Phd in CLINICAL EXPERIMENTAL NEUROSCIENCE AND PSYCHIATRY

email: gabriele.ruffolo@uniroma1.it
phone: 3387176056
building: CU027
room: B-3-08

NAME: Gabriele Ruffolo
ORGANIZATION: Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Rome “Sapienza”
POSITION TITLE: Research Associate (RTT)

EDUCATION AND TRAINING
2014 : Medical Doctor, University of Rome "Sapienza"
2018 : PhD in Clinical/Experimental Neuroscience and Psychiatry
2018 - 2021 : Post-Doctoral Fellow in Cellular Neurophysiology at University of Rome "Sapienza"
2019 : Guest Researcher at "University Medical Center" (Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Prof. E. Aronica)

BIBLIOMETRIC PARAMETERS
Peer reviewed publications: 36
Citations: 695
H-index: 15

Orcid Id: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6554-5496
Scopus Id: 56720340600 (https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=56720340600)
Researcher ID: A-9273-2019

A. Personal Statement
I am a Researcher in Physiology. I graduated in “Medicine and Surgery” in July 2014 and then I obtained a PhD in “Clinical/Experimental neuroscience and Psychiatry” in 2018. Until now I worked in the field of neurophysiology and electrophysiology, using different techniques of electrophysiological recording for the functional study of neurotransmitter receptors, especially in the field of epilepsy research.
My main interest is the study of the pathophysiology of neurodevelopmental epilepsies with a particular regard for the alterations of neurotransmission that play a fundamental role in generation and recurrence of seizures but also in the deviation of brain development from its “physiological” route. The results of this investigation are documented in the publications listed in this document.

Relevant national and international collaborations:
- University of Rome “Sapienza” (Prof. Eleonora Palma and Prof. Cristina Limatola)
- University of Catanzaro “Magna Graecia” (Prof. Antonio Gambardella and Prof. Gianni Cuda)
- University Medical Center (Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Prof. Eleonora Aronica)
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular (Lisbon, Portugal. Prof. Ana Maria Sebastião)
- University of Eastern Finland (Prof. Asla Pitkanen)

B. Positions, Scientific Appointments, and Honors

Previous Positions
2021 – 2023 Research Associate (RTD-A), Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Rome “Sapienza”, Rome, Italy
2021 – Present “BE-FOR-ERC” Research Fellow, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Rome “Sapienza”, Rome, Italy
2019 Research Fellow, Department of Neuropathology, UMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
2017 – Present Assistant Lecturer, Human Physiology (Course Leader: Prof. E. Palma), Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
2015 – Present Lecturer, Extracurricular Teachings, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Sant’ Andrea Hospital, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy

Teaching Activities

2021 – Present
Lecturer of “Human Physiology” (BIOS/06 A) at “Healthcare sciences - Diagnostic Techniques” - Roma Azienda Policlinico Umberto I LM/SNT3
2020 – Present Co-Lecturer of “Human Physiology” (BIOS/06 A), Faculty of Medicine and Surgery. University of Rome “Sapienza” (Course Holders: Prof. Eleonora Palma, Prof. Sergio Fucile)
2020 – Present Lecturer of “Human Physiology” (BIOS/06 A) at “Healthcare sciences - Orthopedic Techniques – “Ospedale Sant’ Andrea”, University of Rome “Sapienza”
2017 – Present Assistant Lecturer, Human Physiology (Course Holder: Prof. E. Palma), Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy

Scientific Appointments

2021 – Present Review Editor for “Frontiers in Neurology”
2020 – Present Review Editor for “Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience”
2019 – Present Member, “Italian League Against Epilepsy” (LICE)
2017 – Present Reviewer for international peer-reviewed journals (Journal of Pediatric Epilepsy, Scientific Reports, Journal of chemical neuroanatomy, Neurological Research, Molecular Neurobiology, International Journal of Molecular Sciences).
2021 – 2024 “Young Member”, Italian Physiological Society (SIF)

Honors
2017 Appointment as “Expert in the Field of Physiology” (Cultore della Materia), University of Rome “Sapienza”
2015 “Excellent Graduate” Prize, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rome “Sapienza”


Research Support (as PI or Research group component)

2024 Spoke 2 PNRR, MNESYS grant (Co-PI)
2023 Dompé follow-up grant (PI)
2022 PRIN 2022 project (Co-PI)
2022 “Progetti medi di Ateneo” Grant (PI)
2022 Dompé Grant for Basic Science Investigation (PI)
2022 “AICE-FIRE” Grant (PI)
2021 “Progetti Medi di Ateneo” Grant (Research Group Component)
2020 BE-FOR-ERC project: A study of synaptic transmission in epileptic mTORpathies (PI)
2019 AriSLA project: MUSALS-AChR (Research group component)
2019 “Avvio alla Ricerca” Grant, Sapienza University (PI)
2018 “Pasteur Institute bursary for reserach abroad”. (PI)
2017 “Avvio alla Ricerca” Grant, Sapienza University (PI).
2016 “Avvio alla Ricerca” Grant, Sapienza University (PI).

