Professore Associato

AF is appointed as full professor in Physiology at the University of Genoa, Department of Experimental Medicine, affiliated researcher at the IRCCS, Ospedale Policlinico San Martino and external collaborator at the Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia.
AF received master’s degree in chemical and pharmaceutical technology (1993) and in Pharmacy (1994), PhD in Neuropharmacology (1999), tenure rack position as Assistant Professor (2005) and as Associate Professor in Physiology (2017) at the University of Genoa in Italy. AF spent research period at the Babraham Institute, Cambridge, UK (1996), and post-doctoral periods at DIBIT San Raffaele Hospital (1999-2001), Milano and at Physiology Unit, University of Genoa (2002-2005), Italy.
AF research activity is focused on the physiology of synapse function and on the understanding of the molecular mechanisms by which mutations in genes coding for synaptic proteins result in neurodevelopmental disorders and epilepsy.
The role of proteostasis in the regulation of neuronal excitability and function together with the impact of dysregulated autophagy on the pathophysiology of neurodevelopmental disorder is the present focus of research. The group utilizes different techniques, live cell imaging, electrophysiology, molecular and cellular biology and behavioral analysis with the generation of in vitro and in vivo preclinical models.
AF is coauthor of 65 publications in indexed journals, 56 original articles and 9 reviews. H-index 33; total citation 3399 (Scopus). AF received national (MIUR-PRIN, PNRR, MOH, Fondazioni Telethon, Mariani, CARIPLO, San Paolo) and international (FP7-EU; J.Lejeune, MDBR-Orphan Disease) grants as PI and presented at national and international congresses. AF is member of the committee of the PhD in
Neuroscience of the University of Genoa, the board of director of the Società Italiana di Fisiologia (SIF) and member of the Società Italiana di Neuroscienze (SINS) and the Lega Italiana Contro Epilessia (LICE).