Associate Professor

Prof. Ornella Cappellari is an Associate Professor of Pharmacology at the University of Bari since 2022 and has been an active member of the research unit coordinated by Prof. Annamaria De Luca since 2019. Since joining Prof. De Luca’s research group in 2019 with a mobility grant, Prof. Cappellari has focused on the innovation of experimental platforms for translational studies in neuromuscular diseases, developing next-generation 3D muscle models for disease modelling and pharmacological applications. Her research interests cover: 1) pharmacological and translational investigation of neuromuscular diseases, with primary focus on DMD; 2) pathophysiological mechanisms and pharmacological modulation of muscle-related disorders 3) establishment of innovative preclinical platforms such as muscle organoids and neuromuscular junction models aimed at accelerating drug discovery and functional validation of therapeutic candidates. Prof. Cappellari has contributed to advancing the integration of pharmacological research with cutting-edge 3D culture technologies aiming to bridge basic discoveries and clinical applications. She has authored numerous publications in peerreviewed journals and has been recipient of competitive funding from national and private agencies, including Fondazione con il Sud and the Italian Ministry of University and Research (PRIN). Through a multidisciplinary approach, she contributes to the development of innovative therapeutic strategies for neuromuscular diseases and actively collaborates within international research networks focused on translational solutions for rare disorders.