Phd in ENDOCRINOLOGICAL SCIENCES

- Education and Training 2025 - ongoing PhD in Endocrinological Sciences and Metabolism Sapienza University of Rome 2021 - 2025 Post-Graduate training (residency) in Endocrinology and Metabolism Sapienza University of Rome Outpatient clinical assistance and research activities (adrenal disorders, steroid metabolism, liquid chromatography, tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), andrological disorders, infertility, thyroid disorders, metabolic disorders, disorders of bone mineral replacement, pituitary disorders). Testicular and Thyroid ultrasound. Inter-departmental guards in the departments of internal medicine, gastroenterology, oncology, immunology, rheumatology. A particular focus was made on rare adrenal disorders, mainly adrenoleukodystrophy and congenital adrenal hyperplasia, which was the subject of my thesis: “Effects of modified release hydrocortisone on reproductive function in males with congenital adrenal hyperplasia. Insights from CALLIOPE: a multicenter, prospective study “ 2015 - 2021 Degree in Medicine and Surgery Sapienza University of Rome Actively participated in a pre-graduate internship at the Department of Experimental Medicine and the Endocrinology and Andrology Unit of Policlinico Umberto I, Rome, Italy, focusing on my thesis titled 'Gender Differences in the RECOGITO Trial: data on Quality of Life and Sexual Function in people with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus'. 2010 - 2015 Scientific High School Diploma Bertrand Russell State Scientific High School - Work Experience 2025 - ongoing Consultant Endocrinologist BestCare Medical/Dental Centre, Rome / Istituto Gnatologico Italiano, Rome Providing outpatient care and clinical consultations for patients with hormonal and metabolic disorders, including thyroid diseases, obesity, diabetes and insulin resistance, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), adrenal and pituitary. 2025 - ongoing Thyroid/Testicle Sonographer BestCare Medical/Dental Centre, Rome I had the honour to complete an advanced training in high-resolution testicular ultrasonography at a leading national reference center, Sapienza University of Rome, accredited by the European Academy of Andrology (EAA) and the Italian Society of Andrology and Sexual Medicine (SIAMS). I also have high-volume in thyroid and neck ultrasound. Competencies include ultrasound-based assessment of thuroid nodules, autoimmune (Hashimoto’s) thyroiditis, testicular disorders, varicocele, hydrocele. 2025 - ongoing Clinical Fellow / Outpatient Clinic, Department of Endocrinology Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Policlinico Umberto I, Rome In the context of my PhD, I attend outpatient clinics focused on adrenal and steroid disorders at the Department of Endocrinology of the tertiary center “AOU Policlinico Umberto I”, Rome. Main activities and responsabilities Outpatient clinical assistance and research activities (adrenal disorders, steroid metabolism, liquid chromatography, tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), andrological disorders, infertility, thyroid disorders, metabolic disorders, disorders of bone mineral replacement, pituitary disorders). Testicular and Thyroid ultrasound. Inter-departmental guards in the departments of internal medicine, gastroenterology, oncology, immunology, rheumatology. - Skills Technical skills and competences - Four years’ experience (2021 – ongoing) in the field of LC-MS/MS technique for steroid profiling. - Six years’ experience (2019 – ongoing) in the field of basic laboratory techniques (blood, urine and salive sample collection, processing and storage. - Good knowledge and familiarity with devices for ultrasound examinations with Doppler. - Good knowledge of Dual X-Ray Absorptiometry devices for DXA scan of hip, lumbar spine and whole body. - Excellent knowledge of Office™ programs (Word™, Excel™ and PowerPoint™); good - knowledge of the SPSS statistics program. Familiarity with Phyton, HTML and CSS coding. Social skills and competences - Good communication and relational skills with Professors, students, colleagues, and patients. - Good ability to work in team. - Good capacity for research collaboration with different researchers and regional and national - research groups. Active participation in the multidisciplinary research group TALENT (Transition Adolescence and young aduLts ENdocrine diseases managemenT), Gender Endocrinology, Cushing ABC - Attività di ricerca/Research project Since 2019, research activity primarily focused on disorders of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis, with several scientific publications in indexed journals. PhD research within the Re-ThInK project investigating the role of the 