PO

Prof. Dr. Michele Papa, MD, PhD is Full Professor of Human Anatomy at UCLV and since 1999 supervisor of the
NNMlab at UCLV. He devoted his scientific life to define the morphologic plastic changes underlying behavior in
animal model and human being. He took advantage of several imaging techniques merging molecular and
microscopical approach, including the confocal microscopy associated to molecular labeling by immunocytochemistry
and/or in situ hybridization techniques. These lead to define several features underlying the neural basis of plasticity of
neuronal networks in normal behavior and in animal model of human diseases. In 1990s he was among the first to study
the plasticity of dendritic spines of hippocampal neurons. In the last ten years, he has further implemented the imaging
techniques to study plasticity of neuronal networks elucidating, in parallel with several outstanding groups, the central
role played by astrocytes and microglia in shaping neuronal networks plasticity and function and defining the basis of
molecular and morphological events producing the adaptive and maladaptive plasticity underlying animal and human
behavior.