EDUCATION:
1987 - Pharmacy Degree, University of Ferrara, Italy.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
PRESENT POSITIONS
Full Professor of Pharmacology, Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara.
Adjunct Faculty, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Maryland.
Director, Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara.
Head of the “Animal Models in Drug Testing” Service, Laboratory for Advanced Therapy Technologies (LTTA), Technopole, University of Ferrara.
Senior Staff Member, IRET Foundation, for research on neurodegenerative diseases.
Scientific Member of the Animal Welfare Body, IRET Foundation.
Representative of the Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology on the Scientific Committee of the Laboratory for Advanced Therapy Technologies (LTTA), Technopole, University of Ferrara (since 2014).
Representative of the Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology on the Scientific and Technical Committee of the Centralized Preclinical Research Laboratory (LARP), University of Ferrara (since 2016).
Delegate of the University of Ferrara representing LTTA within the Clust-ER Health and Wellness Industries (ISB), Emilia-Romagna Region.
Member of the Steering Committee of the Clust-ER Health and Wellness Industries (ISB), Emilia-Romagna Region (since 2017).
President of the Animal Welfare Body, University of Ferrara (since July 2017).
Coordinator of the PhD Program in Life Sciences and Biotechnology (since 2021).
PREVIOUS POSITIONS AND EMPLOYMENT
2018–2024: Deputy Director, Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara.
2018–2021: Vice-Chair of the Value Chain “Pharmaceutical and Omics Sciences (POSERR)”, Clust-ER Health and Wellness Industries, Emilia-Romagna Region, Italy.
2002–December 2018: Associate Professor of Pharmacology, Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara.
Since 2011: Researcher affiliated with the Laboratory for Advanced Therapy Technologies (LTTA) – Biotechnology Applied to Medicine, Technopole, University of Ferrara.
2008–2010: Member of the Working Group on Translational Medicine, BioPharmanet, Emilia-Romagna Region, Italy.
2001–2002: Assistant Professor, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Section of Pharmacology, University of Ferrara.
August 1994 – February 1995: Visiting Scientist, Department of Neuroscience (Chair: Kjell Fuxe), Karolinska Institute.
1994–2001: Research Fellow, Clinical Pharmacology Unit, S. Anna Hospital, Ferrara, Italy.
1991–2002: Research Associate (“Tecnico Laureato, D4”), Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Section of Pharmacology, University of Ferrara.
1989: Graduate Student, University of Ferrara.
1988: Glaxo Fellowship, University of Ferrara.
TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER
Company Partner of TransMed Research (TMR), an innovative GLP-compliant Contract Research Organization (CRO) specialized in neuroscience, wound healing, and regenerative medicine.
Vice-Chair of the Value Chain “Pharmaceutical and Omics Sciences (POSERR)” within the Clust-ER Health and Wellness Industries (Clust-ER Industrie della Salute e del Benessere), Emilia-Romagna Region, Italy. The Clust-ER is an association composed of large companies, SMEs, laboratories of the High Technology Network, research centers, healthcare organizations, and training institutions that share expertise, ideas, and resources to enhance the competitiveness of the Health and Wellness Industries in the Emilia-Romagna Region.
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
1995 – present: Italian Society of Pharmacology.
2004 – present: International Cannabinoid Research Society.
2008 – present: International Society for Neurochemistry.
2015 – present: European Society of Neurochemistry.
2015 – present: Society for Neuroscience (SfN)
2019 – present: Mediterranean Neurosciences Society
HONORS
1988-89 Glaxo Fellowship, University of Ferrara, Italy.
1994-1995 Research Fellow, Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
PUBLICATIONS:
Authors of about 210 scientific publications. The bibliometric indicators are as follows:
H index = 50 –Total citations = 8,351 (Scopus Author; May, 2026).
Complete List of Published Work in My Bibliography:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/1BalmeZjz-qQm/bibliography/public/
AUTHOR IDENTIFIERS:
ORCID: 0000-0003-2390-6414
SCOPUS AUTHOR ID: 7005398851
Researcher ID: F-9915-2015
EDITORIAL ACTIVITY
Associate Editor of “Pharmacological Reports”, Springer.
Review Editor of Frontiers in Neuroscience.
