Curriculum Vitae
Education
1975: Biological Science degree, University of Bologna,
Italy;
1979: Medical degree, cum laude, University of Chieti,
Italy;
1984: Specialist qualification, cum laude, in Health and
Preventive Medicine, University of Bologna, Italy.
Career
1978 - 1980: Fellowship of the National Research Council from
Italy;
1980 - 2005: Permanent Academic Researcher, Department of
Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology, University of Bologna,
Italy;
2005 - present: Associate Professor, Internal Medicine, School
of Medicine, Bologna University, Italy;
1989 - present: Senior Medical Manager of Allergology and
Clinical Immunology, Laboratory of Immunology and Genetics, IOR,
Bologna, Italy;
2002 - present: and Vice-Director of the Laboratory of
Immunology and Genetics, IOR, Bologna, Italy.
2002- 2008: special qualification in "Cellular
Immunology", Laboratory of Immunology and Genetics, IOR,
Bologna, Italy
2007 – present: Quality referent of the Laboratory of Immunology
and Genetics, IOR, Bologna, Italy
2008 – present: coordinator of Specialistic reference
center in “Clinical Immunology”, Laboratory of Immunology and
Genetics, IOR, Bologna, Italy
Teaching experience
1983 - present: Tutor for degree and specialist thesis,
University of Bologna, Italy;
1999 - present: Professor of Ageing physiopathology and
biochemistry doctorate, University of Bologna, Italy;
1986 - present: She was or presently is full Professor of
post-graduate courses in Clinical Pathology, Haematology, Health
and Preventive Medicine, Internal Medicine, Oncology, Orthopaedy
and Traumatology, Toxicology; University of Bologna, Italy;
2001 - present: Full Professor of degree courses in Anatomy
Design, Biotechnology and Orthopaedic Techniques; University of
Bologna, Italy.
Skills and experience
Experimental output concerns basic and clinical immunology, with
particular interest in the differentiation of lymphocyte
subpopulations in normal and pathological conditions and in the
age-related modifications of the immune response. The latter
represents the main research field of the last ten years. Studies
have been developed in different fields concerning both phenotype
and functional characterizations of different peripheral
blood lymphocyte subpopulations, the interactions among immune
system, micronutrients and hormone metabolism. Some studies
concerned cognitive alterations.
Scientific training outside Italy
1984: Ludwing Institute for Cancer Research, Lousanne
(Switzerland): Laboratory of Human Immunology;
1986: Institutes of the Organization for Health Research T.N.O.,
Rijswijk (Netherland): Institute for Experimental Gerontology,
Department of Immunology;
1988: New York Medical College, Valhalla N.Y. (USA): Department
of Immunology and Microbiology;
1994, 1995, 1997, 2000: Mediziniske Universitatsklinik, Tubingen
(Germany): Section for Transplantation Immunology and
Immunohaematology.
Participation in research projects
1982 - 198: Italian National Research Council project:
Preventive and rehabilitative medicine, SP2 Mechanisms of
ageing;
1984 - 1988: Italian National Research Council project:
Oncology;
1989 - 1993: Italian National Research Council project: BTBS -
Biotechnology and Bioinstrumentation;
1989 - 1993: Research project of Italian Health Ministry:
Clinical and diagnostic importance of autoantibodies against
nuclear components in connective diseases;
1990 - 1995: A.I.D.S. projects of Italian Health Institute;
1993 - 1995: Research project of Italian Health Ministry:
Protection against hepatitis B virus infection in health
professionals: cellular and antibody immune response;
2007 – present: Strategic project of Bologna University: “Common
Molecular Targets among inflammatory and anti-inflammatory pathways
in Osteoarthritis
Grants
1989 - present: Fundamental Oriented Research (ex 60%) funds,
University of Bologna, Italy;
1994 -1997: EUCAMBIS Project, European Union (CT94-1209);
2000 - 2002: Research project of Italian Health Ministry:
Metallothionein, zinc and other molecules involved in inflammation,
as possible biological and genetic markers of immunosenescence and
age-related inflammatory diseases;
2000 - 2002: Strategic research project , Italian Health
Ministry: Osteoporotic fractures;
2000 - 2003: ImAginE Thematic Network, European Union FP5
.(QLK6-CT-1999-02031);
2002 - 2004: Research project of Italian Health Ministry:
Influence of nutritional anti-oxidant factors, micro and macro
nutrients on the immune response to inflammation in the
elderly;
2003 - 2006: ZINCAGE Project, European Union FP6
(FOOD-CT-2003-506850).
Evaluation boards for assignment of research
funds
1997 - 2003: Member of commission for the management of
Fundamental Oriented Research funds of Medical and applied
Biological Science Committee, University of Bologna, Italy;
1999 - present: Peer-reviewer of European Union FP5, FP6
and FP7projects;
2002 - present: Peer-reviewer of Italian MIUR (DDL 297/99, art.
7) and MAP projects.
Publications
170 “in extenso” (79 on SCI), 11 book chapters, 205
Abstracts.
Reviewer of scientific Journals
European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Experimental
Gerontology, Human Immunology, Mechanisms of Ageing and
Development, Immunity and ageing, Cancer Immunology and
Immunotherapy, Biogerontology.