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Giovanni Cirillo, born in Pompei on July 8, 1983, is Associate Professor of Human Anatomy at the University of
Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Department of Mental and Physical Health and Preventive Medicine. After completing
high school with a scientific diploma, he graduated with honors in Medicine and Surgery from the Second University of
Naples in 2007, receiving special commendation and publication honors, and in 2014 he obtained the specialization
diploma in Neurology with top marks and honors. In 2017 he earned a PhD in Clinical and Experimental Medicine and,
in the same year, the National Scientific Qualification as Associate Professor, followed in 2023 by the Qualification as
Full Professor in Human Anatomy.
His academic career developed through positions as fixed-term researcher (RTDA and RTDB) in Human Anatomy
from 2018 to 2024, culminating in his appointment as Associate Professor. His training has been enriched by
international experiences as Visiting Professor at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid (2019 and 2023), where he
taught in neuroscience master’s programs and doctoral schools, and at the University of Verona (2020) with a project
focused on studying central nervous system plasticity through non-invasive stimulation. His scientific output includes
over 70 articles in peer-reviewed international journals, with an H-index of 24 and more than 2,100 citations (Scopus,
October 2025), as well as contributions to academic textbooks including Functional Neuroanatomy (Idelson-Gnocchi,
2019) and Practical Neurology (Edises, 2014), up to the recent volume in the series Gray’s for Students – Systemic and
Regional Anatomy.
His main research interests concern neuronal and glial plasticity in physiological and pathological conditions,
mechanisms of neuroinflammation, neuro-immune modulation, human dopaminergic nigro-thalamic connections, the
interaction between tumor microenvironment and glial cells in glioblastoma, the development of therapeutic strategies
based on neuromodulation, and the use of biomaterials such as silk fibroin.
He has coordinated or participated as principal investigator in numerous competitive national and PNRR/PRIN projects,
including RESTORE, THOR, MNESYS, and the 2022 PRIN on visuomotor assessment in Parkinson’s disease, and has
played a key role in translational projects on advanced imaging, neurodegenerative diseases, and tissue biomimetics.
He serves as reviewer for high-impact international journals such as Experimental Neurology, Neurobiology of Disease,
Journal of Neuroscience Research, and Neurological Sciences, and has been guest editor of special issues in Neural
Plasticity, Frontiers, Brain Sciences, and Cells, contributing to shaping new directions of research.
He has been speaker and organizer at national and international congresses and courses with more than forty active
participations, including SIN, LIMPE, GISN, and SIAI, and has been part of the scientific committees of major
academic events such as GISN national congresses and MNESYS network meetings.
He is deeply involved in teaching activities as lecturer in Human Anatomy for degree programs in Medicine and
Surgery, Dentistry, Nursing, Radiologic Technology, and Biomedical Engineering, as well as in English-taught courses
and the teaching of Neurology in Speech Therapy.
He has supervised numerous theses and doctoral dissertations on innovative topics such as reactive gliosis, neuropathic
pain, biological effects of transcranial magnetic stimulation, and glioblastoma microenvironment, contributing to the
training of a new generation of physicians and researchers.
His scientific commitment has been recognized with prestigious awards, including the Prize for Best Young Italian
Researcher under 40 by the Italian Society of Anatomy and Histology (2023), best scientific communication awards at
GISN and ASNP national congresses, and research fellowships such as the Rita Levi-Montalcini Association grant.
His ability to combine basic research, clinical applications, and teaching activities places him as a reference figure in
the Italian and international neuroscience landscape, with a particular vocation for translational research and building
bridges between laboratory, clinic, and education. His language skills include an excellent command of English (C1 in
written and spoken production), enabling active participation in international collaborations and projects.
Today, Giovanni Cirillo is recognized as a scholar capable of combining clinical, scientific, and educational excellence,
with a consistent publication record, strong editorial commitment, and a collaborative network that makes him a leading
figure in advancing new perspectives in the study of the nervous system and its disorders.