Review Editor of Frontiers in Pharmacology.
Academic Editor of “Psychiatry Journal”, Hindawi.
Editorial Board Member of “Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry”, Bentham Science.
Editorial Board Member of Current Protein & Peptide Science, Bentham Science.
GRANT APPLICATION REVIEWER
Reviewer of Research Products submitted to the Italian Research Quality Assessment (VQR) 2004–2010 (2012).
Reviewer of Research Projects for the Austrian Science Fund (FWF).
Reviewer of Research Projects for the National Science Center.
Reviewer of Research Projects for the Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation (2017–present).
Member of the Medicine Panel – Periodic Evaluation of Research, Development, Artistic and Other Creative Activities (VER 2026) – for the State Secretary for Education, Research, Development and Youth of the Slovak Republic for Higher Education (September 2025 – March 2026).
MAIN ACTIVE INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC COLLABORATIONS
Prof. Kjell Fuxe, Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
Dr. Malgorzata Filip, Laboratory of Drug Addiction Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacology Polish Academy of Sciences, Kraków, Poland.
Prof. Robert Schwarcz, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland, Baltimore, USA.
Prof. Ana Pocivavsek, Department of Pharmacology, Physiology and Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of South Carolina, USA.
Dr. F. Ciruela, Unitat of Pharmacology, Facultat of Medicine, Departament of Pathology of the Experimental Therapeutics, Universitat de Barcelona, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.
MAIN EXPIRED GRANTS/RESEARCH FUNDS
PRIN 2022 Call – Head of Research Unit – Project: “Neurodevelopmental consequences of maternal exposure to cannabis: a multidisciplinary investigation on the role of kynurenine pathway in vulnerable progeny”. Research Unit funding: €96,205.00.
PR-FESR EMILIA-ROMAGNA 2021–2027 – Priority 1: Research, Innovation and Competitiveness – Specific Objective 1.1: Developing and strengthening research and innovation capacities and the uptake of advanced technologies – Action 1.1.2 “Support for collaborative research projects between research laboratories, universities, and companies” – Scientific Coordinator of the LTTA Unit – Project: “AI4ChemoBrain – A machine learning/artificial intelligence model for personalized medicine: development of a predictive demonstrator of chemotherapy-related cognitive impairment based on subject-derived omics and phenotypic data”. Research Unit funding: €112,519.08.
Funding within the “Extended Partnership” framework [Component 2 “From Research to Business” of Mission 4 “Education and Research” of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) – basic research projects aimed at strengthening national research supply chains and promoting participation in strategic European and global value chains]. Topic 12 – Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology. Overall funding (University of Ferrara share: €4,625,300 – research group component).
Funding from the Swedish Research Council (Vetenskapsrådet) for the project “A2AR-D2R and A1R-D1R heteroreceptor complexes in cocaine reward and addiction” (Grant ID: 2019-01022_VR; PI: Prof. K. Fuxe; Co-awarded: Prof. L. Ferraro; 2020–2022).
Funding from the International Rett Syndrome Foundation (IRSF) for the project “NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitors as new therapeutic approach for Rett syndrome” (Grant ID: IRSF No. 3908; PI: Prof. G. Valacchi; Prof. L. Ferraro – member of the research group; 2022–2023).
Funding from the Fund for the Financing of Basic Research Activities (FFABR – ANVUR), 2017 (€3,000).
Funding from the Karolinska Institute and the Swedish Research Council for the project “Effects of cocaine on A2AR-D2R heteroreceptor complexes. A microdialysis study” (Principal Investigator: Prof. L. Ferraro, 2017–2019; funding: 123,000 SEK).
Funding from the pharmaceutical company Laboratorio CT for research projects investigating the role of GET73 and some of its analogues on hippocampal aminoacidergic transmission (Principal Investigator: Prof. L. Ferraro, 2017; funding: €28,670).
Funding under Axis 1 of the POR FESR Emilia-Romagna 2014–2020. Project title: “Step-by-Step – Integrated approach for patients with acute neurological lesions” (funding: €35,699.13).
Funding from the Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation (New York) for the project “Therapeutic potential of palmitoylethanolamide in a transgenic animal model of Alzheimer’s disease: focus on neuroinflammation and synaptic dysfunction” (PI: Prof. L. Ferraro; 2015–2016; funding: $61,400).