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11β-HSD) system in androgen metabolism and the pathophysiology of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The project combines translational laboratory research and clinical investigation, including in-vitro studies on ovarian granulosa cells, molecular analyses (qPCR, RNA-seq), and advanced steroid profiling using UHPLC-MS/MS. The research will evaluate pharmacological and genetic modulation of 11β-HSD2 to understand its impact on androgen activation pathways. Findings from the preclinical work will support the design of a Phase 1 clinical trial testing glycyrrhetinic acid as a potential treatment for hyperandrogenism in PCOS. - Brevetti/Clinical trial Participation as Sub-Investigator in the following international clinical trials in congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH): 2022 – ongoing – Clinical trial NBI-74788-CAH3003: randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study evaluating the safety and efficacy of crinecerfont in adults with classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia, followed by an open-label treatment phase. 2023 – 2025 – Clinical trial CRN04894-03 (TouCAHn): study evaluating the safety, efficacy, and pharmacokinetics of CRN04894 in participants with congenital adrenal hyperplasia. 2025 – ongoing – Clinical trial CRN04894-09: open-label long-term extension study evaluating safety and efficacy in participants treated with CRN04894. 2025 – ongoing – Clinical trial CRN04894-12: randomized, double-blind, multicenter, placebo-controlled study evaluating the safety and efficacy of atumelnant in adult participants with classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia. 2025 – ongoing – Clinical trial 19873A: multi-site, open-label, sequential-group, multiple-dose trial investigating the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamic effects of Lu AG13909 in participants with congenital adrenal hyperplasia. - Publications and Abstracts Publication list of papers published on internationals peer-reviewed journal indexed in PubMed, Web of Science, SCOPUS e Google Scholar [1] D De Alcubierre, D Ferrari, G Mauro, AM Isidori, JW Tomlinson, R Pofi - Glucocorticoids and cognitive function: a walkthrough in endogenous and exogenous alterations – 2023 - Journal of Endocrinological Investigation 46 (10), 1961-1982 [2] V Hasenmajer*, D Ferrari*, D De Alcubierre, V Sada, G Puliani, I Bonaventura, M Minnetti, A Tomaselli, R Pofi, E Sbardella, A Cozzolino, D Gianfrilli, AM Isidori - Effects of Dual-Release Hydrocortisone on Bone Metabolism in Primary and Secondary Adrenal Insufficiency: A 6-Year Study - 2023 - Journal of the Endocrine Society 8 (1) [3] V Hasenmajer*, D De Alcubierre*, D Ferrari, M Minnetti, I Bonaventura, R Pofi, C Simeoli, A Tomaselli, F Sciarra, G Bottillo, F Angelini, A Cozzolino, MA Venneri, E Jannini, D Gianfrilli, R Pivonello, AM Isidori - Exploring sexual function in adrenal insufficiency: findings from the Dual RElease hydrocortisone versus conventionAl glucocorticoid replaceMent therapy in hypocortisolism (DREAM) trial – 2024 - Andrology 10.1111/andr.13635. [4] M Spaziani, F Carlomagno, M Tenuta, F Sesti, F Angelini, I Bonaventura, D Ferrari, C Tarantino, M Fiore, C Petrella, L Tarani, D Gianfrilli, C Pozza - Extra-Gonadal and Non-Canonical Effects of FSH in Males – 2023 – Pharmaceuticals 16 (6), 813 [5] I Bonaventura, A Tomaselli, F Angelini, D Ferrari, D De Alcubierre, V Hasenmajer, E Sbardella, A Cozzolino, AM Paganini, AM Isidori, M Minnetti, R Pofi – Predicting postoperative hypocortisolism in patients with non-aldosterone-producing adrenocortical adenoma: a retrospective single-centre study - 2024 - Journal of Endocrinological Investigation, 1-12 [6] D Ferrari*, C Pandozzi*, A Filice, C Nardi, A Cozzolino, R Melcarne, L Giacomelli, M Biffoni, C Di Gioia, E Merenda, G Del Sindaco, A Pagnano, R Pofi, E Giannetta – C-Cell Hyperplasia and Cystic Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma in a Patient with Type 1B Pseudohypoparathyroidism and Hypercalcitoninaemia: Case Report and Review of the Literature – 2023 - Journal of Clinical Medicine 12 (24), 7525 [7] Bonaventura I, Minnetti M, Ferrari D, Hasenmajer V, Tomaselli A, De Alcubierre D, Lenzi A, Pofi R, Isidori AM. Impact of Female Sex and Mild Cortisol Secretion on Coagulation Profile in Adrenal Incidentalomas. – 2024 - Journal of the Endocrine Society. 