ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-9968-7767
Maria Rosito is currently an Associate Professor in Physiology at Link Campus University of Rome and an affiliated researcher at the Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia in Rome, Italy. Her research interests lie at the intersection of neurophysiology, neuroinflammation, and immune system interactions, with a specific focus on the cellular and molecular mechanisms that regulate central nervous system (CNS) homeostasis.
She earned her PhD in Neurophysiology from Sapienza University of Rome in 2012. After completing her doctoral studies, she continued her research journey with several postdoctoral and associate researcher positions at the Theodor Kocher Institute, University of Bern, Switzerland, at the Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia in Rome, and Sapienza University of Rome.
A significant focus of her work is on the roles of glial cells, such as microglia and astrocytes, in maintaining synaptic homeostasis and regulating neural circuitry in both health and disease. She also aims to identify biomarkers and develop strategies to modulate glial activity for neuroprotection. Additionally, her studies are focused on the interactions between the CNS and the peripheral immune system, especially the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and choroid plexus, using innovative technologies to investigate immune cell migration across the BBB in autoimmune and neuroinflammatory diseases.
Her research on glioblastoma explores the impact of diet and gut-derived metabolites on the tumor microenvironment and cell migration, proposing new therapeutic approaches.
Through an interdisciplinary approach, she strives to bridge fundamental research with clinical applications to advance CNS biology and pave the way for innovative therapies.
Curriculum Vitae OFFICE HOURS
The professor is available to receive the students at the end of the lessons. However, the students may also request an appointment by email.