C. Contributions to Science

ORAL PRESENTATIONS AND POSTERS

• Symposium Chair and Speaker at the 74th National Congress of SIF (Italian Society of Physiology). Title: Mechanisms of synaptic transmission alteration in epilepsies. Sapienza University of Rome (September 11-13, 2022).

• Oral presentation at the Winter School of the EpiEpiNet network and member of the event’s organizing committee. Title: GABAergic neurotransmission as a common hallmark of neurodevelopmental impairment. A quick wrap-up, Sapienza University. February 12-13, 2023.

• Oral presentation at the symposium: EpiEpiNetwork MNS Symposium: Next steps on epilepsy research: from brain dysfunction and immunity to comorbidities – Mediterranean Neuroscience Society, Carthage (Tunisia) – October 2023.

• Oral presentation and session moderation at the 16th annual meeting of Young Researchers in Physiology, Italian Society of Physiology. University Center of Bertinoro, Italy (June 21-23, 2023).

• Oral presentation as a speaker during the Experimental Epilepsy Discussion 2, LICE (Italian Chapter of the International League Against Epilepsy) (January 28, 2023).
• INVITED SPEAKER at “UP-DATE IN EPILETTOLOGIA CLINICA E SPERIMENTALE”, Perugia University (October 27-28, 2022).
• SELECTED SPEAKER and MEMBER OF THE ORGANIZING COMMITTEE for the workshop “Synaptic functon in epileptic disorders: from basic research to clinical implications", EpiEpinet network. University of Rome, “Sapienza”. Title: “Pharmacological aspects in epilepsy research” (Settembre 19-20 2022).
• SELECTED SPEAKER at “72° Congresso Nazionale SIF”. Title: Neuroinflammation and GABAergic function: a complex relationship. Bari University. (September 14-16, 2022)
• INVITED SPEAKER for “DISCAB Seminar Series 2022” (Aquila University). Title: “Alterations of synaptic transmission in neurodevelopmental disorders”. Università degli Studi dell'Aquila · Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche Applicate e Biotecnologiche. (July 21st 2022)
• SELECTED SPEAKER with TRAVEL GRANT (Raman Sankar bursaries) per la XVI Workshop on Neurobiology of Epilepsy – WONOEP 2022 2Titolo: When anti-inflammatory mediators cannot keep the pace: effect of IL-10 and IL-1beta on GABAergic neurotransmission in gangliogliomas. Talloires, Francia, (July 4-8, 2022).
• SELECTED SPEAKER “2nd EpiEpiNet Meeting” (EpiEpiNet Network, H2020). Titolo: “Cytokines as potential modulators of neurotransmission in drug-resistant epilepsy: a potential beneficial effect of IL-10” Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Lisbon, Portugal (Evento svolto on-line causa COVID) (January 11th 2022)
• SELECTED SPEAKER “From genes, synapses and circuits to pave the way for novel drugs and strategies”, EpiEpinet Network (held online), Rome. (June 18th 2021)
• SELECTED SPEAKER “Epileptogenesis and Epilepsy Network”, Università Sapienza, Rome. (January 20th 2021)
• SELECTED SPEAKER “Discussione di Epilettologia Sperimentale”, (LICE) Università Sapienza, Roma. (January 22nd, 2020)
• INVITED SPEAKER at “SWO Midwinter meeting”, Nederlandse Liga tegen Epilepsie (host: Prof. E.Aronica, Amsterdam UMC): GABAergic dysfunction of Hippocampal Sclerosis Linked to SCN1A Mutation with Reduced interneuronal excitability (January 17th, 2020;Amsterdam).
• SELECTED SPEAKER “3rd Annual SynaNet Project Meeting (Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Lisboa, Portugal,): “A novel GABAergic dysfunction in human Dravet syndrome”. (December 12th-13th 2018, Lisbona).
• Poster Presentation: GABAA receptors current desensitization and its determinants in temporal lobe epilepsy. EpiEpiNet Summer School (Costa da Caparica, Portugal) – Presenting Author.
• Poster Presentation: A novel GABAergic dysfunction in human Dravet syndrome. Amsterdam Neuroscience Meeting, October 4th 2019 - Poster Presentation. Presenting Author.
• Poster Presentation Effect of Lacosamide on GABAA evoked currents. First synanet meeting. January, 26-27, 2017 – Presenting Author.