12;9(1):bvae215. [8] Hasenmajer V, Sbardella E, Sciarra F, Simeoli C, Pivonello C, Ceccato F, Pofi R, Minnetti M, Rizzo F, Ferrari D, Bonaventura I, Barbagallo F, Giannetta E, Alunni Fegatelli D, Conia S, Navigli R, Arnaldi G, Scaroni C, Pivonello R, Gianfrilli D, Venneri MA, Isidori AM - Circadian clock disruption impairs immune oscillation in chronic endogenous hypercortisolism: a multi-level analysis from a multicentre clinical trial – 2024 – Lancet eBioMedicine [9] Ferrari D, Bonaventura I, Simeoli C, Tomaselli A, Vincenzi L, De Alcubierre D, Sciarra F, Rizzo F, Cerroni L, Di Paola N, Minnetti M, Sbardella E, Venneri MA, Pofi R, Pivonello R, Gianfrilli D, Hasenmajer V, Isidori AM. Chronotherapy with Once-Daily Osilodrostat Improves Cortisol Rhythm, Quality of Life, and Sleep in Cushing's Syndrome. – 2025 - J Clin Endocrinol Metab. [10] Pellegrini B, Bonaventura I, Hasenmajer V, Simeoli C, Pivonello C, Ferrari D, Criscuolo S, Tomaselli A, Isidori AM, Grossman AB, Lenzi A, De Martino MC, Savage MO. Adrenal causes of endocrine hypertension in childhood or adolescence. – 2025 - J Endocrinol Invest [11] Di Stefano A, Ricci L, Ferrari D, Frigerio F, Minnetti M, Fontana M, Donini LM, Isidori AM, Migliaccio S, Poggiogalle E. Dietary Approaches in the Management of Adrenoleukodystrophy: Evidence Summary for Nutritional Tips – 2025 – Nutrients [12] De Alcubierre D, Ferrari D, Tomaselli A, Moscucci F, Bonaventura I, Francia A, Vozza E, Lospinuso I, Ettorre E, Hasenmajer V, Minnetti M, Sbardella E, Tenuta M, Morelli S, Paganini AM, Isidori AM, Pofi R. Long-term cardiac effects of adrenalectomy versus surveillance in mild cortisol excess: 5-year results from the prospective ITACA study. – 2026 - Eur J Endocrinol. *Equally contributed Abstract presentations at national and international congresses [1] D Ferrari, V Sada, V Hasenmajer, D De Alcubierre, G Puliani, M Minnetti, A Cozzolino, I Bonaventura, A Tomaselli, R Pofi, Andrea Lenzi Bone metabolism and dual-release hydrocortisone: results from a real-life study – presenting author in an oral communication at the 9th ESE Young Endocrinologists and Scientists annual meeting (EYES), Zagreb, 2022. Awarded for the “best presentation in calcium and bone session” [2] D Ferrari, F Sesti, M Tenuta, F Carlomagno, D Gianfrilli, C Pozza, AM Isidori - Hypoechoic testicular lesions in Klinefelter Syndrome show volumetric reduction in response to testosterone therapy – presenting author in a top oral communication at the XV national congress of Italian Society of Andrology and Sexual Medicine (SIAMS) – Rome, 2024 [3] D Ferrari, T Feola, R Pofi, C Lecis, R Centello, A Lenzi, AM Isidori, E Giannetta – Sex differences in quality of life and sexual function in type 2 diabetes mellitus: results from the RECOGITO trial - presenting author in an oral communication at the 1st Gender Endocrinology Congress - Naples, 2023. Awarded for the “best oral presentation”. [4] D Ferrari, V Sada, V Hasenmajer, D De Alcubierre, G Puliani, M Minnetti, A Cozzolino, I Bonaventura, A Tomaselli, R Pofi, Andrea Lenzi - Bone metabolism and dual-release hydrocortisone: results from a real-life study – poster presentation at the 25th European Congress of Endocrinology (ECE) – Istanbul - 2024 [5] D Ferrari, F Sesti, M Tenuta, F Carlomagno, D Gianfrilli, C Pozza, AM Isidori - The volumetric response of hypoechoic testicular micronodules in men with primary gonadal failure treated with testosterone therapy - presenting author in an oral communication at the 3rd EnGioI (Endocrinologia Giovane in Italia, SIE) Congress - Awarded for the “best oral presentation” in neuroendocrinology and andrology session. [6] D Ferrari, I Bonaventura, C Simeoli, A Tomaselli, L Vincenzi, D De Alcubierre, F Sciarra, F Rizzo, L Cerroni, N Di Paola, M Minnetti, E Sbardella, MA Venneri, R Pofi, R Pivonello, D Gianfrilli, V Hasenmajer, AM Isidori. Migliorare il ritmo del cortisolo nella sindrome di Cushing: benefici della cronoterapia con osilodrostat in singola somministrazione serale su sonno e qualità della vita – presenting author in an oral communication at the SIE – Società Italiana di Endocrinologia 2025 congress. [7] D Ferrari, C Simeoli, L Arcolesse, EM Crescenzo, AC Conflitti, M Piscopo, M Tenuta, D Gianfrilli, C Pozza, D Menafra, D Paoli, R Pofi, R Pivonello, AM Isidori. Effects of Modified Release Hydrocortisone on Reproductive Function in Males with Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia. Insights from CALLIOPE: a multicenter, prospective study – presenting author in an oral communication at the EYES – European Young Endocrinologists and Scientists 2025 congress – Awarded for “best oral presentation” in reproductive endocrinology session. Invited speaker at national congresses [1] 3 MEETING “DIABENDRO” DIABETE, ENDOCRINOLOGIA ED ANDROLOGIA Novità e connessioni delle patologie endocrino-metaboliche e gonadiche – Pozzuoli – 1-2 Dicembre 2025 Pozzuoli - Innovazioni in tema di cronoterapia negli stati di eccesso e difetto di cortisolo [2] Parliamo di Ma.R.E. in Italia - Bologna - 6-7 Marzo 2026 - Transition Care for adolescents and young adults with congenital adrenal hyperplasia