Role
Full Professor of Molecular Biology at the Department of Molecular Biotechnologies and Health Sciences of the University of Turin.
Bio
A graduate of Biological Sciences and a PhD in Human Biology from the University of Turin, she completed postdoctoral research at EMBL in Heidelberg and Columbia University in New York. She was a Principal Investigator at IRBM P. Angeletti in Rome, and subsequently a Senior Wellcome Trust Research Fellow at the University of Dundee. Since 2005, she has been a Full Professor of Molecular Biology at the University of Turin.
His scientific activity focuses on the study of cytokine-driven cell signaling and the role of transcription factors, particularly STAT3, investigating their oncogenic mechanisms at the crossroads of inflammation , immune response, and cancer progression. In oncology, he recently clarified the pro-oncogenic role of STAT3 in breast tumor- associated fibroblasts and discovered a novel non-canonical, non-nuclear mechanism of STAT3 in protecting tumor cells from apoptotic death. In the field of autoimmunity , he demonstrated the role of STAT3 activation in the liver in mediating the onset of autoimmune myocarditis .
In the context of the coronavirus pandemic emergency, she has distinguished herself for her analysis and scientific dissemination on key topics such as the effectiveness of Covid-19 vaccines , the management of Covid-19: impact on schools , and Covid-19: impact on women's employment . She is currently involved in scientific dissemination projects in schools. A member of EMBO and the Academia Europaea, she served as President of the Italian Society of Biophysics and Molecular Biology (SIBBM) from 2016 to 2023.