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Bachelor's Degree in Molecular Biology
University of Ferrara, dated December 17, 2003.
Thesis title: "Research on the hereditary model of Multiple Sclerosis in Sardinia through the analysis of complex segregations". Degree grade: 110/110 cum laude.
PERSONAL SKILLS
NATIVE TONGUE: Italian
OTHER LANGUAGES
English: intermediate level
SCIENTIFIC ACTIVITY
Scientific research activity in the field of Biotechnology, Pharmaceutical Biology, Molecular and Cellular Biology, Biochemistry, Genetics and Epigenetics.
Main research lines:
- Reprogramming, maintenance and characterization of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC), starting from fibroblasts and PBMC.
- Determination of the global methylation status of the genome and gene-specific.
- Multi-omic analysis of complex diseases and/or conditions, such as Alzheimer's, Autism, Aging...
- Isolation, characterization and maintenance of skin fibroblasts from SCA1 patients.
- Development of therapeutic strategies for the treatment of Spinocerebellar Ataxia type I (SCA1), using the CRISPR/Cas9 system for human genome editing.
- Development of experimental models for the characterization of potential therapeutic approaches for b-thalassemia: construction of lentiviral vectors for the four main thalassemic mutations in order to generate ex vivo and in vivo models for the study of specific therapeutic strategies; production of cell clones containing the wild type β globin gene, or the mutated β039 or β+IVSI-6 gene; development of an in vitro and ex vivo splicing model for the β+IVSI-110 mutation; production of a cellular sensor for the screening of potential inducers of fetal hemoglobin.
- Development of ex vivo experimental models of β°39 thalassemia containing partial or total suppression of the UPF1 gene, whose protein is involved in NMD: production of lentiviral vectors containing the shRNA specific for the silencing of the UPF1 gene and subsequent production and characterization of clones with partial suppression of this protein; development of a gene knock-out strategy using zinc-finger nuclease (ZFN) specific for the UPF1 gene and subsequent production and characterization of clones with total suppression of the protein.
- Production of a cellular model of cystic fibrosis with total suppression of the PLCB3 gene: development of a gene knock-out strategy using zinc-finger nuclease (ZFN) specific for the PLCB3 gene and subsequent production of clones with total suppression of the protein.
- Production of a cellular model of cystic fibrosis with total suppression of the UPF1 gene: use of a gene knock-out strategy via zinc-finger nuclease (ZFN) specific for the UPF1 gene and subsequent production of clones with total suppression of the protein.
- Study of personalized therapies for the thalassemic nonsense mutation β039: analysis of the Read-through activity of aminoglycosides and analogues; evaluation of the effects of the inhibition of Nonsense Mediated mRNA Decay; development of gene correction techniques.
- Study of vectors for gene therapy in the context of β-thalassemia.
- Screening and characterization of new mutations in thalassemia.
- Gene therapy of thalassemia: RNA interference, transfection with viral vectors.
- Applications of innovative molecules based on Peptide Nucleic Acids (PNAs) for the alteration of gene expression and molecular diagnosis.
FUNDED RESEARCH PROJECTS (participation and responsibility)
FAR 2024 - A multiOMICS approach for targeting the molecular signature of Autism Spectrum Disorder. PI
FAR 2023 - Correlation between epigenetic factors and cytokine expression in aging. PI
ATAXIA UK Foundation 2022 - Personalized gene editing approach for the treatment of Spinocerebellar Ataxia type 1 (SCA1). PI
Free contribution from Banca d'Italia 2021 - SCA1: personalized gene editing approaches and new therapeutic targets, validated in 3D cellular models of the central nervous system. CO-PI
ACAREF Foundation project – Use of herpetic vectors to stop or slow the progression of Spinocerebellar Ataxia type 1 (SCA1). CO-PI.
FAR 2014 - Study and modulation of gene expression with oligonucleotides, PNA and therapeutic vectors. Research Unit Staff
FAR 2013 - Study and modulation of gene expression with oligonucleotides, PNA and therapeutic vectors. Research Unit Staff
FAR 2012 - Study and modulation of gene expression with oligonucleotides, PNA and therapeutic vectors. Research Unit Staff
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Project n° FFC#01/2012 - The read-through approach for the treatment of cystic fibrosis caused by premature termination codons. Research Unit Staff
CARIPARO 2011-2015 - Molecular diagnosis and experimental therapy of Beta Thalassemia: pre-clinical studies and development of protocols for personalized therapy. Research Unit Staff
FAR 2011 - Study and modulation of gene expression with oligonucleotides and therapeutic vectors. Research Unit Staff
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Project No. FFC#02/2010 – Novel cellular model system and therapeutic molecules for the development of a read-through approach for CF caused by stop codon mutations of the CFTR gene. Research Unit Staff
FAR 2010 - Study and modulation of gene expression with oligonucleotides and therapeutic vectors. Research Unit Staff
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Project No. FFC#17/2010 – Molecular Characterization of trimethylangelicin (TMA) and structurally-related compounds in CF lung disease: anti-inflammatory effects and potentiation of the CFTR biological activity. Research Unit Staff
TELETHON 2010 - Project No. GGP10214 - Hemoglobin production in Erythroid cells from patients with Beta Thalassemia by altering biomolecular processes capable of regulating the expression of globin genes. Research Unit Staff
PRIN 2009 - Project No. 20093N774P_004 - Characterization of the biological and molecular activity of peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) capable of interacting with micro RNA (miR) and miR-regulated mRNA: applications for the development of new strategies in molecular therapy and diagnosis. Research Unit Staff
IFO (Istituti Fitoterapici Ospitalieri) 2008 - Project No. RF-IRE-2007-651854 - Melanoma and integrated chip technologies: identification of novel prognosticators and (immuno)therapeutic protocols. Research Unit Staff
PRRIITT 2008 - Call D.G.R. 1853/2007 - Regional Laboratory for Innovation in Life Sciences - BioPharmaNet. Research Unit Staff
TELETHON 2007 - Project No. GGP07257 - Modifiers of globin gene expression for the therapeutic treatment of beta-thalassemia. Research Unit Staff
FAR 2005 - Oligonucleotide and PNA-based decoy molecules: design, biological activity and delivery with liposomes, nanospheres and technologies based on "Lab-on-a-chip" systems. Research Unit Staff
PRIN 2007 - Project No. 2007F9TWKE_005 - Biomedical and biotechnological applications of PNA and structural analogues directed against mRNA and microRNA. Research Unit Staff
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