Ricercatori

Javier Chicote graduated in Biology at the University of Seville (Spain) in 2012. Later on, he obtained the MSc in Molecular and Cellular Plant Biotechnology at the Polytechnic University of Valencia (Spain) in 2017.
From 2017 to 2023 he has worked as a PhD student and Research Assistant at the Biomedical Research Institute (IRB-Lleida) at the University of Lleida (Spain) as a member of the group for Experimental Medicine. His research mainly focused on the identification of molecular determinants linked to autophagy. During these years he built up solid knowledge and skills in in vitro assays, molecular DNA damage evaluation techniques and cell cultures.
In June 2023, he joined as Research Fellow the Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi (NICO) in Pr. Vercelli’s group under the direction of  Pr. Serena Stanga to study the pathophysiological processes related to iron dyshomeostasis bringing to neuronal death in aging and dementia.

Research focus

Iron dyshomeostasis is a common feature in several pathologies affecting the central nervous system. The research activity of Javier Chicote is focused on the role that iron plays in the context of aging and dementia, specifically during the events that undergone the development of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the main known and common form of dementia worldwide, and early motor dysfunctions in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Indeed, even if not completely understood, iron dyshomeostasis is linked to a plethora of specific metabolic and molecular events that can contribute to neuronal degeneration. Some of the most important early events affect the powerhouse of the cells: the mitochondria. 

Using pharmacological strategies targeting both iron homeostasis and mitochondrial function, his research activity aims to identify therapies potentially able to prevent neurodegeneration before it has the chance to develop.

Sveva Dallere graduated in medical biotechnology in 2021 with a thesis on cell replacement and enriched environment for Huntington’s Disease treatment. During this internship she had the chance to learn behavioral tests, histological techniques and the basis of light microscopy. After that she obtained a fellowship at NICO in collaboration with PharmaFox Therapeutics with the aim to test new compounds able to enhance muscular trophism and strengthen neuro-muscular junctions in in vitro models (myotubes).

In 2022 she started her PhD in Sustainable Development and Climate Change in the curriculum dedicated to human health, under the supervision of Prof. Vercelli.

Sveva’s PhD project aims to investigate the eventual beneficial effect of green exposure in the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). In particular, she is interested in studying the therapeutic potential of terpenes, which are a class of volatile molecules abundantly released by plants and inhaled when spending time in nature. For this purpose she is exploiting different in vitro models of AD such as a murine cell line, healthy and affected hiPSCs, to evaluate their effect on different pathways such as apoptosis, neuroinflammation and acetylcholine levels. In the project she will use different molecular analysis (such as western blot), immunocytochemistry, colorimetric assays and microscopy techniques. 

In parallel, she is carrying on the collaboration with PharmaFox Therapeutics on sarcopenia. Moreover, she is learning volume electron microscopy and sample preparation techniques.  

She graduated in 2022 with a Master’s Degree in Experimental and Applied Biology, specialized in Biomedical and Biomolecular Sciences (Univ. Pavia). In the Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Neuropharmacology, she gained experience in cell culture management, including treatment with drugs or viral vectors. Also developed skills in bacterial growth techniques and enzymatic assays on various biological matrices from animal models.

After graduation, as fellowship recipient, she worked at the Univ. of Pavia (Cellular and Molecular Neuropharmacology lab) and Padova (Pediatric Oncohematology, Gene Therapy subgroup). There, she provided GLP-like experimental support for preclinical studies on gene therapy with HSCs for CDKL5 Deficiency Disorder or for Alzheimer’s Disease. This role strengthened in vitro skills, with a focus on the management of primary and immortalized cell lines, third-generation lentiviral production, nucleic acid handling. She also has advanced knowledge in molecular and biochemical techniques and certified training from IZSLER in animal managment.

Research focus

Agnese is investigating the therapeutic potential of novel hemoglobin (Hb)-activating compounds as modulators of redox-driven neurodegeneration in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). The project integrates both in vitro and in vivo models and is conducted in collaboration with the Institute for Basic Science (South Korea).In particular, she works with patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from individuals with ALS, which are differentiated into cortical neurons. These in vitro models are used to evaluate treatment efficacy in preventing or promoting the disassembly of TDP-43 aggregates, reducing reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and preserving neuronal morphology and functionality.SMA and ALS animal models are employed to assess the protective effects of the compounds in vivo. Therapeutic efficacy is evaluated through behavioral testing, as well as histological, molecular, and transcriptomic analyses comparing vehicle- and treated mice.

