She has extensive experience in skin cell culture. She worked in projects focused on human epithelial stem cell biology, biochemistry and gene therapy in basic and translational research.

Current interests:

• studying mechanisms involved in stem cell maintenance and skin aging
• identifying new biomarkers and therapeutic targets for non-melanoma skin cancers
• developing 3D skin models

Education:

• 2005 – Qualified Person (GMP) Certification, AIFA
• 1994-1999 – Ph.D in “Human Biology: cellular and molecular basis”, University of Turin
• 1987-1991 – Degree in Biological Sciences, 110/110 cum laude, University of Pisa

Training and work experience:

She did trainings at the Genetic Laboratory of University of Pisa and at the Biochemistry Laboratory of University of Genoa. She has worked under the supervision of Prof. M. De Luca from 1992 to 2002 at the National Cancer Institute (Genoa) and at IDI-IRCCS (Rome) on epithelial stem cells and ex-vivo gene therapy for patients suffering from genodermatoses. Then, she led projects focused on keratinocyte stem cell maintenance, skin aging and cancer. She developed protocols for 3D organotypic skin models for research and clinical purposes (e.g for chronic ulcers). To this end, she acquired specific competence in GMP field aimed at the production of autologous cell therapy products. Now, she is leading projects on the role of the skin microenvironment in aging and non-melanoma skin cancer pathogenesis and coordinating a clinical study aimed at investigating specific profiles predictive of nicotinamide chemopreventive efficacy.