EXTERNAL CONSULTANT IN BIOSTATISTICS TO IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON - WCRF CUP Global (UK)

Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, The School of Public Health - Collaboration with Prof. Konstantinos (Kostas) Tsilidis, Dr Doris SM Chan, and the CUP Global Team

November 2024 - current (third contract)

October 2023 - September 2024 (second contract)

February 2023 - September 2023 (first contract)

Collect, summarise, and critically appraise the literature evidence on diet, nutrition, anthropometric characteristics, and physical activity in relation to cancer risk and prognosis for the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) Global Cancer Update Programme (CUP Global). 

Ongoing projects

Collaboration on the following research projects: 

• Systematic Literature Review on the association between coffee and various cancers (prostate, liver, brain/other CNS sites, mouth, larynx, pharynx, endometrium, colon/rectum/both, and skin cancers)(leading researcher for this project).

• Literature scanning and prioritisation framework to guide future systematic reviews.

POSTER: Markozannes G, Jayedi A, Cividini S, Kazmi SZ, Cariolou M, Vieira R, Kiss S, B. A literature-based data scanning and prioritization study to guide future systematic literature reviews for WCRF International CUP Global Programme. American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), Annual Meeting, 2025, Chicago, Apr 25-30. Published abstract number: 6184.

Paper in progress (third author).

Completed projects

Collaboration on the following research project: 

• Global quality of life and fatigue in colorectal cancer survivors: Systematic Literature Review. 

ARTICLE: G. Markozannes, S. Cividini, D. Aune, N. Becerra-Tomás, S. Kiss, K. Balducci, R. Vieira, M. Cariolou, A. Jayedi, D.C. Greenwood, N.T. Brockton, H. Croker, P. Mitrou, E. Copson, A.G. Renehan, M. Bours, W. Demark-Wahnefried, M.M. Hudson, A.M. May, F.T. Odedina, R. Skinner, K. Steindorf, A. Tjønneland, G. Velikova, M.L. Baskin, R. Chowdhury, L. Hill, S.J. Lewis, J. Seidell, M.P. Weijenberg, J. Krebs, A.J. Cross, K.K. Tsilidis, D.S.M. Chan. The role of physical activity, sedentary behaviour, diet, adiposity and body composition on health-related quality of life and cancer-related fatigue after diagnosis of colorectal cancer: a Global Cancer Update Programme (CUP Global) systematic literature review and meta-analysis, ESMO Open, Volume 10, Issue 4, 2025. (Open Access)  DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esmoop.2025.104301 

EXTERNAL CONSULTANT IN BIOSTATISTICS | IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON (UK)

Collaboration with Prof. Konstantinos (Kostas) Tsilidis, Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, School of Medicine, University of Ioannina (Greece) & Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, The School of Public Health, Imperial College London (UK)

July 2022 - present

I am collaborating with Prof. Konstantinos (Kostas) Tsilidis, Dr. Georgios Markozannes, Dr. Kouassivi Elom Aglago, et al. on a systematic review and meta-analysis/dose-response meta-analysis of observational studies on risk factors for colorectal cancer subtypes.

◾ Studies screening, data extraction, cleaning and checking, data analysis and modelling, studies quality assessment (Newcastle-Ottawa Scale), and manuscript drafting for publication.

POSTER: Tsilidis KK, Markozannes G, Aglago E, Cividini S, Chan WC, Bouras E, Balducci K, Chemlal S, Chan DSM, Murphy N, van Guelpen B, Harlid S, Phipps AI, Ogino S, Peters U, Gunter MJ. Risk factors and molecular subtypes of colorectal cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis. The 6th International Molecular Pathological Epidemiology (MPE) Meeting: 10-Year Anniversary Summit at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center in Buffalo, NY, USA, on May 4 to 5, 2023. 

Paper in progress (first author).

SENIOR RESEARCH ASSISTANT (GRADE 6) IN BIOSTATISTICS

Institute of Population Health, Department of Health Data Science, University of Liverpool (UK) - Evidence Synthesis and Health Technology Assessment Research Group (Line manager: Prof. Catrin Tudur Smith)

April 2019 - June 2022 

Screening and appraisal of studies, management of contacts with authors and pharma companies, check, cleaning, extraction, and processing of data, exploratory and descriptive analysis (graphs, tables), and advanced statistical modelling (e.g., competing risk analysis and logistic regression with random intercept). Pairwise Meta-Analysis (MA), Network Meta-Analysis (NMA), and Network Meta-Regression of Individual Participant Data (IPD) supplemented with Aggregate Data (AgD) (Bayesian and frequentist approach). Risk of bias assessment of studies. Statistical analysis plan, variables dictionary, first drafting or critical revision of articles for publication. Advanced programming (SAS and R/R Studio). 

Research projects and collaborations:

◾ The EINSTEIN Study: An Individual Participant Data Network Meta-Analysis (IPD-NMA) in a Bayesian framework on asthmatic children and adolescents whose asthma remains uncontrolled on ICS.

