Curriculum

Massimiliano Castellazzi is an Associate Professor of Clinical Biochemistry and Clinical Molecular Biology at the University of Ferrara. With a PhD in Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biotechnology, Prof. Castellazzi has been conducting research in the field of neurochemistry and neuroimmunology for over two decades. His work primarily focuses on cerebrospinal fluid diagnostics and the identification of biomarkers for neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration. In recent years, he has been particularly interested in sex-based differences in cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers.

Massimiliano Castellazzi, born in Ferrara on June 3, 1973.
Registered in the National Order of Biologists, Special List, Section A: num. registration EA_020070

Scientific qualification as Full Professor:
- from October 2022, in Clinical Biochemistry and Clinical Molecular Biology (sc 05/E3; SSD BIO12)

Scientific qualification as Associate Professor:
- from March 2018, in Health Professions and Applied Medical Technologies (sc 06/N1; SSD MED46)
- from April 2017, in Clinical Biochemistry and Clinical Molecular Biology (sc 05/E3; SSD BIO12))

Professional Experience
- from September 2024 - Associate Professor of Clinical Biochemistry and Clinical Molecular Biology - BIOS-09/A ex BIO12 (unife)
- from January 2023 - SSD change approved by CUN in October 2022 - Fixed-term researcher (RTD-B) BIO12 (unife)
- from September 2021 to December 2022 - Fixed-term researcher (RTD-B) BIO10 (unife)
- from October 2019 to August 2021 - Fixed-term researcher (RTD-A) MED50 (unife)
- from December 2019 - included in an agreement with the Ferrara University Hospital Trust (equivalent to Biologist Manager)
- from December 2005 to September 2019 - Expert technician for support to assistance and research (cat. D) (unife) (currently on leave)
- since February 2001 - included in an agreement with the Ferrara University Hospital Trust (equivalent to a Biomedical Laboratory Technician)
- from February 2000 to November 2005 - Assistance and Research Support Technician (cat. C) (unife)
- from September 1998 to August 1999 - Scholarship (unife)

Education
- 2014 - PhD in Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Biotechnology: Supervisor Prof. Tiziana Bellini (University of Ferrara)
- 2010 - Master's Degree in Biomolecular and Cellular Sciences: Supervisor Prof. Tiziana Bellini (University of Ferrara)
- 2006 - Degree in Molecular and Cellular Biology: Supervisor Prof. Tiziana Bellini (University of Ferrara)
- 1997 - Diploma at the Scuola Diretta a fini speciali per Tecnici in biotecnologie: Supervisor Dr. Riccardo Gavioli (University of Ferrara)

Scientific interests
- Responsible for the organizational management of a bank of cerebrospinal fluid, serum and blood samples at the Laboratory of Neurochemistry and Neuroimmunology (UniFE), aimed at the systematic collection of residues of biological samples taken for diagnostic purposes and the related clinical data.
- Search for biological markers of diagnostic and prognostic value in patients affected by, or predisposed to develop, diseases of the nervous system. In particular: (i) potential markers, especially proteins; (ii) specific antibodies directed against potential exogenous and/or endogenous antigens; (iii) presence of pathogens (mostly viruses or bacteria) for association and pathogenesis studies; (iv) neurotransmitters and their metabolites.
- Search for sex-related differences in biochemical and chemical-physical parameters in the examination of cerebrospinal fluid.

Editorial activity
- Member of the Editorial board of the journal Diagnostics (IF 3.706). Period: November 2019 - present.
- Member of the Editorial board of the journal Disease Markers (IF 2.949). Period: August 2018 - October 2019.
- Guest editor for the journal Disease Markers (IF 2.949). Special issue entitled "Matrix Metalloproteinases as a Pleiotropic Biomarker in Medicine and Biology" (2016). Guest Editors: Jacek Kurzepa (Poland), Fatma M. El-Demerdash (Egypt), Massimiliano Castellazzi (Italy).

Scientific Profile
- Orcid ID: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6555-6075
- Web of Science Researcher ID: K-5083-2016
- Scopus Author ID: 57190160648

Publications
Number of publications in international journals reported in Scopus and PubMed (updated December 2024): 84.
Book chapters: 1.
Hirsch index/H-index: 30 (Scopus); 35 (Google Scholar)