Foto del docente

Stefania Varani

Associate Professor

Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences

Academic discipline: MED/07 Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology

Curriculum vitae

Current position

- Associate Professor of Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology (SSD MED/07), Department of Diagnostic, Experimental and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), University of Bologna

Education and training

- 2005-2018: Assistant Professor of Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology (SSD MED / 07), Department of Diagnostic , Experimental and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), University of Bologna

- 2005: PhD in Viral Immunology, Karolinska Institute, Department of Medicine, Stockholm, Sweden;

- 2004: Diploma in Tropical Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Department of Medicine, Stockholm, Sweden;

- 2001: Residency in Microbiology and Virology, University of Bologna;

- 1998: Habilitation as Medical Doctor;

- 1997: Degree in Medicine and Surgery, University of Bologna.

International experiences

- 2008-2010: Clinical Microbiologist at Unit of Clinical Virology, Karolinska University Hospital, Huddinge (Sweden);

- 2006-2008: Post-doc at the Department of Immunology, Stockholm University, Stockholm (Sweden);

- 2002-2005: PhD student at the Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm (Sweden).

Teaching activity

- She holds several courses at the School of Medicine, University of Bologna:

  • Microbiology, teaching activity in English, single cycle degree programme in Medicine and Surgery;
  • Clinical Microbiology, module of Laboratory Diagnostics, teaching activity in English, second cycle degree programme in Medical Biotechnology;
  • Mycology and Parasitology, module of Clinical Microbiology II, teaching activity in Italian, first cycle degree programme in Biomedical Laboratory techniques;
  • Tropical Pathology: diagnosis, module of Tropical Disease and Travel Medicine, teaching activity in Italian, single cycle degree programme in Medicine and Surgery;
  • Global health, climate change, viruses and parasites, module within the elective course "Infections and infectious diseases in a globalized world; traveling of humans, animals and microbes", teaching activity in English, single cycle degree programme in Medicine and Surgery

- She participated to the Erasmus+ International Credit Mobility-ICM granted by the EC, holding lectures on “Vector-borne infections” (College of Health Sciences, Mekelle University, Ethiopia 2019);

- She held courses in Microbiology and Virology in collaboration with the non-governmental organization CESTAS, including a course in La Paz (Bolivia) in 2013 and a course in Windhoek (Namibia) in 2012.

Research activity

Scientific activity

- From 1997 to 2013, research interests focused on the implementation of diagnostic methods for pathogens causing severe infections in patients with compromised or immature immune systems, including human cytomegalovirus and bacteria causing bloodstream infections. The scientific activity was also focused on the study of the pathogenesis of cytomegalovirus infection, with particular interest in the interaction between virus and innate host immunity and virus-mediated immunopathology. She also focused on epidemiological and pathogenesis studies of arbovirus infections

- From 2013 up to now the research activity focuses on validation of novel diagnostic tools, epidemiological studies (including molecular surveillance) in a One-Health perspective, and drug discovery in the field of human parasites, with focus on leishmaniasis 

The set of results achieved was published in 81 publications, including 68 original scientific articles in peer-reviewed international journals, 11 reviews in peer-reviewed international journals, and 2 book chapters for international publication.

Bibliometric indicators (Scopus): Total citations: 1772; H-index: 28

Funding

As project coordinator:

- 2018: "Ricerca Finalizzata" (Italian Ministry of Health), three-year funding for a project entitled: "Emerging blood protozoa in the immunocompromised population: novel strategies for screening, diagnosis, monitoring and clinical management";

- 2017: Fondazione del Monte di Bologna e Ravenna, annual funding for a project entitled "Leishmania, emerging infectious agent in Emilia-Romagna: diagnostic implications and development of novel drugs”.

As project manager:

- 2020: one year- UNIBO funds for innovative initiatives of departments within memorandum of understandings or sector agreements between universities, project title  "Approach towards One Health to Improve Disease Detection, Prevention and Response: Summer School and Laboratory Exchange program";

- 2010: Ragnar and Torsten Söderberg Foundations (Stockholm, Sweden), two-year funding for a project entitled "Studies of the role of human cytomegalovirus infection in the development of immunopathology; implications for chronic inflammation and autoimmunity ";

- 2007: Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA / SAREC, Stockholm, Sweden), three-year funding for a project entitled "Studies on the interaction between dendritic cells and Plasmodium falciparum with special focus on malaria during pregnancy";

- 2006: Swedish Society of Medicine (SLS, Stockholm, Sweden) annual funding for a project entitled "Consequences of pregnancy malaria on the immune system of the offspring: the role of dendritic cells and possible viral reactivation".

Head of research unit:

- Scientific Coordinator of Research Unit for the biennial project "Ricerca Corrente 2019" (Ministry of Health) presented by IZSLER and entitled ""Epidemiological studies of vectors and animal reservoirs of leishmaniasis in the Emilia-Romagna region"; 

- Scientific Coordinator of Research Unit for the biennial project "Ricerca Corrente 2016" (Ministry of Health) presented by IZSLER and entitled: "Development of an Integrated Surveillance System of Leishmaniasis in the Emilia Romagna Region"; 

-Local coordinator of the project "University corridors for refugees (Ethiopia-UNIBO 2019-21)". 

As participant

She has participated to several projects funded by the European Commission:

  • 2022-ongoing: ECLIPSE- ECL-based Infectious Pathogen (bio)Sensor.Proposal number: 101046787 (HORIZON-EIC-2021-PATHFINDEROPEN-01);
  • 2020-ongoing: PASS - Plasma assisted sanitation system (EIT-FOOD 2020);
  • 2011-2017: PREDEMICS - Preparedness, Prediction and Prevention of Emerging Zoonotic Viruses with Pandemic Potential using Multidisciplinary Approaches; FP7 HEALTH 2011;
  • 2007-2010: STOPPAM - Strategies TO Prevent Pregnancy-Associated Malaria FP7 HEALTH 2007.

Latest news

At the moment no news are available.