03-2019 to 01-2022 | Work supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Programme under grant number 16/110/16 

1. 1. ARTICLE: Cividini S, Sinha I, Donegan S, Maden M, Culeddu G, Rose K, Fulton O, Hughes DA, Turner S, Tudur Smith C. EstablishINg the best STEp-up treatments for children with uncontrolled asthma despite INhaled corticosteroids (EINSTEIN): Protocol for a systematic review, network meta-analysis and cost-effectiveness analysis using individual participant data (IPD). BMJ Open 2021;0:e040528 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2020-040528 (Open Access) 

   2. EXTENDED RESEARCH ARTICLE: Cividini S, Sinha I, Culeddu G, Donegan S, Maden M, Rose K, et al. Establishing the best step-up treatments for children with uncontrolled asthma despite inhaled corticosteroids: the EINSTEIN systematic review, network meta-analysis and cost-effectiveness analysis using individual participant data. Health Technol Assess 2025;29(15). https://doi.org/10.3310/HGWT3617 (Open Access) 

   3. ARTICLE: Cividini S, Sinha I, Donegan S, Maden M, Rose K, Fulton O, Culeddu G, Hughes DA, Turner S, Tudur Smith C; on behalf of the EINSTEIN collaborative group. Best step-up treatments for children with uncontrolled asthma: A systematic review and network meta-analysis of individual participant data. European Respiratory Journal 2023 62: 2301011. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1183/13993003.01011-2023 (Open Access)

   4. Paper (health economic results) (2nd author): submitted for publication

◾ The COVID Neuro Study: an IPD meta-analysis of observational studies on COVID-19 and neurological events in affected patients. 

ARTICLE: Singh B, Lant S, Cividini S, Cattrall JWS, Goodwin LC, Benjamin L, et al. (2022) Prognostic indicators and outcomes of hospitalised COVID-19 patients with neurological disease: An individual patient data meta-analysis. PLoS ONE 17(6): e0263595. (Open Access) DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0263595  

◾  A Cochrane IPD-NMA on epilepsy. 

ARTICLE: Nevitt SJ, Sudell M, Cividini S, Marson AG, Tudur Smith C. Antiepileptic drug monotherapy for epilepsy: a network meta‐analysis of individual participant data. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2022, Issue 4. Art. No.: CD011412. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD011412.pub4. Accessed 26 April 2022. 

RESEARCH COLLABORATOR IN BIOSTATISTICS | no affiliation

Collaboration with Prof. Konstantinos (Kostas) Tsilidis, Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, School of Medicine, University of Ioannina (Greece) & Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, The School of Public Health, Imperial College London (UK) 

Nov 2019 – Jun 2020 

I collaborated with Prof. Kostas Tsilidis, Prof. Maria Kyrgiou, Dr. Eilbhe Whelan et al. on an umbrella review of risk factors for ovarian cancer.

◾  Quality assessment of the meta-analyses included using the AMSTAR tool.

ARTICLE: Whelan E, Kalliala I, Semertzidou A, Raglan O, Bowden S, Kechagias K, Markozannes G, Cividini S, McNeish I, Marchesi J, MacIntyre D, Bennett P, Tsilidis K, Kyrgiou M. Risk Factors for Ovarian Cancer: An Umbrella Review of the Literature. Cancers. 2022; 14(11):2708. (Open Access). DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers14112708 

CONFERENCE ABSTRACT: Whelan E, Kalliala I, Semertzidou A, Raglan O, Bowden S, Markozannes G, Cividini S, Kechagias K, McNeish I, Marchesi J, MacIntyre D, Bennett P, Tsilidis K, Kyrgiou M. Risk factors for ovarian cancer: an umbrella review of the literature. In BJOG-an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology 2021 Jun 1 (Vol. 128, pp. 71-71). 111 River ST, Hoboken 07030-5774, NJ USA: Wiley.  

RESEARCH COLLABORATOR IN EXPERIMENTAL STATISTICS | no affiliation

Collaboration with Dr Giuseppe Montesanto, Dept. of Biology, University of Pisa (Italy).

Oct 2018 – Jun 2020 

I wrote a review regarding biotremology in arthropods with a focus on the newest discoveries in the Mediterranean terrestrial isopod Armadillo officinalis.

◾  Searched for and read bibliography. Drafted the manuscript in English.

ARTICLE: Cividini S, Montesanto G. (2020). Biotremology in arthropods. Learn Behav 48, 281–300 (Open Access). DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/s13420-020-00428-3 

RESEARCH COLLABORATOR IN BIOSTATISTICS | no affiliation

Collaboration with Prof. Konstantinos (Kostas) Tsilidis, Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, School of Medicine, University of Ioannina (Greece) & Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, The School of Public Health, Imperial College London (UK)

May 2018 – Jun 2019 

I collaborated with Prof. Kostas Tsilidis, Dr. Jonathan Pearson-Stuttard, Dr. Georgios Markozannes, et al. on an umbrella review assessing the relationship between diabetes and cancer.

◾  Assessed the quality of the included meta-analyses with the AMSTAR tool.

