Education
2023: PhD in Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna
Thesis: “Acquired and inherited cardiomyopathies: evaluation of cardiotoxic effects in preclinical models”
2019: Professional qualification as Biologist, University of Parma
2018: Master’s Degree in Medical Biotechnology (LM-9), University of Bologna
Thesis: “The downregulation of nuclear protein lamin A/C is involved in cell migration and invasion in Ewing sarcoma”
2016: Bachelor’s Degree in Biological Sciences (L-13), University of Perugia
Thesis: “Prevention and control of Hepatitis A virus infections”
Professional Experience
2024 – ongoing: Tenure-Track Researcher, Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences (DIBINEM), Alma Mater Studiorum – University of Bologna
2023: Postdoctoral Research Fellow (BIO/16), Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences (DIBINEM), Alma Mater Studiorum – University of Bologna, Signal Transduction Laboratory
Project: “Characterization of alterations in lipid-dependent signal transduction pathways involved in tumor aggressiveness”
2022 – 2023: Postdoctoral Research Fellow (BIO/16), Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences (DIBINEM), Alma Mater Studiorum – University of Bologna, Signal Transduction Laboratory
Project: “Towards the identification of cellular and molecular pathological processes involved in the onset and progression of hip osteoarthritis” – ALMA IDEA 2022
2021: Support for Advanced Courses in Surgical Anatomy and Applied Biomechanics of the shoulder and elbow, hand and wrist, knee, foot and ankle, at the Center for Experimental and Molecular Clinical and Surgical Anatomy (ACChiSM), DIBINEM, University of Bologna
2021: Five-month research internship at the Institute of Experimental Pharmacology and Toxicology, Prof. Lucie Carrier’s Laboratory, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Hamburg, Germany (Marco Polo Scholarship 2020)
Project: “Generation of a human cellular model of cardiac proteotoxicity with CRYABR120G iPSCs”
2019: Visiting Graduate Student, Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences (DIBINEM), University of Bologna, Signal Transduction Laboratory
Project: "Study of signal transduction in cellular models of cardiac amyloidosis"
Teaching Activities
2025 – 2026: Lecturer of Anatomy II module for the Degree Program in Medicine and Surgery, Alma Mater Studiorum – University of Bologna
2025 – 2026: Lecturer of Anatomy module for the Master’s Degree Program in Medical Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum – University of Bologna
2025 – 2026: Lecturer of Anatomy of the Nervous System and Sensory Organs module for the Single-Cycle Master’s Degree Program in Medicine and Surgery, Alma Mater Studiorum – University of Bologna
2025 – 2026: Lecturer of Anatomy module for the Bachelor’s Degree Program in Nursing, Alma Mater Studiorum – University of Bologna
2024 – 2025: Lecturer of two modules of Anatomy I for the Degree Program in Medicine and Surgery, Alma Mater Studiorum – University of Bologna
2024 – 2025: Lecturer of Anatomy II module for the Degree Program in Medicine and Surgery, Alma Mater Studiorum – University of Bologna
2024 – 2025: Lecturer of Anatomy module for the Master’s Degree Program in Medical Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum – University of Bologna
2024 – 2025: Lecturer of Anatomy of the Nervous System and Sensory Organs module for the Single-Cycle Master’s Degree Program in Medicine and Surgery, Alma Mater Studiorum – University of Bologna
2023: Lecturer in Dissection Anatomy for the First-Level Annual Master’s Program in Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy – Manual Therapy and Therapeutic Exercise, Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences (DIBINEM), Alma Mater Studiorum – University of Bologna
2023: Teaching Tutor in Anatomy (90922), course Anatomy, part of the Integrated Course Anatomical and Physiological Bases of Organ Pathologies, Master’s Degree Program in Medical Biotechnology, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences (DIMEC), Alma Mater Studiorum – University of Bologna
2023: Co-supervisor of Bachelor’s Thesis in Biotechnology:
“The Interplay between PLCβ2 and Doxorubicin, unveiling morphological changes in cardiac myoblasts”
2022: Co-supervisor of Bachelor’s Thesis in Biotechnology:
“Doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxic effects in in vitro cardiac models”
Research Activities
Investigation of lipid-dependent signal transduction pathways in oncology, cardiovascular, and musculoskeletal fields, including:
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Study of nuclear lamins and nuclear envelope proteins, with particular focus on the role of lamin A/C in Ewing sarcoma and their involvement in differentiation, migration, and proliferation in tumor models.
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Investigation of cardiotoxic mechanisms in acquired and inherited cardiomyopathies, focusing on lipid-dependent signaling pathways involved in anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity, aimed at identifying novel therapeutic targets for preventive strategies.
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Study of collagen VI-related myopathies, with particular attention to the role of mesenchymal stem cells, such as pericytes, in tissue homeostasis and regeneration following muscle damage.
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Identification of cellular and molecular pathological mechanisms involved in the onset and progression of hip osteoarthritis, including collection of bone and cartilage samples from osteoarthritic patients, healthy controls, and post-mortem donors for morpho-structural and biomolecular analyses to identify potential biomarkers of joint degeneration.
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Anatomical dissection experience on post-mortem donors at a National Reference Center for body donation to science, and development of a morphological database of non-pathological tissues for morpho-structural and biomolecular analyses as control samples in musculoskeletal diseases.
Memberships
Member of the Italian Society of Histochemistry (SII)
Member of the Italian Society of Anatomy and Histology (SIAI)
Member of the Italian Association of Cell Biology and Differentiation (ABCD)
Awards and Honors
2023: ABCD Travel Grant for participation in the “2023 ABCD National Meeting”, Paestum, Italy
2023: Award for Best Oral Presentation at the 39th Congress of the Italian Society of Histochemistry, Vulcano, Italy
2020: Marco Polo Scholarship for a 4-month research stay at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (Germany). Project: “Generation of a human cellular model of cardiac proteotoxicity with CRYABR120G iPSCs”. Supervisor: Prof. Lucie Carrier
2016: Erasmus Grant for a 2-month internship at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg (Germany). Project: “Study of localization and activity of GlcNAc-1-phosphotransferase in Mucolipidosis type II and type III”. Supervisor: Prof. Thomas Braulke
