EDUCATION: 1985: High School final examination (Maturita’ Scientifica) 1990: B.S. degree summa cum laude at the University of Padova 1991-1992: Practical training post lauream 1992: state examination (Esame di Stato per l’Abilitazione alla Professione di Biologo) 1991-1995: Ph.D. in "Molecular and Cellular Biology and Pathology" at the University of Padova 1998-2011: Assistant Professor in Biochemistry at the University of Padova 2011-to date: Associate Professor in Biochemistry at the University of Padova 2012-to date: National Qualification to Full Professor in Biochemistry 2016-to date: National Qualification to Full Professor in Biochemistry HONORS, AWARDS, FELLOWSHIPS: 1990: “Consorzio Padova Ricerche” Award to thesis projects (thesis title: Molecular analysis of nuclear-encoded genes of cytochrome c oxidase of Dictyostelium discoideum). 1996: “International Human frontier Science Program“ fellowship on the topic “Control mechanisms of intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis”, on the RG-520/95 M contract of Prof. T. Pozzan. 1996-1998: "Telethon" fellowship on a project titled "Nuclear calpain in cell death with special attention to the development of muscolar distrophy", in collaboration with Prof. E. Carafoli. 2001: Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei “Fondazione Dott. Giuseppe Borgia” Award to Biological Sciences. 2003: University of Padua and Cassa di Risparmio di Padova e Rovigo “StartCup2003” First Award to Innovation. RESEARCH INTEREST Intracellular Ca2+ signalling; mitochondrial Ca2+ homeostasis and its role in aerobic metabolism; pathogenic mechanisms of mitochondrial diseases; functional analysis of Ca2+ transporting proteins in living cells, with a special attention to the plasma membrane Ca2+-ATPases; analysis of Ca2+ homeostasis in living cells carrying mutations in isoform 2 of the plasma membrane Ca2+-ATPase causing hearing loss and in isoform 3 causing cerebellar ataxia; analysis of Ca2+ homeostasis in cell model for neuromuscular and neurodegenerative diseases. Study of the Parkinson disease-related proteins (alpha-synuclein, DJ-1, parkin and PINK1) in cell signaling, calcium homeostasis, mitochondrial function and ER/mitochondria interactions. Development of recombinant tools based on splitGFP to monitor organelles contact sites and sub-mitochondrial distribution of proteins of interest. TEACHING ACTIVITY: Dr. Brini teached Biochemistry and Inorganic Chemistry (from 1998 to 2007) at the Veterinary Medicine Faculty of the University of Padua.From 2008-2014 she teached Molecular Biology at the Veterinary Medicine Faculty of the University of Padua. From 2014 she teaches Biochemistry to the students of Biotechnology and Biology at the Sciences School. From 2000 to 2013 she participated to the Teaching Committee of Doctoral School of Veterinary Medicine and since 2014 to the Teaching Committee of Doctoral School of Biosciences and acts as Tutor for PhD students.

Curriculum PDF File

Calcium homeostasis Analysis of the transport mechanisms of calcium ions Mitochondrial metabolism Neurodegenerative diseases

Analysis of intracellular calcium signalling and mitochondria function in cell models expressing wt or mutant Parkinson disease- related proteins Use of recombinant tools to monitor intracellular parameters Development of new tools to investigate organelles contact sites

Last update: 04/07/2025