Research Interests

The actual studies of my research group are aimed at molecular dissection of the mechanisms controlling pre-mRNA processing in physiological and pathological conditions, with a special interest in neurodegenerative diseases.

These aims are pursued by using in vitro and ex vivo approaches, complemented by transcriptomic and computational techniques, to carry out molecular characterization of pathophysiologic events and to grasp a global view of the underlying regulatory networks.

The current research of the laboratory centres around:

• TDP-43 functions and pathogenic mechanisms involved in TDP-43 proteinopathies.
• Splicing alterations and genetic diseases.
• SigmaR1 and SigmaR2 ligands: characterization of their effects and possible use for innovative therapies.
• Role of cholinergic and noradrenergic transmitter systems in the development of cognitive deficits, as well as in the occurrence of histopathological alterations (e.g. amyloid, tau, TDP-43 or alpha-synuclein overexpression) in relevant brain areas.

Keywords:

Molecular mechanisms of pre-mRNA processing;

RNA-protein interactions;

Splicing defects and genetic diseases;

RNA/protein metabolism in physiological and pathological conditions

Neurodegenerative diseases (ALS; FTLD; Alzheimer)

SigmaR1 and SigmaR2