University

I have a broad scientific background in applied medical sciences, with specific training and expertise in molecular pathology.  I have been working as PI, co-PI or co-investigator in several grants funded by the Italian Ministry of Health, the Italian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, and the Italian Association for Shwachman-Diamond syndrome (AISS). From 2018 to 2021 I have directed the laboratory of the Cystic Fibrosis Center of Ancona, Italy, coordinating a team involved in basic research on rare diseases. Since 2022 I have been working as Head of preclinical research lab at Cystic Fibrosis Center Regione Veneto (Verona, Italy). My research interests are mainly focused on nonsense mutation suppression therapies for Cystic Fibrosis and Shwachman-Diamond syndrome. 

In 2017 I established a scientific collaboration with Prof. Seth J Corey (Cleveland Clinic, USA) to understanding the molecular mechanisms that underlie bone marrow failure and leukemogenesis in Shwachman-Diamond syndrome. This fruitful collaboration is still ongoing and is producing promising results. In 2020 I was enrolled in the European COST Action on chronic neutropenia (EuNet-INNOCHRON), collaborating with some of the most reputable European hematologists. From 2021 to 2024 I co-chaired the Young Committee of the EuNet-INNOCHRON Action. Together with Dr. Cipolli, Director of the Cystic Fibrosis Center Regione Veneto, we are currently studying the possible involvement of cellular senescence in CF airways. 

This intriguing hypothesis might open a wider scenario in the therapeutic approaches for CF, in particular in the field of anti-inflammatory treatments. Together with Dr. Theo Moraes (CFIT, SickKids, Toronto, Canada) and Prof. Scott Randell (UNC at Chapel Hill, USA) we have set up a substantial network based on full sharing of ideas and projects aimed at understanding the inflammatory process associated with Cystic Fibrosis.