Education and training
Graduated in Physics at the University “La Sapienza” in Rome (2000)
PhD in Biophysics at the University “La Sapienza” in Rome (2000-2003), XVI cycle.
Degree in Medical Physics at the University of “Tor Vergata” in Rome (2006-2009)
Fellowship at the University of Bologna for the research program “Clinical applications of in vivo Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy” (2004)
National Academic Qualification as Associate Professor in BIO/12 (05/04/2017 - 05/04/2023)
National Academic Qualification as Associate Professor in FIS/07 (28/07/2017 - 28/07/2023)
Academic position
Assistant Professor in Clinical Biochemistry and Clinical Molecular Biology since 2005.
Educational activity
2014-2017: Applied Clinical Biochemistry- SSD BIO/12 (Module of Clinical Biochemistry (I.C.)). First cycle degree programmes (L) in Biomedical Laboratory techniques, School of Medicine, University of Bologna.
2013-2017: Magnetic Resonance Imaging Spectroscopy Technique and Clinical Inquiries –SSD BIO/12 (Module of Magnetic Resonance Physics and Equipment (I.C.)). First cycle degree programmes (L) in Imaging and Radiotherapy techniques, School of Medicine, University of Bologna, Campus of Rimini.
2010-2011: Clinical Biochemistry-SSD BIO/12 (Module of General Pathology and Clinical Biochemistry (I.C.)). First cycle degree programmes (L) in Dental Hygiene, School of Medicine, University of Bologna.
2012-2017: Applied Physics- SSD FIS/07 (Module of Physics, Statistics and Computer Science (I.C.)). First cycle degree programmes (L) in Orthopaedics techniques, School of Medicine, University of Bologna.
2012-2017: Applied Physics- SSD FIS/07 (Module of Physics and Applied Techniques (I.C.)). First cycle degree programmes (L) in Podiatry, School of Medicine, University of Bologna.
2012-2014: Applied Physics-SSD FIS/07 (Module of Physics (I.C.)). First cycle degree programmes (L) in Environment and Workplace Prevention Techniques, School of Medicine, University of Bologna.
Research activities
Her activity concerns the development of methodologies and analyses for in vivo biochemical parameters in pre-clinical (from 2000 to 2005) and clinical field (since 2005). The clinical and research activity is conducted at the MR Function Unit, Policlinico S.Orsola-Malpighi Bologna. She contributes to the definition of acquisition protocols of in vivo biochemical-molecular parameters, quality controls, analyses ad interpretation of results to be correlated with other clinical and laboratory parameters of each patient. From 2000 to 2005 she worked in collaboration with the Cellular Biology Laboratory of the ISS and the Physics Department of the University “La Sapienza” in Rome about non-invasive MR spectroscopic and imaging techniques. Since 2004 her research activity concerns the evaluation of diagnostic and prognostic biochemical-molecular parameters to quantify endogenous metabolites in the prostatic gland (in collaboration with UCSF, Prof. Kurhanewicz).
Since 2005 she develops both acquisition and analysis protocols for proton and phosphorous Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy, for molecular and functional advanced imaging techniques. Results of this activity are about both in vitro and in vivo applications, both for patients and healthy controls.
She works on the validation of metabolic and biochemical biomarkers in the field of movement disorders, migraines, metabolic muscular disorders, neuromuscular disorders, sleep disorders and mitochondrial genetic disorders. Since 2012 she contributes to the project “Metodologie innovative di indagine delle funzioni cognitive ed emozionali nel Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) e nella malattia di Alzheimer (AD): esplorazione multimodale del sistema delle cellule ganglionari della retina che esprimono melanopsina.” In collaboration with the University of Liege (Dott. Vandewalle).
Since 2013 her activity concerns the development of advanced methodologies for the analyses of functional and structural imaging in collaboration wiht the Physics Department at the University of Bologna.
Since 2016 she participates to the project ENIGMA-Ataxia (P.I: Prof Raffaele Lodi) with the aim of a meta-analysis of MR data in the ataxia.