Funding from the pharmaceutical company GET-Laboratorio CT for research projects investigating the role of GHB and some of its analogues on hippocampal aminoacidergic transmission (2001–2012; Principal Investigator: Prof. S. Tanganelli).
Funding from the pharmaceutical company Merck KGaA for research projects investigating the role of sarizotan in L-DOPA-induced dyskinesias (2004–2006; Principal Investigator: Prof. S. Tanganelli).
Funding from the pharmaceutical company Sanofi-Aventis for research projects investigating the role of neurotensin in neurodegenerative diseases: pharmacological aspects and therapeutic potential of its analogues (1998–2006; Principal Investigator: Prof. S. Tanganelli).
Funding from the PRITT Emilia-Romagna Region: Action A – Research laboratories and technology transfer (“Animal stem cells for tissue repair: development of products and protocols for research laboratories” – Animal Stem Cell Laboratory, ASC-lab; PI: Prof. L. Calzà, Department of Morphology and Animal Production, University of Bologna; member of the affiliated research unit; 2004).
Research project funding from the Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Ferrara (Principal Investigators: Prof. L. Ferraro / Prof. T. Antonelli; 2003–2005).
Sub-contractor in the European project “Quality of Life and Management of Living Resources Programme” (QLG3-CT-2001-01056), as member of the research group (Principal Investigator: Prof. S. Tanganelli; 2000–2003).
Funding for Projects of Relevant National Interest (PRIN – 2003); Head of Research Unit (Unit funding: €52,400).
Funding for Projects of Relevant National Interest (PRIN – 2002); Participant in the research program (Unit Head: Prof. S. Tanganelli; Unit funding: €68,800).
Funding for Projects of Relevant National Interest (PRIN – 1999); Participant in the research program (Unit Head: Prof. S. Tanganelli; Unit funding: 67,000,000 Italian Lire).
Funding for research projects supported by University research funds (formerly MURST 60%; FAR), as Principal Investigator and/or member of research groups (1991–present).
1987 - Pharmacy Degree, University of Ferrara, Italy.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
PRESENT POSITIONS
Full Professor of Pharmacology, Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara.
Adjunct Faculty, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Maryland.
Director, Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara.
Head of the “Animal Models in Drug Testing” Service, Laboratory for Advanced Therapy Technologies (LTTA), Technopole, University of Ferrara.
Senior Staff Member, IRET Foundation, for research on neurodegenerative diseases.
Scientific Member of the Animal Welfare Body, IRET Foundation.
Representative of the Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology on the Scientific Committee of the Laboratory for Advanced Therapy Technologies (LTTA), Technopole, University of Ferrara (since 2014).
Representative of the Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology on the Scientific and Technical Committee of the Centralized Preclinical Research Laboratory (LARP), University of Ferrara (since 2016).
Delegate of the University of Ferrara representing LTTA within the Clust-ER Health and Wellness Industries (ISB), Emilia-Romagna Region.
Member of the Steering Committee of the Clust-ER Health and Wellness Industries (ISB), Emilia-Romagna Region (since 2017).
President of the Animal Welfare Body, University of Ferrara (since July 2017).
Coordinator of the PhD Program in Life Sciences and Biotechnology (since 2021).
PREVIOUS POSITIONS AND EMPLOYMENT
2018–2024: Deputy Director, Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara.
2018–2021: Vice-Chair of the Value Chain “Pharmaceutical and Omics Sciences (POSERR)”, Clust-ER Health and Wellness Industries, Emilia-Romagna Region, Italy.
2002–December 2018: Associate Professor of Pharmacology, Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara.
Since 2011: Researcher affiliated with the Laboratory for Advanced Therapy Technologies (LTTA) – Biotechnology Applied to Medicine, Technopole, University of Ferrara.
2008–2010: Member of the Working Group on Translational Medicine, BioPharmanet, Emilia-Romagna Region, Italy.
2001–2002: Assistant Professor, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Section of Pharmacology, University of Ferrara.
August 1994 – February 1995: Visiting Scientist, Department of Neuroscience (Chair: Kjell Fuxe), Karolinska Institute.
