Ricerc@Sapienza

EDUCATION AND TRAINING

2009.                          PhD in Biochemical Sciences from Sapienza University of Rome 

2005.                          University graduation in Biological Sciences from Sapienza University of Rome

WORK EXPERIENCE

2021 – present              Full Professor position at the Department of Biochemical Sciences of Sapienza University of Rome

2015 – 2021.                 Associate Professor position at the Department of Biochemical Sciences of Sapienza University of Rome

2010 – 2015                  Researcher (Assistant Professor) position at the Department of Biochemical Sciences of Sapienza University of Rome         

2009 – 2010                  post-doctoral fellows (from Istituto Pasteur – Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti) at the Department of Chemistry of the University of Kentucky

2007 – 2008                  PhD international student at the Department of Chemistry of the University of Kentucky         

2005 – 2008                  PhD student at the Department of Biochemical Sciences of Sapienza University of Rome

Academic Appointments

Start         End             Institution                                      Position

RESEARCH ACTIVITIES

Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease, Down syndrome, proteomics, oxidative stress, neurodegeneration, protein homeostasis        

Personal Statement: I am a Full Professor of Biochemistry at Sapienza University of Rome. Under the supervision of Prof. Butterfield at the University of Kentucky,  I have been involved in applying redox proteomics to explore the neurodegenerative mechanisms underlying increased oxidative damage in Alzheimer’s Disease.  My research has contributed to understanding the mechanisms of redox imbalance and defective proteostasis in the development of Alzheimer-like dementia. Data collected from my laboratory suggest that aberrant proteostasis, observed in both Alzheimer’s and Down syndrome patients, is closely associated with heightened oxidative damage caused by compromised antioxidant responses and faulty protein-degradation systems. Recently, my studies have focused on the chronic induction of the unfolded protein response and its aberrant relationship with the Nrf2 response, as well as changes in protein O-GlcNAc modification in Alzheimer’s disease and Down Syndrome.

Research Interests:

• Role of oxidative stress and protein oxidation in Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and Down syndrome.

• Role of protein Glycosylation (N-Gly and O-Gly) in the development and progression of Alzheimer’s Disease

• Role of “Heat shock response” during the progression of Mild Cognitive Impairment to Alzheimer’s disease.

• Study of molecular mechanisms controlled by STAT3 involved in ischemia/reperfusion neurodegenerative process.