Associate Professor of Cell Biology with a PhD in Environmental Medicine. Her research activity has always focused on the cytotoxic and genotoxic effects induced in mammalian cells, both primary and tumor cells, mainly human, by physical agents (gamma rays, X-rays, protons, UVC rays, laser light) and chemical agents (various types of nanoparticles, cisplatin, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons). She has collaborated on research projects funded by the Italian Space Agency to study the effects of simulated microgravity on the cellular response to DNA damage (DNA-Damage Response, DDR) induced by ionizing radiation in primary human lymphocytes, focusing the research on DNA repair, particularly that of double-strand breaks. She has collaborated with the Veneto Institute of Oncology in Padua on the search for individual molecular biomarkers of radiosensitivity/radioresistance towards radiotherapy and has gained experience on the role of microRNAs in the DDR pathway and their use as radiosensitizing agents for radioresistant human tumor cells. She has been the principal investigator of financial grants of Padova University: i) “Silica nanoparticles for the delivery of boron: a new approach for the improvement of the effectiveness and selectivity of the antitumoral boron neutron capture therapy” (2006-2009); ii)”MicroRNAs targeting genes of DNA repair to enhance the cytotoxicity of radio-resistant cancer cells” (2015-2018). She collaborated to projects funded by the European Union to study the cytotoxic effects of silica nanoparticles (Ecsin, 2008-2011) and the biological properties of nanosystems formuled to deliver drugs or other antineoplastic compounds (Nanophoto, 2009-2013). She has been co-PI in the project entitled:” Individual response to radiotherapy: identification of molecular biomarkers” funded by the IOV-IRCCS (UOC of Radiotherapy) of Padova Hospital (2015-2018). Recently, she has been the principal investigator of Unipd WP in the Horizon 2020 European project “Light4Lungs” (2019-2024) to study the biocompatibility of light-emitting nanoparticles to counteract drug-resistant bacterial lung infections. Her research activity is documented in international peer-reviewed articles and in two book chapters. She has participated in and given presentations at numerous international and national conferences. Since 2007, she has been teaching courses to students in the Molecular Biology degree program at the University of Padua.

Curriculum PDF File

•Study of the DNA-Damage Response towards physical and chemical agents in human primary cells and cancer cells. •Analysis of gene and miRNA expression profiles in human cells exposed to genotoxic agents. Functional analysis of miRNA-mRNA interaction of DSB DNA repair. •Identification of molecular biomarkers of individual radiosensitivity in oncological patients under radiotherapy. •Nanotoxicology. Analysis of in vitro toxicity of differnt types of nanoparticles.

1.Evaluation of biocompatibility/toxicity of nanoparticles with various formulations in primary and tumor human cells, in collaboration with the Department of Chemistry at the University of Padua and the Chemical Institute of Ramon Llull University (IQS-URL) in Sarrià (Spain). 2.Identification of molecular biomarkers for DNA damage response (DDR) in blood samples collected from patients undergoing radiotherapy, in collaboration with the Radiotherapy Department of Abano Terme (PD).

Last update: 01/09/2025