Curriculum

Federica Brugnoli

Born in Copparo (Ferrara) on 01/11/1976

Resident in Poggio Renatico (FE) - Via Paolo Borsellino, 22

 

CURRENT POSITION

University researcher with a fixed-term employment contract under Article 24, paragraph 3, of Law 240/2010, with full-time commitment in the competitive sector 05/H1 - Human Anatomy (now Scientific Disciplinary Group 05/BIOS-12 — Human Anatomy), scientific-disciplinary sector BIO/16 - Human Anatomy (now BIOS-12/A — Human Anatomy) at the Department of Translational Medicine of the University of Ferrara, starting from 01/12/2024.

 

NATIONAL SCIENTIFIC QUALIFICATIONS

Qualification, following the procedures for the National Scientific Qualification announced by decree no. 553/2021 and corrected by decree no. 589/2021, for the position of Associate Professor in the competitive sector 05/H1 - HUMAN ANATOMY. Valid from 09/06/2023 to 09/06/2034.

 

NATIONAL PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

Qualification for the exercise of the profession of biologist obtained at the University of Ferrara. Degree obtained in the second session of 2001.

 

EDUCATION

  • 21/06/2000 - Five-year degree in Biological Sciences (previous regulations to D.M. 509/99), with a Biomolecular and Molecular Biotechnological orientation obtained at the University of Ferrara.
  • 25/02/2004 - PhD in Biomedical and Endocrinological Sciences (16th cycle) obtained at the University of Ferrara.

 

TEACHING ACTIVITIES

Professor of Histology in the following degree courses at the University of Ferrara:

  • Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Biotechnology;
  • Single-cycle Master's Degree in Dentistry and Dental Prosthetics.

Tutoring/supervision and Thesis supervisor and/or co-supervisor for the degree courses in Biological Sciences, Biomedical Laboratory Technician, Biotechnology, and Medical Biotechnology at the University of Ferrara.

 

Dr. Federica Brugnoli has carried out laboratory teaching and thesis preparation for the following PhD programs at the University of Ferrara: 2001-2002: PhD in Biomedical and Endocrinological Sciences; 2003-2006: PhD in Biomedical, Endocrinological and Neurophysiological Sciences; 2007-2012: PhD in Biomedical Sciences; 2013-2019: PhD in Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences; From 2020: PhD in Advanced Therapies and Experimental Pharmacology.

 

MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES

  • In the 2014-2016 period, member of the Technical and Administrative Personnel Council (CPTA) at the University of Ferrara;
  • Starting from the 2017/2018 academic year, member of the Admission Examination Commission for the first year of the restricted-access degree courses in Medicine and Surgery, and Dentistry and Dental Prosthetics at the University of Ferrara;
  • Starting from the 2021/2022 academic year, member of the Medical Area Sub-commission for the evaluation of thesis in the Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Biotechnology at the University of Ferrara;
  • Starting from the 2022/2023 academic year, faculty representative for the second year in the Credit Commission of the Medical Biotechnology degree program at the University of Ferrara;
  • Member of the Italian Society of Anatomy and Histology;
  • Member of the Italian Society of Histochemistry.

 

RESEARCH ACTIVITIES

Since the 2000/2001 academic year, Dr. Federica Brugnoli has actively participated in numerous research projects developed through collaborations with reputable international and national research groups, and her research has been supported by funding from MIUR, MAE, the Ministry of Health, and the University of Ferrara.

 

Co-author of 55 articles in peer-reviewed international scientific journals, H index: 16, Citations: 815 (as of January 30, 2025, Scopus).

 

Participation, as a speaker or poster presenter, in over 60 international and/or national conferences.

 

 

Main Research Topics:

Dr. Federica Brugnoli has conducted research as part of the Signal Transduction Unit at the Department of Translational Medicine at the University of Ferrara, coordinated by Prof. Valeria Bertagnolo.

The main research topics are:

  1. Study of the intracellular signal transduction mechanisms that accompany granulocytic differentiation induced by all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and monocyte-macrophage differentiation induced by phorbol esters (PMA) in tumor myeloid precursors;
  2. Study of the role of deregulated signaling molecules in breast cancer and their involvement in tumor progression, with particular focus on Akt signaling;
  3. Study of the molecular mechanisms underlying pancreatic differentiation towards insulin-producing cells, both in multipotent progenitors derived from the human bile tree (hBTSCs), and in iPSCs derived from fibroblasts, as well as in pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cells induced by ATRA into partial trans-differentiation;
  4. Study of the effects of garlic and its derivatives and of its molecular mechanisms in different subtypes of breast cancer.