Sofia Dotta has been pursuing a PhD in Complex Systems for Quantitative Biomedicine under the guidance of Prof. Alessandro Vercelli and Prof. Letizia Marvaldi. Her PhD work aims to model in vitro CNS and PNS pathologies. Currently, Sofia works in the Brain Development and Disease Group with a particular interest on neuropathic pain and novel potential therapeutic approaches. Sofia earned her Master Degree in Biotechnology for Neuroscience at university of Turin, in 2023 with a thesis entitled The cross-talk between intrinsic and extrinsic mechanism in importin alpha3 mutant DRG neurons. This highly interdisciplinary course ranges from basic brain physiology research to applied clinical pathology with a particular focus on data management and analysis.

My research focuses on understanding how neurite outgrowth and branching are modulated in the PNS in vitro using primary cultures of sensory neurons (Dorsal Root Ganglia). In particular, I am interested in finding a biomarker for neuropathic pain in vitro and in the molecular mechanisms that reduce chronic neuropathic pain. My PhD project aims to model in vitro CNS and PNS pathologies using different experimental set ups ranging from primary cell cultures to human derived stem cells. 

Our research group also focuses on how neuropathic pain is modulated by sex, aging, and social interactions in order to unlock novel personalized therapeutic approaches. 

The PhD project of Clelia Ferrero aims to develop advanced cerebral organoids for in vitro modeling and studying Frontotemporal Dementia. By leveraging these 3D brain models, our project seeks to develop the complex architecture and cellular diversity of the human brain to study potential pathological mechanisms. To this aim, the disease model will be developed using hiPSCs reprogrammed from patients, in order to develop reliable 3D models: then we will compare organoids from healthy subjects and FTD patients, in order to elucidate the cellular mechanisms underlying early alterations (in particular synapse and organelle dysfunctions). Advanced imaging techniques, such as super resolution and 3D electron microscopy, will be employed to analyze the organoid architecture and dynamics. Patient-derived organoids represent a promising tool to identify valid and predictive biomarkers, also reducing the use of in vivo experimentation.

Ersilia Nicorvo completed a Bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences in Siena in 2017 and an International Master’s in Neurosciences in Trieste in 2021, establishing solid knowledge in brain function and cognitive processes. In 2022, she joined Prof. Buffo’s group at NICO, working on differentiating hiPSCs (human induced pluripotent stem cells) from ADLD (autosomal dominant leukodystrophy) patients into glial cells. Later, she collaborated with Prof. Boido on an AFM Telethon project to study drug repositioning in spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Since February 2024, Ersilia has been a PhD student in Complex Systems for Quantitative Biomedicine, supervised by Prof. Vercelli: her research focuses on interactions between the tumor microenvironment and neurons, aiming to understand their reciprocal influence on tumor progression and neuronal behavior.

Ersilia’s research focuses on the intricate interactions between the tumor microenvironment and neurons. She investigates how these interactions influence tumor progression and neuronal behavior using cutting-edge in vitro models. By exploiting advanced co-cultures and microfluidic systems, she can reproduce complex cellular environments to study the dynamic interplay between tumor cells and neurons. Her work intends to highlight the morphological changes in both cell populations within these models, to investigate how tumor cells and neurons adapt and alter their characteristics in response to each other. This innovative approach aims to uncover new insights into cancer’s impact on neuronal functions and identify new potential therapeutic targets.

Noemi Scimia graduated in Biotechnology at the University of Salento in 2022. Later on, she obtained the MSc in Biotechnology for Neuroscience at the University of Turin, Department of Neuroscience Rita Levi Montalcini, in 2024.

From January 2023, she trained as a master student at the Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi (NICO) under the supervision of Prof. Serena Stanga. Her thesis focused on “Brain iron distribution and mitochondrial features in the early phases of amyloidosis in 5xFAD mouse model”. During these two years she built up solid knowledge and skills in in vivo models, biochemical and molecular techniques.

After graduation, in November 2024, she became a PhD candidate in Neuroscience at the University of Turin under the direction of Prof. Serena Stanga. The research focus is the understanding of the pathophysiological processes related to mitochondrial dysfunction and iron dyshomeostasis in neurodegenerative diseases.

Different studies demonstrated how neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) share features like mitochondrial dysfunction and iron dyshomeostasis. One of the key aspects of the PhD project is to understand how iron and mitochondria interact in the earliest phases of the disease. Noemi Scimia’s research is driven by a deep curiosity for the hidden mechanisms that trigger neurodegeneration long before any clinical symptoms appear. Indeed, both AD and ALS are rarely linked to genetic mutations, but involve a complex series of molecular events that are still not fully understood.

