Research: Investigating MUS81 as a new factor impacting on cancer chemosensitivity
November 2022-present: PhD student
At “Istituto Superiore di Sanità”, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome
Cell and Molecular Biology Skills: Proximity Ligation Assays, SIRF Assay, Clonogenic Assay, Alkaline Comet, Immunoprecipitation, Plasmid Mutagenesis, Knock-In Proteins, Real Time PCR, Immunofluorescence, Quantitative Microscopy, NAD Quantification Assays, Cell Culture Maintenance
January 2022 - October 2022: SCHOLARSHIP HOLDER
At “Istituto Superiore di Sanità”, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome
Cell biology skills: basic techniques, cell culture plating, MTT viability assay, Neutral Comet Assay, plasmid transfection using the Neon Transfection System, knockout using Crispr Cas9, gene silencing using siRNA and Interferin Reagent.
Molecular biology skills: primer design, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), use of restriction enzymes, alkaline phosphatase, and ligase to transform plasmids into competent bacteria, bacterial plating, colony isolation and inoculum incubation, miniprep, maxiprep. Preparation of glycerols and Agar plates.
June 2019-January 2020: Intern
At “Farmacia Piazza Bologna 19”, 00162 Rome
▪ Support pharmacy staff during over-the-counter medicine dispensing and patient interaction; preparation of galenic preparations such as capsules, lotions, creams, ointments, herbal teas, powders, and syrups. I use the rotary tablet press and semi-automatic blister machines independently for setting up and packaging tablets.
September 2019-September 2020: Intern
At “Istituto Superiore di Sanita’”, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome
▪ Skills obtained: cell culture maintenance (cell thawing and refreezing, cell counting, plating, Mycoplasma testing), agarose gel electrophoresis, RNA extraction, RNA purification from exosomes, PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction), Western Blotting, ultracentrifugation isolation and exosome dosing, ELISA (Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay), FACS (Fluorescent Activated Cell Sorting), RPPA (Reverse Phase Protein Array).
EDUCATION AND TRAINING
June 18, 2022 Obtaining Certification in Advanced English at the British School Group Salario at Via Nizza 49, Rome
June 17, 2021: Qualification to practice the profession of Pharmacist obtained
September 2015 - January 18, 2021 Master's Degree in Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology
with a grade of 110 cum laude, at the University of Rome “La Sapienza”, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome
September 2019-September 2020 Experimental research period in the oncology field carried out at the institution “Istituto Superiore di Sanità”, with the thesis entitled “New technologies for the study of biomarkers in oncology”.
September 2010-June 2015: High school diploma obtained with a 100/100 grade at “Liceo Classico Via Tiburto 44” in Tivoli.
PERSONAL SKILLS
Native language: Italian
Other languages: English
Listening C1 Reading C1 Interaction C1 Oral production C1
Certificate in Advanced English obtained on 18 June 2022 from Cambrige Assessment English.
Publications: 2023 - Phosphorylation status of MUS81 is a modifier of Olaparib sensitivity in BRCA2-deficient cells. BLANDINO, FRANCESCA; FIGLIOLI, CAROLINA; NOTO, ALESSANDRO; PUGLIESE, GIUSJ MONIA - 01a Articolo in rivista: NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH (Oxford : Oxford University Press) pp. 6723-6737 - issn: 1362-4962 - wos: WOS:000997750300001 (3) - scopus: 2-s2.0-85165521340 (3)
Software: ImageLab, Snapgene, GraphPad Prism, ImageJ, CometScore 2.0, Chimera, ScanR, Office
June 29-July 2, 2025: “Targeting the DNA Damage Response for Cancer Therapeutics” Lisbon, Portugal. Poster Presentation “Exploring the endonuclease MUS81 as a new factor impacting on cancer chemosensitivity”
December 2-4, 2024: “HIJACKING THE «GOOD» PATHWAYS: Cancer,Immunity, and Therapeutic Approaches” 36° AICC Meeting, Rome. Poster Presentation “Exploring the endonuclease MUS81 as a new factor impacting on cancer chemosensitivity””
September 21th , 2022: “New Technologies and Strategies to Fight Cancer” Alliance Against Cancer, Gemelli Polyclinic, Rome. Poster Presentation “Unscheduled activity of MUS81 confers resistance to PARP inhibitors in BRCA2-deficient cells”.