Phd in INNOVATIVE BIOTECH SOLUTIONS FOR SENSORY ORGANS
DISEASES

Research: Novel Topical Treatment for Pain and Inflammation in Ocular Injuries

Name SURICO, PIER LUIGI, MD


Contacts
pierluigi.surico@gmail.com
psurico@meei.harvard.edu
pierluigi.surico@unicampus.it
pierluigi.surico@uniroma1.it

Nationality Italian


Date of Birth 10/08/1994 (MM/DD/YY)


WORK EXPERIENCE

October 2020- January 2021 COVID-19 Emergency

In his capacity of Medical Doctor he worked in Covid-19 Internal Medicine Department of Ente Ecclesiastico “F.Miulli” Hospital (Acquaviva delle fonti, Bari, Italy) with more than 300 hospitalized patients. He contributed to treat several challenging cases of complicated Covid-19 Pneumonia in subjects with important comorbidity.


EDUCATION AND TRAINING

• Date March 2024- on going (March 2027 expected graduation)
• Name of Institution La Sapienza University of Rome, Department of Sensory Organs, Ophthalmology, Rome, Italy
• Title of Qualification Awarded PhD

He is a PhD Candidate in Innovative Biotechnologies in Sensory Organ Pathologies.
Coordinator: Prof. Dr. Alessandro Lambiase



• Date November 2022- on going (November 2024 expected end date)
• Name of Institution Schepens Eye Research Institute, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Institute, Harvard Medical School, Department of Ophthalmology, Boston (MA), USA
• Title of Qualification Awarded Post-doctoral Research Fellowship

He is Post-Doctoral Research Fellow in Cornea Ophthalmology Department in both Basic, Translational and Clinical Science
Mentor: Prof. Dr. Reza Dana


• Date January 2021- on going (December 2024 expected graduation date)
• Name of Institution Campus Bio-Medico University, Rome, Italy
• Title of Qualification Awarded Ophthalmology Residency

He is Resident Doctor in Ophthalmology Department directed by Prof. Marco Coassin.



• Date October 2020- January 2021
• Name of Institution “Aldo Moro” University of Bari, Medicine and Surgery Department, Italy
• Title of Qualification Awarded Medical License

He passed the Italian Medical License Exam with the maximum score after three months of rotations in Oncology Department, Urology Department and General Medicine Department. He is actually a member of Ordine dei Medici di Bari, Italy with registration number 16658.

• Date August 2018
• Name of Institution Massachusetts Eye and Ear Institute,Harvard Medical School, Department of Ophthalmology,
Boston (MA), USA
• Title of Qualification Awarded Ophthalmology Observership

In his capacity of Observer he attended Massachusetts Eye and Ear Institute,Harvard Medical School Department of Ophthalmology, Boston (MA), USA. During this period, he observed Comprehensive Ophthalmology Service with Dr. Katie Luo, Cornea, External Disease and Refractive Surgery Service with Dr. Emma Davies and Emergency Department.

• Date 2013-2019
• Name of Institution Medical School, University Campus Bio-Medico, Rome Italy
• Title of Qualification Awarded Master’s Degree in Medicine and Surgery 110/110, cum laude with a dissertation entitled “Ocular Surface Alterations in gastrointestinal inflammatory diseases: a prospective study”. Prof. Stefano Bonini was his supervisor.


• Date 2008-2013
• Name of Institution Liceo Classico “Publio Virgilio Marone”, Gioia del Colle, Bari, Italy
• Title of Qualification Awarded High School Diploma in Humanities

MENTORING AND VOLUNTEERING

2023-2024 URiM Mentorship Program in Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School

He served as a Mentor to provide early exposure to Ophthalmology for under-represented in medicine (URM) premedical students at Harvard College, offering them opportunities in clinical practice, research, and professional mentorship.

AWARDS

1. “Rita Levi Montalcini" Scholarship, 2023, Dompè Foundation (Research Grant in Neuroscience)

2. “Best Paper Award”, SITRAC (Italian Society of Corneal Transplantation and Ocular Surface), Rome, February 15-
18, 2024

PRESENTATIONS

He has participated in numerous national and international scientific conferences in the field of Ophthalmology.

1. Oral Presentation at ARVO 2023, New Orleans, US, April 23-27, title “NK1R Inhibition: a Novel Ocular Pain Management Strategy Following Mechanical Corneal Injury” He has participated in numerous national and international scientific conferences in the field of Ophthalmology and specifically as a speaker at ARVO23, New Orleans, US.

2. Oral presentation, Italian Society of Corneal Transplantation and Ocular Surface (SITRAC), Rome, February 15-18, 2024

3. Oral presentation American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS), April 5-8, 2024, “Relationship Between Corneal Nerves and Sensitivity Measured by A New Non-Contact Esthesiometer in Ocular GVHD Patients”

5. Oral presentation, Italian Society of Ophthalmology (SISO), April 18-20, 2024, “Corneal Nerves Alterations in Ocular Surface Diseases”

6. Poster presentation at ARVO 2024, Seattle, US, May 5-9, title: “NK1R antagonism suppresses the expression of pain-associated neuronal activity markers following mechanical injury”

7. Poster presentation at Harvard Alumni 2024 “Poster Contest”, Boston, MA, US, “NK1R antagonism in ocular pain”

PERSONAL SKILLS
Good Communication skills in English (he obtained B2-First Cambridge Certificate during his college studies) and Italian with familiarity in speaking about the scientific field.

MOTHER TONGUE ITALIAN

OTHER LANGUAGES ENGLISH


• Reading Ability Excellent
• Writing Ability Excellent
• Oral Expression Excellent