Professore Associato

EDUCATION and CAREER
Since 31/12/2021 Associate Professor of Applied Biology, Dept. of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental
Sustainability, University of Parma. 2013-2021 Assistant Professor (RTD-A and B), University of Parma. 2008-2013
Research Fellow, University of Parma. 2005-2008 Post-doctoral Research Fellow. 2005, PhD in Biotechnology. Visiting
researcher at the Service de Biochimie et Génétique Moléculaire, CEA/Saclay (France).
RESEARCH INTEREST
Modeling of amyloid-induced cellular toxicity in yeast to unravel the molecular mechanisms underlying proteotoxic
stress, and screening of natural and synthetic compounds with anti-neurodegenerative properties.
Investigation of the physiopathological mechanisms underlying diabetic cardiomyopathy, and identification of
cardioprotective compounds.
Nanotoxicology investigations across different model organisms (yeast, plants, human cell lines) to dissect the cellular
pathways involved in the toxicity of engineered nanomaterials.
PROJECTS
Participation in several national (AGER, Foundations, PRIN) and international (H2020, Human Frontier Science
Program) projects. The most relevant in the neurodegenerative field include: Evaluation of canine olfaction as a novel
tool for the early and non-invasive diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease. (Bando per la Ricerca, UNIPR; participant).
Identification of novel chemical inhibitors of alpha-synuclein oligomerization as potential therapeutic compounds for
Parkinson’s disease (Bando per la Ricerca, UNIPR; Principal Investigator). The protective effects of raspberry polyphenol
metabolites (Washington Red Raspberry Commission; participant). Project currently under evaluation: Timely diagnosis
and monitoring of Parkinson’s disease progression with a wearable multifunctional skin patch (EIC Pathfinder Open Call;
participant).
BIBLIOMETRIC INDEXES. Author of 31 peer reviewed-publications; H-Index: 23 (Scopus); Total citations: 1845.