ARTICLE: Type 2 diabetes and cancer: an umbrella review of observational and Mendelian randomisation studies. Jonathan Pearson-Stuttard, Nikos Papadimitriou, Georgios Markozannes, Sofia Cividini, Artemisia Kakourou, Dipender Gill, Evangelos C. Rizos, Grace Monori, Heather A. Ward, Maria Kyrgiou, Marc J. Gunter and Konstantinos K Tsilidis. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev March 18 2021. DOI: 10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-20-1245 

RESEARCH COLLABORATOR IN BIOSTATISTICS | no affiliation

Collaboration with Prof. Konstantinos (Kostas) Tsilidis, Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, School of Medicine, University of Ioannina (Greece) & Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, The School of Public Health, Imperial College London (UK)

Apr 2018 – Oct 2019 

I collaborated with Prof. Kostas Tsilidis, Prof. Joanna Tzoulaki, Dr. Georgios Markozannes, et al. on an umbrella review assessing the relationship between C-reactive protein and any health-related outcomes.

◾ Screened the articles from the updated search to select the eligible studies to include in the umbrella review.

◾  Extracted data from a part of the included meta-analyses.

ARTICLE: Georgios Markozannes, Charalampia Koutsioumpa, Sofia Cividini, Grace Monori, Konstantinos K Tsilidis, Nikolaos Kretsavos, Evropi Theodoratou, Dipender Gill, John PA Ioannidis, Ioanna Tzoulaki (2020). Global assessment of C-reactive protein and health-related outcomes: an umbrella review of evidence from observational studies and Mendelian randomization studies. Eur. J. Epidemiol. (Open Access) DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10654-020-00681-w 

RESEARCH COLLABORATOR IN EXPERIMENTAL STATISTICS | no affiliation

Collaboration with Dr Giuseppe Montesanto, Dept. of Biology, University of Pisa (Italy) & Prof. Spyros Sfenthourakis, Dept. of Biological Sciences, University of Cyprus (Nicosia, Cyprus)

Feb 2018 – Oct 2019 

Study on stridulation and vibrational communication as forms of intraspecific and interspecific signaling and defense strategies in terrestrial isopods.

◾  Planned the study design, calculated the sample size, and created the dataset for data collection.

◾ Carried out statistical analyses of the data with SAS: descriptive statistics, statistical modeling with logistic regression, ANOVA.

◾  Analyzed the wavefunctions of species-specific stridulations and substrate-borne vibrations and created graphs with Matlab R2018b using the Signal Analyzer App.

◾  Drafted the manuscript in English.

ARTICLE: Cividini S, Sfenthourakis S, Montesanto G. (2020). Are terrestrial isopods able to use stridulation and vibrational communication as forms of intra and interspecific signaling and defense strategies as insects do? A preliminary study in Armadillo officinalis. Sci. Nat., 107, 4. DOI: 10.1007/s00114-019-1656-3  Open Access 

RESEARCH COLLABORATOR IN EXPERIMENTAL STATISTICS | no affiliation

Collaboration with Dr Giuseppe Montesanto, Dept. of Biology, University of Pisa (Italy).

Oct 2017 - Jan 2018 

Experimental research project to study aggregation phenomena in woodlice in response to substrate-borne vibrations.

◾  Planned the study design, calculated the sample size, and created the dataset for data collection.

◾ Carried out graphical and statistical analyses of the data with R/R Studio and SAS: descriptive statistics, statistical tests, statistical modeling among which ordinal logistic regression with the generalized estimating equations method, and Poisson regression with robust standard errors and with generalized distribution.

◾  Drafted the manuscript in English.

ARTICLE: Cividini S, Montesanto G., 2018. Aggregative behavior and intraspecific communication mediated by substrate-borne vibrations in terrestrial arthropods: An exploratory study in two species of woodlice. Behav. Proc., 157: 422-430. DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2018.07.006 

RESEARCH COLLABORATOR IN BIOSTATISTICS | no affiliation

Collaboration with Prof. Konstantinos (Kostas) Tsilidis, Dept. of Hygiene and Epidemiology, School of Medicine, University of Ioannina (Greece) & Dept. of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, The School of Public Health, Imperial College London (UK)

July 2017 - Oct 2017 

Umbrella review of risk factors for endometrial cancer. My contribution was to carry out the quality assessment of the meta-analyses included in the study by using the AMSTAR scale. I also contributed to reviewing the manuscript and tables.

ARTICLE: Raglan, O., Kalliala, I., Markozannes, G., Cividini, S., Gunter, M.J., Nautiyal, J., Gabra, H., Paraskevaidis, E., Martin‐Hirsch, P., Tsilidis, K.K., Kyrgiou, M. (2018). Risk Factors for Endometrial Cancer: An umbrella review of the literature. Int. J. Cancer. DOI: 10.1002/ijc.31961 

RESEARCH COLLABORATOR IN EXPERIMENTAL STATISTICS | no affiliation

Collaboration with Dr Giuseppe Montesanto, Dept. of Biology, University of Pisa (Italy).

Feb 2017 - July 2017 

Experimental research project to study turn alternation pattern in response to substrate-borne vibrations in woodlice.

◾ Planned the study design, calculated the sample size, and created the dataset for data collection.

