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Thanks to the #NEVERMIND project young and super-young researchers can keep on working on their favorite research topics, trying to find innovative solutions to brain diseases using nanotechnologies
We are pleased to introduce you the brilliant minds that will work hard with enthusiasm and passion, under the supervision of #NEVERMIND PIs, on the development of engineered nanovectors to deliver drugs to the brain and ameliorate current therapies for glioblastoma and Alzheimer’s disease.
ANTONIA ANTONIOU
is postdoctoral reasearch associate at the University of Milan, Department of Chemistry. Her fields of interest include organic synthesis, solid phase synthesis, chemical modifications and spectroscopic characterization. Currently, under thesupervision of Prof. Pierfausto Seneci, she is working in the NEVERMIND project for the synthesis of oligopeptides and phospholipids as well as their synthetic analogues, peptidomimetics and modified phospholipids, by using the automated solid phase synthesis. After MSc in Medicinal Chemistry, she completed her PhD in 2017 in Organic Chemistry at University of Patras, Greece under the supervision of Professor Athanassopoulos working on the Synthesis of anticancer agents with potential biological activity in the hedgehog signaling pathway. Before starting working at the NEVERMIND project, she has been research fellow at the Institute for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, NCSR “DEMOKRITOS” (Athens, Greece).
ELISABETTA BOLOGNESI
is research collaborator at the Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotechnology of the Fondazione Don Gnocchi directed by Prof. Mario Clerici. Elisabetta received a Master’s Degree in Biological Sciences in 1994 (University of Milan) and a PhD in Molecular Medicine in 2002 (University of Eastern Piedmont). From 1996 to 2007 she was a researcher at the Human Genetics Laboratory directed by Prof. Momigliano Patricia (University of Eastern Piedmont) where she acquired expertise in Molecular Biology techniques and in the study of the HLA complex (Human Leucocyte Antigens). She participated in several projects and obtained two Research Grants aimed at researching susceptibility genes involved in the pathogenesis of Celiac disease and Multiple Sclerosis. Since 2008, her research has been mainly focused on Neurodevelopmental Disorders, in particular on the identification of genetic markers related to the risk of disease onset, the study of their influence on clinical and behavioral characteristics and on the response to rehabilitation treatment. She collaborates in the project “Mother-child immunogenetic interactions in pregnancy and risk of Autism Spectrum Disorders”, granted by the Italian Ministry of Health.
ANDREA SAUL COSTA
is a postdoc researcher at the Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotechnology of Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi. Andrea received a Master’s Degree in Molecular Biology of the Cell in 2012 and a PhD in Molecular and Translational Medicine in 2015 at the University of Milan, focusing his work on the genetic study of biomarkers involved in the neurodegeneration process of the elderly. He is currently involved in numerous national and international research projects, including NEVERMIND, and his main reaserach focus is the genetic and epigenetic characterization of synaptic molecules involved in the release of neurotransmitters in patients with neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Sclerosis Multiple and Autism. In recent years, he has extended his research field to age-related diseases such as Sarcopenia and Frailty in the elderly.
STEFANO FAGIOLI
is Research fellow at CNLab of Univeristy of Milano-Bicocca from April 2020 thanks to the NEVERMIND project. Stefano received his Master’s degree in Medical Biotechnology in March 2020 at the University of Milano-Bicocca. His research activity is focused on design and biocompatibility of nanovectors and on the delivery of drugs against neurological disease.
BEATRICE FORMICOLA
is postdoctoral fellow at CNLab of the University of Milano-Bicocca from 2020. Beatrice received her Master’s degree in Biological Sciences in 2013 at the University of Naples “Federico II” and her PhD in Molecular and Translational Medicine in January 2020, at School of Medicine and Surgery of the University Milano-Bicocca. Her research activity is mainly focused on central nervous system diseases by using a nanomedicine approach. She is involved in projects, including NEVERMIND, dedicated on the understanding of the mechanisms of nanoparticles and blood-brain barrier interactions and in brain tumour targeting.
SABRINA GIOFRÈ
is a post-Doc researcher at the Chemistry department of the University of Milan, under the supervision of Prof. Pierfausto Seneci (NEVERMIND project). Sabrina has completed her PhD in Pharmaceutical Science at Università degli Studi di Milano in 2020, under the supervision of Prof. Egle Beccalli. Currently her research interests are focused on the synthesis of compounds with biological significance, mostly exploiting transition metal-catalysis and through peptide synthesis.
FRANCESCA LA ROSA
is a postdoc researcher at the Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotechnology of Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi. Francesca graduated in Biological Sciences in 2012 and received her PhD in Molecular and Translational Medicine in 2015 at the University of Milan. From 2015 to 2016 he worked as a PhD student at the Center for Neurodegenerative Disease (DZNE), Department of Neurology at the University of Bonn, Germany. In recent years she has dedicated to several research projects, in particular her attention has been directed to the identification of molecular biomarkers and new pharmacological targets associated with neurodegenerative diseases such as: i) Alzheimer’s disease; ii) Multiple Sclerosis; iii) Parkinson’s and iv) Autism.
FRANCESCA RODÀ
is researcher at the Laboratory of Nanomedicine and Clinical Biophotonics of Fondazione Don Gnocchi since Spetember 2020. Francesca graduated in pharmaceutical chemistry and technologies (CTF) at the University of Turin in July 2020. She made her sperimental thesis at Advanced Pharmaceutical Nanotechnologies Laboratory (DSTF-UniTO) working on the evaluation of the effect of lyoprotectant substances in the freeze-drying of liposomes. Currently, she is working with nanotechnologies and advanced biophotonics to study the diseases of the central nervous system and to evaluate the efficacy of pharmacological and rehabilitation therapies.
