-Prin 2004 Project: “Role of TRAIL/Apo-2L in hematopoietic and endothelial pathophysiology”.
- Young Researchers Project of the University of Ferrara (2006-2007): “Role of TNF-Related Apoptosis Inducing Ligand (TRAIL) in the osteoclastic differentiation process: therapeutic implications”.
- MIUR-Prin 2006 Project: “Role of TRAIL in hematopoietic and vascular pathophysiology”.
- Autonomous Region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia Project -art. 23 LR 26/2005-DPReg. 120/2007: “Establishment of a regional network for the study of lymphoproliferative diseases: development of diagnostic guidelines, validation, and improvement of immunotherapeutic strategies in chronic B-cell lymphocytic leukemia (LINFONET)”.
- Autonomous Region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia Project -art. 23 LR 26/2005-DPReg. 120/2007: “AITT: An integrated approach for the identification and validation of molecular targets in the treatment and prevention of tumors”.
- Project funded by the Foundation for Thermal Scientific Research: “Effects of exogenous hydrogen sulfide on endothelial functions and potential interplay with TNF-members”.
- Research Incentive Fund (FIR) – Year 2017: Study of signaling pathways in models of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (B-CLL).
- POR-FESR EMILIA ROMAGNA 2014-2020 Project (Axis - 1 Research and Innovation): "Biophotomics: Development and pilot validation of a portable medical device with integrated bio-photonic imaging and lipidomic testing methodology".
- POR-FESR EMILIA ROMAGNA 2014-2020 Project (Axis 1 - Research and Innovation): "CUBIBOX (Customized Biological Box): next-generation platform for in vitro testing".
- FIRD Project (2022): “Role of the Retinal Pigment Epithelium in the Pathogenesis of Retinal Degenerations: Analysis of the Activity of Bioactive Molecules on Retinal Damage”
- FIRD Project (2023): “Morphological and Functional Evaluations of Complementary and Alternative Therapies for Ulcerative Colitis”
- FIRD Project (2024): “Study of the Effects of Mitochondria-Targeted Antioxidant Molecules in In Vitro Models of Muscular Pathologies”
SCIENTIFIC PROFILE
Orcid ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8241-2513
Scopus Author ID: 23036815400
Main research areas:
- Oncological studies: Preclinical studies were conducted using tumor cell lines (in vitro) or murine models (in vivo) to evaluate the molecular mechanisms controlling survival/apoptosis processes mediated by various clinically used anti-tumor pharmacological agents or new generation molecules.
- Study of mechanisms involved in vascular pathophysiology: Vascular studies were conducted in cellular models consisting of both endothelial cell lines and primary endothelial cells, derived from patients, and used as models for in vitro or ex-vivo investigations. Various biological parameters were evaluated in the analyses, such as cell migration, proliferation, expression of pro-inflammatory markers, and release of soluble factors in response to treatments with pharmacological agents or in relation to clinical parameters of patients with vascular diseases. The results obtained in vitro were further validated by in vivo analysis of the levels of soluble factors present in plasma or serum derived from patients.
- Study of inflammatory mechanisms: Analysis of inflammation processes using in vitro models capable of mimicking, when appropriately stimulated, inflammatory conditions. In particular, the effects of different pharmacological molecules on the modulation of the inflammatory process were studied. The anti-inflammatory capacity of these compounds was studied by evaluating various aspects, including gene and protein modulation, cytokine release, and ultrastructural morphological aspects related, for example, to autophagy phenomena.
- Morphological studies: Various studies have focused on the morphological analysis of biological samples of different origins (veins, arteries, lymphatic vessels, and corneas) to evaluate the morphology of these structures under physiological and/or pathological conditions and any modifications induced, for example, by pharmacological treatments. These studies were conducted using both transmission or scanning electron microscopy, classical histochemistry and immunohistochemistry techniques. In particular, transmission electron microscopy is an elective technique for the morphological analysis of biological samples, as it can provide detailed images of cellular morphology and the intracellular compartment, allowing the study of the structure of cellular organelles.
TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER ACTIVITIES
- From 2011 to 2012 and from 2017 to present: contact person for the Electron Microscopy Service of the interdepartmental center called Laboratory for Advanced Therapy Technologies (LTTA; Industrial Research and Technology Transfer Laboratory accredited by the Emilia Romagna Region).
- From 2018 to present: member of the Board of Directors of the Electron Microscopy Center of the University of Ferrara.