◾ Carried out graphical and statistical analyses of the data with R/R Studio and SAS: descriptive statistics, statistical tests, statistical modeling (ordinal logistic regression with proportional odds, Poisson regression).

◾Drafted the manuscripts in English and contributed to writing a presentation and a poster for two international congresses.

ARTICLE: Cividini S, Montesanto G, 2018. Changes in turn alternation pattern in response to substrate-borne vibrations in terrestrial isopods. Behavioural Processes, 146: 27-33. DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2017.11.005. 

ARTICLE: Cividini S, Montesanto G, 2018. Differences in the pattern of turn alternation between juveniles and adults of Armadillo officinalis Dumèril, 1816 (Isopoda, Oniscidea) in response to substrate-borne vibrations. Acta Ethol. 21(2): 59-68. DOI: 10.1007/s10211-018-0282-y

1) "XXVII Convegno Nazionale della Società Italiana di Etologia (S.I.E.)" (Pisa, Italy - June 18-21, 2017)

CONFERENCE PAPER: Cividini S, Montesanto G, 2017. Changes in turn alternation pattern in terrestrial isopods as a response to substrate-borne vibrations. Abstract book del XVII Convegno della Società Italiana di Etologia, June 18-21,  2017, Calci (PI): 18.

2) "10th International Symposium on the Biology of Terrestrial Isopods (ISTIB)" (Budapest, Hungary - August 27 - 30, 2017).

POSTER: Cividini S, Montesanto G, 2017. A study on the turn alternation pattern of Armadillo officinalis Duméril, 1816 in response to micro-vibrations propagating through a solid substrate. Abstract book of 10th International Symposium on Terrestrial Isopod Biology, August 27-30 2017, Budapest (Hungary): 18. 

RESEARCH COLLABORATOR IN EXPERIMENTAL STATISTICS | no affiliation

Collaboration with Dr Giuseppe Montesanto, Dept. of Biology, University of Pisa (Italy).

Sep 2016 - Jan 2017 

Experimental research project in Zoology to study the molt cycle of Armadillo officinalis (Crustacea: Isopoda: Oniscidea).

◾ Planned the study design, calculated the sample size, and created the dataset for data collection.

◾ Carried out graphical and statistical analyses of the data with R/R Studio and SAS: descriptive statistics, statistical tests, statistical modeling (Poisson regression with robust standard errors).

◾ Drafted the manuscript in English along with Dr. Montesanto.

ARTICLE: Montesanto G., Cividini S. 2018. The moult cycle of the terrestrial isopod Armadillo officinalis Duméril, 1816 (Crustacea: Isopoda: Oniscidea). Article published in early view online in the journal Acta Zool., 99: 263-273. DOI: 10.1111/azo.12210  

RESEARCH COLLABORATOR IN EXPERIMENTAL STATISTICS | no affiliation

Collaboration with Dr Giuseppe Montesanto, Dept. of Biology, University of Pisa (Italy).

Feb 2016 - May 2016 

Research project in Zoology to study the feeding preferences of Armadillo officinalis (Crustacea: Isopoda: Oniscidea) in artificial breeding conditions.

◾Planned a 4x4 crossover design and calculated the sample size to optimize data collection (PowerTOST library and crossdes library in R/R Studio).

◾Carried out the graphical analysis (ggplot2 library in R/R Studio), and statistical analysis of the data (mixed-effects models for repeated measures and ANOVA, SAS 9.4).

◾ Drafted the manuscript in English along with Dr. Montesanto.

ARTICLE: Montesanto G., Cividini S. 2017. A crossover design to assess feeding preferences in terrestrial isopods: a case study in a  Mediterranean species.  Biologia, 72(2): 194-203. DOI: 10.1515/biolog-2017-0020 

RESEARCH COLLABORATOR IN BIOSTATISTICS | no affiliation

Collaboration with Prof. Konstantinos (Kostas) Tsilidis, Dept. of Hygiene and Epidemiology, School of Medicine, University of Ioannina (Greece) & Dept. of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, The School of Public Health, Imperial College London (UK)

Jan 2016 - June 2016 

I collaborated with Prof. Kostas Tsilidis, Dr. Aristeidis Seretis, and others on a meta-analysis of observational studies to evaluate the possible association between hypertension and cancer risk.

◾ Carried out the quality assessment of the studies included in the meta-analysis by using the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale (NOS).

◾Checked that the data extracted from the articles included in the meta-analysis were consistent. Contributed to reviewing the manuscript.

ARTICLE: Aristeidis Seretis, Sofia Cividini, Georgios Markozannes, Xanthippi Tseretopoulou, David S. Lopez, Evangelia E. Ntzani, Konstantinos K. Tsilidis (2019). Association between blood pressure and risk of cancer development: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies. Scientific Reports 9, Article number: 8565. 

RESEARCH COLLABORATOR IN BIOSTATISTICS | no affiliation

Prof. Antonella Zambon and Dr Lorenza Scotti, University of Milan-Bicocca, Dept. of Statistics and Quantitative Methods (Italy) 

Prof. Konstantinos (Kostas) Tsilidis and Ms Artemisia Kakourou, University of Ioannina School of Medicine, Dept. of Hygiene and Epidemiology (Greece)

Meta-analysis of observational studies to assess the possible relationship between antihypertensive treatment and cancer risk in hypertensive patients.

