The team

Silvia De Francia

Silvia De Francia is an Associate Professor of Pharmacology at the Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences at the University of Turin. She is a pharmacology researcher, journalist for Stampa and Repubblica, and a science communicator specializing in Medicine and Gender Pharmacology. She is also the coordinator of the Clinical Pharmacology Service "Franco Ghezzo" at the S. Luigi Gonzaga University Hospital in Orbassano, Turin. In January 2023, she obtained a second-level Master's degree in Health and Gender Medicine from the School of Human Health Sciences at the University of Florence, with a thesis titled "SARS-CoV2 Pandemic and Gender Medicine: How Personal Can the Infection Be?" Silvia De Francia is an active member of the Italian Society of Pharmacology (SIF) and a member of the SIF Gender Pharmacology Working Group.

She serves as a member of the Third Mission Commission of the Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences at the University of Turin since 2018, representing the University in the Parity Committee of the Piedmont Science System since 2019. She has been a University delegate for the scientific committee of the Centroscienza Association since 2020 and a member of the Advisory board of Mind To Move© since 2022. She is also a member of the Editorial Board of the Interdisciplinary Center for Research and Studies on Women and Gender (CIRSDe) since 2021 and a University delegate to the Piedmont Region Gender Medicine Technical Group since March 17, 2022.

Member of the Faculty Board of the PhD Program in Medicine and Experimental Therapy since the academic year 2022/2023, and of the Scientific and Management Committee of CIRSDe since 2022.

Director of the Master's Program in Science Communication at the University of Turin since 2024.

Silvia De Francia believes that her love for communication has always united everything in her. When she thinks about her relationship with words, she realizes that she has always imagined a lot and, consequently, has always written to capture those images. She started writing even before starting elementary school, and for her, words are like music, not metaphorically but literally. She began playing the piano shortly before starting elementary school, thus associating letters with musical notes in her mind. For her, writing is like arranging words where they belong, just like notes on a musical score. Reading is about recognizing melodies and recognizing oneself within them. Science, music, research, health and gender, reading, writing, imagination, and listening are all intertwined for her.

"I view listening as a way to hear the voices of those who are not represented in scientific research and knowledge. Those who do not exist, as it is well known, have no rights."

Official CV

Sarah Allegra

Dr. Sarah Allegra, now resident student specializing in medical genetics, works as a Researcher (RTDA) in Clinical Pharmacology at the Clinical Pharmacology Service "Franco Ghezzo" of the S. Luigi Gonzaga University Hospital in Orbassano, Turin. Her hospital duties are related to Therapeutic Drug Monitoring (TDM) for various categories of drugs. Her research activities primarily focus on therapy personalization through studies in Pharmacogenetics and Gender Pharmacology. She is an active member of the Italian Society of Pharmacology (SIF) and a member of the SIF Gender Pharmacology Working Group.

Sarah Allegra is also a collaborator of the Centroscienza Onlus association. She has received several awards for her contributions to the field, including the Collaborator Newsletter Monthly Award from the Working Group on Pharmacogenetics of the Italian Society of Pharmacology, the Guelfo Marcucci Award for non-oncological hematology (Kedrion and Carlo Erba Foundation), the Award in memory of Dr. Morone for oncology research (Molinette Research Foundation ONLUS), the SIBS Young Investigator Award for the 94th SIBS Congress, and the IGM 2022 Young Investigators Award for the X Congress of International Gender Medicine. She has also been awarded a Post-Doctoral Fellowship, funded by the Veronesi Foundation.

"I do believe in the importance of scientific research and I have a deep faith in science as the hope for a better future. I see scientific projects as the product of passion, precision and dedication, with the potential to improve human health. For me, investing in biomedical research is synonymous with investing in health."

Official CV

Francesco Chiara

Dr. Francesco Chiara has extensive knowledge in pharmacology and biochemistry, holding degrees in chemistry and pharmacy. He is a PhD student in Space Science and Technology at the Universities of Trento and Turin. His research focuses on the effects of microgravity on drug metabolism and the role of gender medicine. Thanks to his multidisciplinary background, he has developed advanced skills in analytical methods and diagnostic technologies, earning academic recognition and contributing to both clinical and preclinical research projects.

