Senior Research Scientist

August 2018 – present

UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM                       

Institute of Inflammation and Ageing - Queen Elizabeth Hospital

Research objectives:  To investigate the interconnections between metabolic and inflammatory pathways and how systemic and local metabolic alterations in diseases with an inflammatory component lead to aberrant immune cell responses, which favour both the establishment and the propagation of inflammation. In particular, we focus on unveiling how specific metabolites, including lactate and fatty acids, can surprisingly act as signalling molecules modulating many aspects the immune-inflammatory response.

Research Fellow

June 2017 – July 2018

QUEEN MARY UNIVERSITY                       

Centre for Endocrinology - William Harvey Research Institute

Research objectives:  To investigate the hypothesis that systemic metabolic alterations in cardiovascular and autoimmune disease lead to aberrant immune cell responses and migration patterns, which favour the establishment of chronic inflammation; to study the mechanisms of metabolic control of T cell-mediated immune responses, including migration, differentiation and cytokine production in physiology and under metabolic stress; to provide insights into the role of energy balance on physiologic T cell-mediated immune responses and the effect of altering metabolism on the development of T cell-mediated inflammation, as well as new therapeutic targets to prevent inflammation in these human conditions.

Postdoctoral Fellow (SIF funded)

Jan 2016 – May 2017

UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON                      

Department of Cell and Developmental Biology

Research objectives:  To identify key new molecular targets that are involved in pain processing; to introduce novel ways of silencing key neurons known to maintain chronic pain states; to evaluate new non-paralytic botulinum molecules for the control of different types of chronic pain. Advisor: Prof. Stephen P Hunt.

During this time, I have generated botulinum based probes that are non-toxic and specifically target and silence nocispecific neurons in the dorsal horn. A single injection resulted in a long-lasting relief from inflammatory and neuropathic pain. My data strongly suggests that these constructs have translational potential for the treatment of chronic pain.

Research Associate

Jan 2014 – Dec 2015

UNIVERSITY OF CALABRIA

Section of Preclinical and Translational Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences

Research objectives: Repositioning existing drugs for immunomodulation as a novel approach in the treatment of both central and peripheral neurodegenerative diseases. Advisor: Prof. Giacinto Bagetta.

During this time, I demostrated that RXRs may represent useful targets for stroke neuroprotection. Specifically, I found that RXR/PPARγ activation by the drug Bexarotene significantly ameliorates histological and neurological outcomes associated with transient focal cerebral ischemia in mice.

Visiting Researcher

June 2011 – July 2012

UNIVERSITY OF PERUGIA

Section of Pharmacology, Department of Experimental Medicine

Research aimed at the characterization by flow cytometry of the immune response evoked by focal cerebral ischemia in rodents. Advisor: Prof. Francesca Fallarino.

During this time, I demonstrated that azithromycin significantly reduces ischemic brain injury by means of macrophage transition towards the M2 phenotype. By shifting macrophages towards the M2 phenotype early after stroke, azithromycin may inhibit both BBB damage and proinflammatory myeloid cell accumulation in the ischemic brain.

Doctoral Researcher

Oct 2010 – Oct 2013

UNIVERSITY OF CALABRIA                     

Section of Preclinical and Translational Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences

Research activity, as part of the PhD Program in "Cellular Biochemistry and drug activity in oncology”, aimed at the identification of new drug targets and new therapeutic approaches for the treatment of cerebral ischemia. Advisor: Prof. Giacinto Bagetta.

During this time, I identified the macrolide antibiotic Azithromycin, as a novel potential treatment strategy for ischemic stroke, by means of macrophage transition towards the M2 phenotype. The repurposing of Azithromycin in stroke has now been patented and a multicenter placebo-controlled phase IIb clinical trial (ASTRIS) has recently received approval from the ethical committee of the coordinator center.

Graduate Research Assistant

May 2010 – Oct 2010

UNIVERSITY OF CALABRIA

Section of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy

Post lauream research aimed at the characterization by immunofluorescence of the central and peripheral inflammatory response following treatment with neuroprotective drugs, in a model of focal cerebral ischemia induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion in rodents. Advisor: Prof. Giacinto Bagetta.

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Feb 2009 – May 2010

UNIVERSITY OF CALABRIA

Section of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy

Research aimed at studying the mechanisms involved in leptin neuroprotection in a model of cerebral ischemia in rodents. Advisor: Prof. Giacinto Bagetta.

During this time, I demonstrated that systemic acute administration of leptin produces neuroprotection in rats subjected to permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion and this effect is associated with a cell type-specific modulation of STAT3 phosphorylation in the ischemic cortex.