◾ Updated my earlier search for the articles in PubMed (in 2014 and 2018).

◾ Extracted the data from the new articles retrieved from PubMed and Web of Science to update the dataset (in 2014 and 2018).

◾ Created the flowchart of the studies selection process, the table with the references to the excluded studies, the study protocol, and the document with the support sources for the included studies.

◾ Participated in Skype conferences to define the analysis strategy.

◾ Participated in data analysis (linear mixed meta-regression model).

◾ Written the following parts of the manuscript: abstract, introduction, and discussion. Contributed to reviewing results and materials and methods.

Notes: This study was not a priority for the Italian research group and was frozen.

EDUCATION

1. MASTER’S DEGREE IN BIOSTATISTICS AND EXPERIMENTAL STATISTICS (two years)

Faculty of Statistics - University of Milano-Bicocca - Italy

March 20, 2013 - Final Grade: 106/110 - (120 university credits)

Courses:

1. General Mathematics  

2. Introduction to Physiology

3. Introduction to Biochemistry

4. Introduction to Genetics

5. Bioinformatics

6. Applied Informatics

7. Statistics and Informatics Laboratory

8. Statistics and Informatics Integrative Laboratory

9. Introduction to Statistics and Probability Calculation

10. Introduction to Multivariate Statistics

11. Statistics II

12. English I (Level B1 – grammar, reading)

13. Multivariate Statistics

14. Experimental Design I

15. Experimental Design II

16. Statistical Models in Epidemiology

17. Statistical Models in Clinical Trials

18. Methodology in Clinical and Epidemiological Research

19. Statistics Applied to Biological Sciences

20. Survival Analysis

21. Theory of Statistical Inference

Thesis Title: Antihypertensive treatment and risk of cancer: a meta-analysis. 

Project developed in the Department of Statistics and Quantitative Methods - University of Milano-Bicocca.

Academic supervisors: Prof. Antonella Zambon and Dr. Lorenza Scotti. Head of the Unit: Professor Giovanni Corraro, Dean of the Faculty of Statistics of the University of Milan-Bicocca. 

Internship in Biostatistics at the University of Milan-Bicocca.

I carried out a meta-analysis of observational studies to assess the possible relationship between exposure to antihypertensive drugs and cancer risk. 

• Reviewed more than 7000 articles from PubMed and relevant references.

• Created the Excel dataset with the data extracted from 110 eligible articles. 

• Fit fixed-effect models, and random-effect models when heterogeneity among studies was detected (Chi-square test and I2) (SAS).

• Carried out heterogeneity analysis between strata, influence analysis, and analysis of publication bias (SAS and STATA).

• Created descriptive tables, forest plots, and other comparative graphs. 

• Written a manuscript in English.

2. MASTER OF SCIENCE IN MEDICAL STATISTICS (one year full-time)

Faculty of Statistics - University of Milano-Bicocca - Italy

February 22, 2006 (60 university credits)

Courses:

1. Quantitative Methods

2. Multivariate Analysis

3. Generalized Linear Models in Medical Statistics

4. Organization and Evaluation of Social and Health Services

5. Methodology in Experimental and Observational Research.

Thesis Title: Statistical evaluation of a randomized controlled clinical trial in phase III on liver transplant patients, beginning with a predetermined analysis plan.

Project developed at Novartis Pharma – Largo U. Boccioni 1,  21040  Origgio (Va) - Pharmaceutics, Medical Department MIPS – Medical Information Process and Statistics. 

Supervisor: Dr. Roberto Ferrara. Academic supervisor: Professor Giovanni Corrao.

Internship in Medical Statistics at Novartis Pharma.

Statistical analysis of a randomized, controlled clinical trial of phase III on liver transplanted HCV-positive patients, beginning with a predetermined analysis plan. 

• Developed SAS programs related to the data formatting and calculation of the derived variables. 

• Handled several datasets, and calculated descriptive statistics. Used Kaplan-Meyer analysis, and Cox model to assess survival analysis. 

• Created tables and graphs. 

Statistical Software Used:

• SAS (Base for data management, Stat: proc phreg, proc lifetest, Graph: proc sgplot, Macro) 

3. MASTER OF SCIENCE IN BIOINFORMATICS (one year full-time)

Faculty of Biotechnology - University of Milano-Bicocca - Italy

November 16, 2004 (60 university credits) 

Courses:

1. Introduction to Computer Science and to PERL programming

2. Databases

3. Bioinformatics Algorithms 

4. Databanks of Gene and Protein Sequences

5. Statistical Models of Probability

6. Management of R&D Projects

7. Structure and Function of Biological Molecules 

Thesis Title: 3D-QSAR study on inhibitors of Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2): conformations into the active site and modelling of the pharmacological response. 

Project developed at Bracco Imaging – Via E. Folli, 50 - Milan – Pharmaceutics, Milan Researches Institute - Computer Chemistry Laboratory. 

