Academic qualifications
Degree in Biological Sciences, University of Bologna, 1976;
Specialization in Microbiology, University of Parma, 1982; Degree
in Medicine, University of Bologna, 1989.
University career
Researcher, Faculty of Medicine, University of Bologna,
1983-2000.
Researcher, Faculty of Exercise and Sport Sciences, University of
Bologna, 2000-2001.
Associate professor of General and Applied Hygiene, Faculty of
Movement Sciences, University of Bologna, 2001-2006.
Full Professor of General and Applied Hygiene, Faculty of Movement
Sciences, University of Bologna, from November 1st 2006.
From the A
.Y. 2012-13,
with the implementation of the Law 240/2010 on the new organization of Italian Universities, is part of the Department of
Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences.
Didactic activity
She has a continuative didactic activity in the fields of General
and applied Hygiene at first on the degree courses of the Faculties
of Medicine, Biological Sciences, and Biotechnology. From 2000/01
her main teaching activity was carried out on the degree courses of
the Faculty of Movement Sciences. From the Academic Year 1991/92
she has taught regularly Applied Hygiene and Epidemiology in the
following Schools of Specialization of Bologna University: Hygiene
and Preventive Medicine, Infectious Diseases, Sport Medicine,
Occupational Medicine, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation,
Toxicology. She has also taught Epidemiology on the Advanced
Courses of Programming, Management and Evaluation of Health
Services, Evidence based Health Care and Master of Programming,
Management and Evaluation of Health Services.
Scientific activity
Her main lines of research include environmental microbiology,
epidemiology and promotion of health.
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Environmental microbiology
. In this area her research concerned the assessment and control of
infection risk due to the contamination of water, air and aliments,
from pathogenic or opportunistic microorganisms. Of particular
importance are her scientific contributions regarding the
environmental prevalence of Legionella pneumophila in
artificial water environments (domestic, hotel and hospital hot
water systems; swimming pools and spas; spa environments; dental
units) and the assessment of measures to apply for risk
control.
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Epidemiology
. In relation with the research on the microbiology of water,
prevalence and case-control epidemiological studies were carried
out on nosocomial and community acquired pneumonia from
Legionella pneumophila, and on infections from swimming
pools. Investigations were also made, through retrospective
epidemiological studies, on the risk factors associated with
epidemic outbreaks of food-borne infectious diseases, such as
salmonellosis and viral hepatitis A.
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Health promotion
. After various prevalence studies aimed at assessing the life
styles of children and teenagers, campaigns for the promotion of
motor activity were planned, performed and evaluated in primary
schools, in children from the third to fifth class, involving the
introduction of a programme of physical activity during school
hours, regularly distributed throughout all days of school
attendance. The assessment of the campaigns was made by means of
pre-post and prospective prevalence studies, examining the
anthropometric characteristics (BMI) and motor skills through
standardized tests.
Her research activity has been supported by the pluriennal funding
of the Italian Ministry for Universities and Scientific research.
From 1993 she has been responsible for studies for which she
obtained funding destined for Oriented Fundamental Research from
Bologna University and has participated in significant projects of
national importance coordinated by MURST on the “environmental
diffusion of legionella and the assessment of the frequency of
infection and of its risk factors" (PRIN 2000-2002) and on the
“strategies for the surveillance, prevention and control of
legionellosis" (PRIN 2002-2004). She is a member of the Società
Scientifica Nazionale di Igiene e Medicina Preventiva (SItI) and
the study group SItI for Motor Sciences with which she
promoted and participated in the translation of the Guidelines of
the World Health Organisation for coastal and fresh waters (2006)
and swimming pools and spas (2003).
Her research activity is documented by about 200 scientific
contributions in national and international journals. In 2007 she
gained the award
of the Italian Foundation for Spa Scientific Research for her
medico-scientific research in spa environments.
Other institutional activities
President of the Degree Course on Movement Sciences, Campus of
Rimini, University of Bologna, from 2007-08 to 2012-13 Academic
Years, and Faculty Representative in the Council of Rimini
Campus.
Faculty Representative for the International Relations and
President of the Commission for International Exchanges of the
Faculty of Movement Sciences.
President of the Commission for student work placement in the
degree courses in Movement Sciences of Rimini Campus.
