Ricerc@Sapienza

My research interest concerns the neuron-neuron and neuron-glia signalling and its regulation in physiological and pathological conditions. My studies focus on the role of ion channels, from the single-channel level to synaptic plasticity and network activity, and how they shape the excitation-inhibition balance in neurons.

Formerly, I have investigated: - The synaptic plasticity at the cerebellar synapse between climbing-fibres and oligodendrocyte progenitors (Nature Neuroscience 2011); - The role of GABAergic inhibition in cerebellar synaptic plasticity and motor learning (Nature Neuroscience 2007 and 2009); - The impact of properties of LGICs (GABAARs; AMPARs; NMDARs) and regulatory proteins on synaptic activity (Journal of Neuroscience 2011 and 2012; Nature Neuroscience 2009; Journal of Physiology 2007).

Currently, I am focussing on:
- The electrophysiological (patch-clamp; computational modelling) and ultrastructural (3D morphometry of confocal reconstructions) characterization of mouse hippocampal neurons and how these are affected by ageing or Alzheimer’s Disease (Exp. Neurology 2022);
- The role of VTA neurons and Meso-Cortico-Limbic dopaminergic network in depression-like behaviours of early-life stress mouse models (Neurobiol. of Stress 2021); and
- The biocompatibility of engineered silicon- or carbon- derived nano-structures (Bioengineering 2022).

My research is funded by PNRR-IR (EBRAINS Italy - European Brain ResArch INfrastructure Italy) and by Sapienza Univ (Progetti Ateneo).

Website:
https://www.ebrains-italy.eu/research-groups/37?research_groups=UNIROMA1b