Supervisor: Dr. Alessandro Maiocchi. Academic supervisor: Professor Piercarlo Fantucci.

Internship in Bioinformatics at Bracco Imaging.

Study of the interaction among potential non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and human Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). 

• Used Molecular Docking, and 3D-QSAR methodologies to find the best multivariate linear regression models, able to correlate the structural properties and the observed biological response. 

• Used SwissPDBViewer to create the 3-dimensional structure of COX-2.

Software used:

• FlexX implemented in Sybyl suite

• Dragon

• A program based on a genetic algorithm

• SwissPDBViewer

• ChemDraw 

4. SECOND LEVEL DEGREE IN BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES (4-year degree)

Specialization in Molecular and Cell Biology

Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Natural Sciences - Department of Biology - University of Milan - Italy

Italian four-year degree from the old university system whereby I got the academic title of Doctor in Biological Sciences. It is equivalent to the Second Level Degree, or Master's Degree, or Laurea Specialistica of the class 6/S – Italian Decree of  May 5th, 2004 in order to participate in competitive examinations (ISCED 5A). 

July 9, 2003 - Final Grade: 108/110   

Courses:

1. Histology and Embryology

2. Zoology 1

3. Mathematics

4. Physics

5. General and Inorganic Chemistry

6. Organic Chemistry

7. Biological Chemistry 1

8. Biological Chemistry 2

9. Enzymology

10. Cellular Biochemistry

11. Molecular Biology 1

12. Molecular Biology 2

13. Genetics

14. Cytogenetics

15. General Physiology

16. Cellular Physiology

17. Vegetal Physiology

18. General Botany

19. Photobiology

Thesis Title: Role of cellular proliferation in the development of spontaneous and experimental cancers in the liver of F344 rats. Immunohistochemical research. 

Project developed in the Comparative Anatomy Laboratory of the Department of Biology of the University of Milan. Academic supervisors: Prof. Teresa Zavanella and Dr. Rosanna Cardani.

Internship in Comparative Anatomy at the University of Milan.

• Immunohistochemical staining of PCNA and staining of apoptotic nuclei with Haematoxylin and Eosin, on the liver of F344 rats.

• Analysis with the optical microscope to count the nuclei in the different phases of cell cycle or apoptosis.

• Statistical analysis of data to evaluate the role of cellular proliferation and apoptosis in the development of spontaneous and experimental cancers. 

Statistical Software used:

• MS-Excel

• GraphPad InStat 

I worked on archival material produced by other research laboratories during carcinogenesis experiments in which F344 rats were treated with a non-selective beta-blocker, out of commerce (ZAMI 1305).  

EXPERIMENTAL LABORATORIES 

TRAINING IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY 

Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry - UNIVERSITY OF MILAN - Department of Biology – Via Celoria, 26, 20133, Milan, Italy.

• Gel electrophoresis.

• Transfection of plasmid DNA into E. coli.

• Ion exchange chromatography. 

TRAINING IN ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY

Laboratory of Electrophysiology - UNIVERSITY OF MILAN - Department of Biology – Via Celoria, 26, 20133, Milan, Italy

• The technique of Microinjection into Xenopus laevis oocytes.

CERTIFIED UNIVERSITY COURSES FOR UPDATING AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Mendelian Randomization - Imperial College London (UK) (May 23-24, 2024). Main instructors: Prof. Abbas Dehghan, Prof. Kostas Tsilidis, Dr Verena Zuber. Other lecturers: Dr Devendra Meena, Dr James Yarmolinsky, Prof. Stephen Burgess, and Dr Ville Karhunen. Invited lecturer: Prof. Caroline Relton. Online course.

Indirect and Mixed Treatment Comparisons - University of Bristol and University of Leicester (UK) (September 16-18, 2019). Instructors: Keith Abrams, Tony Ades, Debbi Caldwell, Nicola Cooper, Sofia Dias, Alex Sutton, and Nicky Welton. Course attended in person in Bristol (UK).

INDEPENDENT COURSEWORK AND OTHER CERTIFICATIONS                    

◼ NewcastleX on edX (Oct 26, 2016 - Dec 15, 2016)

MOOC in Drawing Nature, Science and Culture: Natural History Illustration offered by The University of Newcaste (Australia) through edX. Instructors: Andrew Howells, Bernadette Drabsch, Daniel Atkins, Prue Sailer, Lee Dedman et al.

Verified Certificate for NHI101x: Drawing Nature, Science and Culture: Natural History Illustration (final grade: 90%).   

◼ The Ohio State University on Coursera (May 11 - Jul 7, 2015)

MOOC in Logistic Regression offered by The Ohio State University through Coursera. Instructor: Prof. Stanley Lemeshow

Statement of Accomplishment for "Applied Logistic Regression" (Grade Achieved: 97.9%) .   

◼ HarvardX (Jan 19 - Jun 13, 2015)

MOOCs in Data Analysis for Genomics offered by HarvadX, an online learning initiative of Harvard University through edX.  Instructors: Prof. Rafael Irizarry, Prof. Vince Carey, Dr. Michael Love.