Using pharmacological strategies that target both iron and mitochondria, the goal is to identify novel therapeutic targets capable of preventing or delaying neurodegeneration. In parallel, her work also seeks to discover early biomarkers that could improve diagnosis and allow for more precise monitoring of disease progression and therapeutic response.

Silvia Chasseur completed her master’s degree in Biotechnology for Neuroscience at the University of Turin in 2024, deepening her interest in both basic and applied brain research. Within the thesis project, she explored the therapeutic effects of terpenes on stem cell-derived models of Alzheimer’s disease. Moreover, during her studies, she spent several months interning in different laboratories, both in academia and companies. She recently joined the group as a fellowship recipient, under the supervision of Prof. Boido. Currently, she is working on the “3D-BIOSAME” PRIN project in collaboration with the Polytechnic of Torino, aiming to establish a 3D bio-printed model of the spinal cord hosting different cell types to model the complex cellular responses to injury in vitro.

Research focus
Silvia is especially interested in the field of cellular modelling: she is currently involved in the 3D-BIOSAME PRIN project, within a multidisciplinary team that merges biological knowledge with expertise in biocompatible nanomaterials. The goal is to design and validate a complex co-culture bio-printed model of spinal cord, to ultimately study of spinal cord injury in an in vitro model.
By replicating the anatomy of the spinal cord (healthy and injured) in vitro, we aim to study how nerve fibers degenerate and/or regenerate; moreover, we will preliminarily test promising therapeutic strategies. Therefore, by morphological and molecular techniques, the project will have the dual purpose of creating a functional 3D cellular model of the spinal cord that will allow a first screening of drugs and therapies, and will also permit to reduce the use of experimental animals.

Giulia Iezzi graduated in Medical Biotechnology at the University of Turin in 2024. During her internship in the “Brain development and disease” research group, under the supervision of Prof. Boido and Dr. Schellino, Giulia was involved in the study of the sensorimotor cortex of SMNΔ7 mice, a well-known model of severe Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). The work highlighted morphological alterations in cortical projection neurons and contributed to a better comprehension of the SMA pathogenesis. During this period, Giulia acquired extensive experience in immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence analysis on histological samples and in the use of data analysis software. Currently, under the supervision of Prof. Vercelli, she is fellowship recipient working on a project titled “Understanding and targeting Chemotherapy-related neurotoxicity (CHEMOTOX),” focused on the study of the neurotoxic effects of chemotherapy on the central nervous systems.

Research focus

During her thesis work, Giulia investigated morphological and developmental alterations in the sensorimotor cortex of a murine model of SMA, analyzing how the SMN (Survival Motor Neuron) protein lack can affect cortical projection neurons, by histological and morphometric analyses.

Currently, she is involved in an interdisciplinary project aimed to understand the neurotoxic effects induced by chemotherapy in the central nervous system. This preclinical research project is carried out in collaboration with the group of Prof. Cavaletti (University of Milano-Bicocca), with the goal to investigate in detail the pathophysiology of CICI (chemotherapy-induced cognitive impairment), using experimental models. To this aim, Giulia is evaluating morphological and functional changes in the cortex and other brain regions, aiming to elucidate the mechanisms behind these alterations and identify potential therapeutic targets to mitigate neurotoxic effects.

Alessandra Tuninetti obtained her master’s degree in Animal Biotechnology at the University of Bologna, in 2024. During her thesis period, in the neurophysiology laboratory of the Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences (at Unibo), she exploited a win-win approach to optimize animal welfare while reducing the impact of experimental procedures. In this context, Alessandra gained experience with nonhuman primates, by performing electrophysiological recordings for studying the visuomotor system. Her scientific background was further enriched by working in other laboratories, where she participated in physiological studies and developed skills in molecular biology techniques. She is currently working as a fellowship recipient under the supervision of Professor Vercelli.

Research focus

She is involved in the PNRR INNOVA project, which is dedicated to the identification of novel biomarkers for the early diagnosis of neurodegenerative disorders. In this context, she is investigating the role of aquaporin-4 (AQP4) in neurodegenerative diseases, with a particular focus on ALS and SMA: the study aims to characterize AQP4 expression and distribution within the spinal cord across different disease stages, in order to elucidate its contribution to disease mechanisms. She is also exploring the impact of exposure to green environments on depressive states, by performing molecular biology analyses to investigate underlying biological correlates.