Foto del docente

Giorgia Gri

Associate Professor

Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences

Academic discipline: MED/04 Experimental Medicine and Pathophysiology

Curriculum vitae

Education

2016 Master in Bioethics for the Ethics Committees and Clinical Trials, University Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy. Dissertation: “The nonprofit clinical trial analyzed from the point of view of a researcher and potential promoter”. Supervisor: Prof. Maurizio Battino.

2008 Specialization in Clinical Pathology at the University of Udine, Italy. Final mark: 70/70 cum laude with a thesis entitled: “Role of CD4+CD25+ Regulatory T Cells in controlling Mast Cell effector functions in Allergic Responses”. School Director: Prof. Francesco Curcio.

2002 PhD in Gene Therapy and Cancer Immunotherapy, National Cancer Institute, Milan, Italy and The Open University Milton Keynes, UK. Dissertation: “The role of IFN-gamma and other cytokines in the antitumor activity of interleukin-12”. Supervisors: Dr. Mario P. Colombo and Prof. Frances R. Balkwill.

1994 Master’s degree in Biological Science at the University of Modena. Final mark: 110/110 summa cum laude and letter of encomium. Experimental thesis: “Phylogenesis of the Immune System: studies on natural cytotoxicity of immunocytes of Eisenia foetida Oligochete”. Supervisors: Prof. Claudio Franceschi, Prof. Andrea Cossarizza e Prof. Edwin L. Cooper.

Academic career

After several years as Adjunct Professor of Pathology and Immunology (from 2005 to 2011), in 2012 she became a fixed-term Researcher in Clinical Pathology (06/A4), with affiliation to the Department of Medical and Biological Sciences, Pathological Anatomy Section at the University of Udine. In January 2014, she became eligible for a position as Associate Professor for Anatomical Pathology (06/A4) and for Applied Biology (05/F1). In July 2014, she received eligibility to be an Associate Professor in the Science for Health Professions and Medical Technology (06/N1), and in March 2017, for General and Clinical Pathology (06/A2). Since October 18th, 2021, she has been an Associate Professor at the University of Bologna.

Teaching activities

From 2005 to 2017, she taught General Pathology, Pathophysiology and Immunology for Degrees in Nursing, Biomedical Laboratory Techniques, and Biotechnology at the University of Udine.

In 2021, she taught Natural, Chemical, and Biological Sciences at the secondary school of Second Degree Liceo Scientifico Statale N. Copernico in Udine, and in 2018 and 2019 she taught Natural, Chemical, and Biological Sciences in English at the European Classical High School, Educandato Statale Uccellis di Udine.

She is currently a Professor of Molecular Pathology for the Master's Degree in Medicine and Surgery of the University of Bologna, based in Ravenna, and of Medical Genetics for the same degree based in Forlì.

Scientific activity

She has worked in the following national and international research laboratories:

from 1995 to 1998, as a visiting scientist, at the Wistar Institute Cancer Center, Hematology and Oncology Section in Philadelphia, USA, under the guidance of Prof. Giorgio Trinchieri, she carried out experimental activities in the field of biology of the immune system to study the molecular mechanisms controlling interleukin-12 production in myeloid cells and B lymphocytes;

from 1999 to 2002, as a PhD student, at the Gene Therapy and Cancer Immunotherapy Unit of the National Cancer Institute in Milan, under the guidance of Dr. Mario P. Colombo, she characterized the interleukin-12-mediated antitumor activity and developed a cellular cancer vaccine capable of simultaneously recruiting and activating dendritic cells and effector T cells;

from 2002 to 2004, she spent her first post-doc in the laboratory led by Professor Antonella Viola at the Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine in Padua, where she studied the role of lipid rafts in the activation and signal transduction of human T lymphocytes and, with live imaging techniques, she contributed to the discovery of the recruitment of chemokine receptors to the immunological synapse during activation of T lymphocytes by antigen presenting cells;

from 2004 to 2012 she completed her post-doctoral activities at the Immunology laboratory of the Department of Medical and Biological Sciences, led by Professor Carlo E. Pucillo. She studied the role of mast cells as sensors of changes in the composition of the tumor microenvironment, and regulators of the immune response to the tumor. Moreover, she focused on the functional interaction between mast cells and T lymphocytes in the course of allergic and autoimmune responses;

from 2012 to 2017 at the Institute of Pathological Anatomy of the University of Udine with Professor Carlo Alberto Beltrami, she became a fixed-term researcher and studied the outcome of the interaction between stem cell-derived exosomes obtained from gliomas and the peripheral immune system cells;

in 2016 she participated in a Marie Curie Action FP7_People_2013-IAPP secondment, at the TISSUEGNOSTICS company in Vienna, Austria (CEO Dr. Rupert Ecker) for a collaboration project between the Academy and the Industry for Digital Pathology, for the implementation of a new software for the analysis of biomarker expression of tumors (glioma) and chronic inflammation (endometriosis);

Subsequently, from 2018 to 2021, as Clinical Research Coordinator, she was in charge of management, support and monitoring of clinical trials in the Gastroenterology SOC at the University Health Hospital of Central Friuli in Udine.

She has taken part in numerous national and international research programs including:

2010 Cariplo Foundation, Ricerca Medica (Milan): “Mast cells at the interface between external stimuli and immunoregulation in colitis and colorectal cancer”. Coordinator alongside Dr. Mario P. Colombo (INT Milan);

2008 Italian Association for Cancer Research (AIRC, Milan,: "Role of immune system and microenvironment delivered signals in tumor onset, growth and dissemination". Coordinator: Professor Carlo E. Pucillo (University of Udine);

2005 PRINN. Role of co-stimulation through CD40 in the activation and regulation of gene expression of normal and leukemic B lymphocytes. Coordinator: Professor Carlo E. Pucillo (University of Udine);

2004 U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command (Fort Detrick, Maryland, USA),: “Human Prostate Cancer Infiltrating Lymphocytes: Raft Microdomains, Signaling and Activation in Organ Cultures” DAMD17-03-1-0032. Coordinator: Professor Antonella Viola (University of Padua).

Referee of international journals in the field of immunology and oncology.

Fellowships and awards

2011-2013. Research Grant “Mast cells at the interface between external challenges and immune regulation in colitis and colorectal cancer” from Fondazione Cariplo, Milan (http://www.fondazionecariplo.it/en/index.html).

2011. Prize “Fondazione Crup” for best scientific publication in Biological and Veterinary Science of year 2008-2009 among young investigators of the University of Udine.

2009. Prize “Donne Impresa” Confartigianato of Udine for Research in Immunology, Udine.

2003. Prize for best presentation at the Translational Research in Autoimmunity Congress, Ruta di Camogli, Italy.

2003-2004. Researcher fellowship, University of Padova, Italy.

2002. Prize for best poster presentation at the XVI Congress of the European Society for Urological Research, Trento, Italy.

2002-2003. Research Fellowship from the Italian Association for Cancer Research, Milan, Italy.

2000. IVo Roche-Milano Prize for Research in Immunology. XXVIII Conference of the Italian Society of Immunology, Ferrara, Italy.

1999-2001. Research Fellowship from the Italian Foundation for Cancer Research, Milan, Italy.

1997-1998. Research Fellowship from the American - Italian Foundation for Cancer Research, New York, USA.

 

 

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