 DATA ANALYSIS FOR GENOMICS

  Main Courses

1) Verified Certificate for PH525.1x: Statistics and R for the Life Sciences  (final grade: 100%)    

2) Verified Certificate for PH525.2x: Introduction to Linear Models and Matrix Algebra  (final grade: 100%) 

3) Verified Certificate for PH525.3x: Advanced Statistics for the Life Sciences (final grade: 89%)  

4) Verified Certificate for PH525.4x: Introduction to Bioconductor (final grade: 98%) 

  Case-studies:

5) Verified Certificate for PH525.8x: Case-study: DNA methylation Data Analysis (final grade: 93%) 

6) Verified Certificate for PH525.5x: Case-study: RNA-seq Data Analysis (final grade: 95%)   

◼ BerkeleyX (Feb 4 - Mar 16, 2015)

MOOC in English Grammar and Essay Writing offered by BerkeleyX, an online learning initiative of the University of California, Berkeley through edX. Instructor: Prof. Maggie Sokolik

Honor Code Certificate for "ColWri2.2x: English Grammar and Essay Writing " (final grade: 97%).

◼ Johns Hopkins University on Coursera (Jan 26 - Mar 15, 2015)

MOOC in Linear Regression, Logistic Regression and Cox Regression offered by Johns Hopkins University through Coursera. Instructor: Prof. John McGready

Statement of Accomplishment with Distinction for "Statistical Reasoning for Public Health 2: Regression Methods" (Grade Achieved: 100%) . 

◼ Johns Hopkins University on Coursera (May 5 - Dec 28, 2014)

MOOCs in Data Analysis, R programming, Statistics and Machine Learning offered by Johns Hopkins University through Coursera. Instructors: Prof. Roger D. Peng, Prof. Brian Caffo, Prof. Jeff Leek

   DATA SCIENCE SPECIALIZATION (nine 4-week courses)

1) Statement of Accomplishment with Distinction  for "The Data Scientist's Toolbox" (Grade Achieved: 101.0%) 

2) Statement of Accomplishment with Distinction  for "R Programming" (Grade Achieved: 100%)    

3) Statement of Accomplishment with Distinction  for "Getting and Cleaning Data" (Grade Achieved: 101.0%) 

4) Statement of Accomplishment  for "Exploratory Data Analysis" (Grade Achieved: 85.3%)   

5) Statement of Accomplishment with Distinction  for "Reproducible Research" (Grade Achieved: 100%)

6) Statement of Accomplishment with Distinction  for "Statistical Inference" (Grade Achieved: 100%) 

7) Statement of Accomplishment with Distinction  for "Regression Models" (Grade Achieved: 97.8%)       

8) Statement of Accomplishment with Distinction  for "Practical Machine Learning"  (Grade Achieved: 100%) 

9) Statement of Accomplishment for "Developing Data Products"   (Grade Achieved: 89.8%)   

◼ Johns Hopkins University on Coursera (Apr 28 - Jun 26, 2014)

MOOC in hypothesis testing offered by Johns Hopkins University through Coursera. Instructor: Prof. Brian Caffo

Statement of Accomplishment with Distinction for "Mathematical Biostatistics Boot Camp 2" (Grade Achieved: 97.1%). 

SAS Training in Analytics Advanced  (ST293) (May 12-14, 2014)

SAS Institute Srl - Via C.R. Darwin, 20/22, 20143, Milan (Italy)

Certification of Completion for the following SAS Training: "Statistics 2: ANOVA and regression". 

Instructor: Dr. Claudia Sartirana. 

      TOPICS COVERED: 

• Multiple Linear Regression

• Regression Diagnostics and Remedial Measures

• Analysis of Variance

• Regression Using Indicator Variables and Analysis of Covariance

• Generalized Linear Models

• Linear Mixed Models

VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE

Community Teaching Assistant (CTA) - Course: "Statistical Reasoning for Public Health 2: Regression Methods" - JHU on Coursera. Prof. John McGready. 

August 31 - October 19, 2015

I was part of the team of the Community Teaching Assistants in the class of "Statistical Reasoning for Public Health 2: Regression Methods", held by Professor McGready, and offered by JHU through Coursera. On the forums, I supported student learning by clarifying points and explaining concepts about linear regression model, logistic regression model, and Cox model. 

Community Teaching Assistant (CTA) - Courses in Data Analysis for Genomics (PH525.1x-5x - PH525.8x) - HarvardX on edX. Prof. Rafael Irizarry, Prof. Vince Carrey, Dr. Michael Love. 

January - September, 2015.

During the courses in data analysis for genomics by HarvardX, I got a promotion to Community TA by the course staff for my contribution in helping the other students to understand concepts, solve programming problems with R and Bioconductor, carry out the assessments, and address misunderstandings on the forums (over 700 posts written). After completing my courses, I continued volunteering as a CTA in the self-paced courses from June to September 2015. 

I had the great honor to get an official recommendation on LinkedIn from Heather Sternshein (HarvardX Manager, Instructional Development) for my commitment to the courses.