Dr. Chiara has worked as a consultant for various biomedical companies, contributing to the development of biosensors and innovative methodologies in diagnostics and precision pharmacology. In the academic field, he has published studies on gender medicine topics, such as the influence of sex and age on drug responses, with articles appearing in scientific journals including Biomedicines, Life, and the Journal of Personalized Medicine. His research also includes studies on the pharmacokinetics of oral contraceptives and drug–genotype interactions, with particular attention to gender differences.

In addition to his research activities, Dr. Chiara has taught pharmacology and neurophysiology, helping to train professionals with a focus on personalized medicine. His participation in international scientific conferences and high-level programs reflects his commitment to translational research and scientific dissemination.

Official CV.

Giuliana Abbadessa

Dr. Giuliana Abbadessa has been working as a Research Technician at the University of Turin since June 1997. Before her permanent position, she worked at the Department of Drug Science and Technology and later at the Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences.

Her role is quite diverse as she provides technical support in the Pharmacology laboratory with specialized expertise and is also involved in research and teaching activities. She is responsible for managing, conducting, and maintaining the laboratories or individual equipment, coordinating the staff to ensure the functionality of research-dedicated instrumentation. She organizes group work, coordinates the assigned personnel, selects technical operational procedures, and establishes new work methodologies.

Dr. Abbadessa has full autonomy in managing research projects (local, national, and international) and their results. She contributes to the preparation of articles for international scientific journals, teaches students in the laboratory, and supports professors, doctoral students, fellows, and thesis students in conducting experiments and tests.

She also serves as the local official for the Prevention and Protection Service of the University of Turin in the Medicine and Surgery Area of the Orbassano Campus. In this role, she is responsible for implementing fire prevention measures, firefighting, workplace evacuation, emergency management, and first aid.

Giuliana believes that her qualities of organization, responsibility, initiative, and precision make her a good Research Technician.

As the scientist said at the end of his research, "I have found," without specifying that he had found another research.

Fabrizio Caramagna

This is the essence of research: an ongoing investigation that, along with solutions, always discovers new questions to answer.

Official CV

Dr. Maura Caudana has been a research fellow at the “Franco Ghezzo” Clinical Pharmacology Laboratory of the S. Luigi Gonzaga University Hospital in Orbassano (Turin) since 2023. She holds degrees in Biological Sciences and in Molecular and Cellular Biology. She is personally responsible for managing hospital routine activities, specifically Therapeutic Drug Monitoring (TDM), which involves analyzing blood samples (from the hospital’s analysis laboratory) to measure the concentrations of various drugs.

Her research focuses on therapy personalization through studies in Pharmacogenetics and Gender Pharmacology. She has also collaborated with the Cavalieri Ottolenghi Neuroscience Institute (NICO) in investigating dopamine levels in the mouse brain to gain a better understanding of certain neurodegenerative diseases, such as multiple sclerosis. In addition to her research, Dr. Caudana has taught university courses in pharmacology.

All our collaborators, interns, and thesis students

Francesco Shelton Agar: graduated in medical biotechnology, first a research fellow and then a PhD student in the lab.

Asia Di Pietro: clinical chemist, science communicator, and collaborator on gender-specific medicine projects, with a focus on transgender individuals and underrecognized diseases. In charge of Farmagenere since January 2025.

Arianna Melanie Bodo: graduated in Biology and Science Communication. Creator and developer of the Farmagenere website.

Marta Olia:

Graduated in quality systems for biotechnological productions and student in biomedical laboratory techniques. Gossip lover and part-time gamer.

Daniela Di Grazia: graduated in Experimental Biology, research fellow at the lab during 2024. Her contribution was essential in developing the analytical method for hydroxyurea.

Federica Romaniello: thesis student in the Biomedical Laboratory Techniques degree program since September 2025.

Cristina Mirabella: graduated in Biomedical Laboratory Techniques. Intern and thesis student during 2024; her contribution was essential in developing the analytical method for hydroxyurea.

Alida Zema: thesis student during 2023 for the thesis 'Sex Differences in Alzheimer’s Disease'.

Maraya Narese

Biotechnology student, intern.

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