1994–2001: Research Fellow, Clinical Pharmacology Unit, S. Anna Hospital, Ferrara, Italy.
1991–2002: Research Associate (“Tecnico Laureato, D4”), Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Section of Pharmacology, University of Ferrara.
1989: Graduate Student, University of Ferrara.
1988: Glaxo Fellowship, University of Ferrara.
TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER
Company Partner of TransMed Research (TMR), an innovative GLP-compliant Contract Research Organization (CRO) specialized in neuroscience, wound healing, and regenerative medicine.
Vice-Chair of the Value Chain “Pharmaceutical and Omics Sciences (POSERR)” within the Clust-ER Health and Wellness Industries (Clust-ER Industrie della Salute e del Benessere), Emilia-Romagna Region, Italy. The Clust-ER is an association composed of large companies, SMEs, laboratories of the High Technology Network, research centers, healthcare organizations, and training institutions that share expertise, ideas, and resources to enhance the competitiveness of the Health and Wellness Industries in the Emilia-Romagna Region.
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
1995 – present: Italian Society of Pharmacology.
2004 – present: International Cannabinoid Research Society.
2008 – present: International Society for Neurochemistry.
2015 – present: European Society of Neurochemistry.
2015 – present: Society for Neuroscience (SfN)
2019 – present: Mediterranean Neurosciences Society
HONORS
1988-89 Glaxo Fellowship, University of Ferrara, Italy.
1994-1995 Research Fellow, Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
PUBLICATIONS:
Authors of about 210 scientific publications. The bibliometric indicators are as follows:
H index = 50 –Total citations = 8,351 (Scopus Author; May, 2026).
Complete List of Published Work in My Bibliography:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/1BalmeZjz-qQm/bibliography/public/
AUTHOR IDENTIFIERS:
ORCID: 0000-0003-2390-6414
SCOPUS AUTHOR ID: 7005398851
Researcher ID: F-9915-2015
EDITORIAL ACTIVITY
Associate Editor of “Pharmacological Reports”, Springer.
Review Editor of Frontiers in Neuroscience.
Review Editor of Frontiers in Pharmacology.
Academic Editor of “Psychiatry Journal”, Hindawi.
Editorial Board Member of “Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry”, Bentham Science.
Editorial Board Member of Current Protein & Peptide Science, Bentham Science.
GRANT APPLICATION REVIEWER
Reviewer of Research Products submitted to the Italian Research Quality Assessment (VQR) 2004–2010 (2012).
Reviewer of Research Projects for the Austrian Science Fund (FWF).
Reviewer of Research Projects for the National Science Center.
Reviewer of Research Projects for the Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation (2017–present).
Member of the Medicine Panel – Periodic Evaluation of Research, Development, Artistic and Other Creative Activities (VER 2026) – for the State Secretary for Education, Research, Development and Youth of the Slovak Republic for Higher Education (September 2025 – March 2026).
MAIN ACTIVE INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC COLLABORATIONS
Prof. Kjell Fuxe, Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
Dr. Malgorzata Filip, Laboratory of Drug Addiction Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacology Polish Academy of Sciences, Kraków, Poland.
Prof. Robert Schwarcz, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland, Baltimore, USA.
Prof. Ana Pocivavsek, Department of Pharmacology, Physiology and Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of South Carolina, USA.
Dr. F. Ciruela, Unitat of Pharmacology, Facultat of Medicine, Departament of Pathology of the Experimental Therapeutics, Universitat de Barcelona, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.
MAIN EXPIRED GRANTS/RESEARCH FUNDS
PRIN 2022 Call – Head of Research Unit – Project: “Neurodevelopmental consequences of maternal exposure to cannabis: a multidisciplinary investigation on the role of kynurenine pathway in vulnerable progeny”. Research Unit funding: €96,205.00.
PR-FESR EMILIA-ROMAGNA 2021–2027 – Priority 1: Research, Innovation and Competitiveness – Specific Objective 1.1: Developing and strengthening research and innovation capacities and the uptake of advanced technologies – Action 1.1.2 “Support for collaborative research projects between research laboratories, universities, and companies” – Scientific Coordinator of the LTTA Unit – Project: “AI4ChemoBrain – A machine learning/artificial intelligence model for personalized medicine: development of a predictive demonstrator of chemotherapy-related cognitive impairment based on subject-derived omics and phenotypic data”. Research Unit funding: €112,519.08.