Community Teaching Assistant (CTA) - Data Science Specialization, "Regression Models" Course - JHU on Coursera.  Prof. Brian Caffo

September, October, December 2014.

For three months, I was part of the team of the Community Teaching Assistants within the course in Regression Models (offered by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health within the Data Science Specialization). I was selected as a CTA because, in June 2014, I was one of the very top students in the class for performance and forum contribution (in a MOOCs, each class consists of thousands of students).

My main tasks were the following:

• Supported student learning by clarifying points, explaining concepts, and addressing misunderstandings on the forums.

• Reported bugs and emergencies, and logged minor errors for course staff to address before the next course session.

• Maintained forum norms and appropriate behavior. 

LANGUAGES

Mother tongue:   ITALIAN

Other language:  ENGLISH  (overall level: intermediate)

 ABA ENGLISH    American & British Academy - Online English Course

 May, 2015 -present

6 learning levels (A1-C1) for a total of 144 units:

• Beginners (A1) (Units 1-24, 72 study hours) (achieved)

• Lower Intermediate (A2) (Units 25-48, 86 study hours) (achieved)

• Intermediate (B1) (Units 49-72, 101 study hours) (achieved)

• Upper intermediate (B2) (Units 73-96, 115 study hours) (in progress)

• Advanced (B2-C1) (Units 97-120, 130 study hours)

• Business (C1) (Units 121-144, 144 study hours)

Levels based on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). 

STATISTICAL METHODOLOGIES

• Creation and Management of Datasets

• Data Checking and Cleaning; Data Handling

• Experimental Design, Power Analysis

• Descriptive Statistics

• Advanced Graphical Exploratory Analysis

• Exploratory & Confirmatory Factor Analysis, Principal Component Analysis.

• T-tests, Chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, ANOVA, Multiple Comparisons, Factorial ANOVA, ANOVA for Repeated Measures, ANCOVA.

• Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney test, Wilcoxon signed ranks test, Kruskal-Wallis test, DSCF Method for Multiple Comparisons, Friedman test, rank transformation version ANOVA.

• Correlation Analysis.

• Multiple Imputations for Missing Data.

• Multiple Linear Regression, Regression Diagnostics & Remedial Measures, Weighted Least Squares Model, Multiple Polynomial Regression, Logistic Regression, Ordinal Logistic Regression with proportional odds and partial proportional odds, Multinomial Logistic Regression, Generalized Linear Models (Poisson Regression, Negative Binomial Regression), Linear Mixed Models, Indicator Variables.

• Survival Analysis: Cox model, Kaplan-Meier analysis, Competing Risk Survival Analysis.

• Design & Statistical Analysis of Cohort and Case-Control Studies.

• Design & Statistical Analysis of Clinical Trials, Drug Development Process (phases of experimentation, GCP, protocol, CRF).

• Diagnostic Tests, ROC curve analysis.

• Bibliographic Searches (PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, EndNote, Mendeley, Covidence, Rayyan).

• Systematic Reviews, Aggregate Data Meta-Analysis, Individual Participant Data (IPD) Meta-Analysis, IPD Network Meta-Analysis, and IPD network meta-regression analysis (also supplemented with aggregate data) (frequentist and Bayesian approaches). Quality Assessment Methods: Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale; the AMSTAR tool; the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool for randomized studies (Rob; Rob2); the modified Risk of Bias for Nutrition Observational Studies (RoB-NObs) Tool.

BIOINFORMATICS METHODOLOGIES

• Molecular Modeling (Molecular Docking, and 3D-QSAR methods).

• Machine Learning (Random Forests, Decision Trees).

• Tools for sequence searches in nucleotide and protein databases such as BLASTn, BLASTp, ORF Finder, PSI-BLAST, Prosite, Blocks, ClustalW.

• Homology Modeling.

• Monte Carlo simulations.

METHODOLOGIES FOR EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH

• Immunohistochemistry, histology and optical microscopy.

• Microinjection into Xenopus laevis oocytes.

• Basic techniques for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.

COMPUTER SKILLS 

SOFTWARE

• Microsoft Office 365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook ‒ advanced); Access (basic)

• SAS (advanced)

• R/R Studio (advanced)

• STATA (basic)

• WinBUGS/Stan (intermediate)

• G*Power 3.1 (advanced)

• WEKA and BAYDA (intermediate)

• Matlab (basic)

• FLEX-X implemented in SYBYL Suite, Dragon, SwissPDBViewer (intermediate)

• Git, GitHub, R Markdown, Slidify (advanced). Shiny (basic)

• Bioconductor (basic)

• Mozilla Thunderbird (advanced) 

• Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, Firefox (advanced)

OPERATING SYSTEMS

• Windows 10 (advanced)

• Linux and Unix (basic)

PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES

• SAS ► Base, Stat, Graph, ODS Graphics (advanced), SAS Macros (intermediate)

• R and R Studio, R packages (advanced)

• STATA ► packages for meta-analysis (intermediate), logistic regression  and survival analysis (basic)

• PERL (basic)

• HTML (intermediate)

OTHER TOOLS

Skype, Zoom, Slack, Dropbox, GIMP2