Funding within the “Extended Partnership” framework [Component 2 “From Research to Business” of Mission 4 “Education and Research” of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) – basic research projects aimed at strengthening national research supply chains and promoting participation in strategic European and global value chains]. Topic 12 – Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology. Overall funding (University of Ferrara share: €4,625,300 – research group component).
Funding from the Swedish Research Council (Vetenskapsrådet) for the project “A2AR-D2R and A1R-D1R heteroreceptor complexes in cocaine reward and addiction” (Grant ID: 2019-01022_VR; PI: Prof. K. Fuxe; Co-awarded: Prof. L. Ferraro; 2020–2022).
Funding from the International Rett Syndrome Foundation (IRSF) for the project “NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitors as new therapeutic approach for Rett syndrome” (Grant ID: IRSF No. 3908; PI: Prof. G. Valacchi; Prof. L. Ferraro – member of the research group; 2022–2023).
Funding from the Fund for the Financing of Basic Research Activities (FFABR – ANVUR), 2017 (€3,000).
Funding from the Karolinska Institute and the Swedish Research Council for the project “Effects of cocaine on A2AR-D2R heteroreceptor complexes. A microdialysis study” (Principal Investigator: Prof. L. Ferraro, 2017–2019; funding: 123,000 SEK).
Funding from the pharmaceutical company Laboratorio CT for research projects investigating the role of GET73 and some of its analogues on hippocampal aminoacidergic transmission (Principal Investigator: Prof. L. Ferraro, 2017; funding: €28,670).
Funding under Axis 1 of the POR FESR Emilia-Romagna 2014–2020. Project title: “Step-by-Step – Integrated approach for patients with acute neurological lesions” (funding: €35,699.13).
Funding from the Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation (New York) for the project “Therapeutic potential of palmitoylethanolamide in a transgenic animal model of Alzheimer’s disease: focus on neuroinflammation and synaptic dysfunction” (PI: Prof. L. Ferraro; 2015–2016; funding: $61,400).
Funding from the pharmaceutical company GET-Laboratorio CT for research projects investigating the role of GHB and some of its analogues on hippocampal aminoacidergic transmission (2001–2012; Principal Investigator: Prof. S. Tanganelli).
Funding from the pharmaceutical company Merck KGaA for research projects investigating the role of sarizotan in L-DOPA-induced dyskinesias (2004–2006; Principal Investigator: Prof. S. Tanganelli).
Funding from the pharmaceutical company Sanofi-Aventis for research projects investigating the role of neurotensin in neurodegenerative diseases: pharmacological aspects and therapeutic potential of its analogues (1998–2006; Principal Investigator: Prof. S. Tanganelli).
Funding from the PRITT Emilia-Romagna Region: Action A – Research laboratories and technology transfer (“Animal stem cells for tissue repair: development of products and protocols for research laboratories” – Animal Stem Cell Laboratory, ASC-lab; PI: Prof. L. Calzà, Department of Morphology and Animal Production, University of Bologna; member of the affiliated research unit; 2004).
Research project funding from the Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Ferrara (Principal Investigators: Prof. L. Ferraro / Prof. T. Antonelli; 2003–2005).
Sub-contractor in the European project “Quality of Life and Management of Living Resources Programme” (QLG3-CT-2001-01056), as member of the research group (Principal Investigator: Prof. S. Tanganelli; 2000–2003).
Funding for Projects of Relevant National Interest (PRIN – 2003); Head of Research Unit (Unit funding: €52,400).
Funding for Projects of Relevant National Interest (PRIN – 2002); Participant in the research program (Unit Head: Prof. S. Tanganelli; Unit funding: €68,800).
Funding for Projects of Relevant National Interest (PRIN – 1999); Participant in the research program (Unit Head: Prof. S. Tanganelli; Unit funding: 67,000,000 Italian Lire).
Funding for research projects supported by University research funds (formerly MURST 60%; FAR), as Principal Investigator and/or member of research groups (1991–present).
