Formazione:
B.S. in Molecular Biology (magna cum laude) – University of Florence, Italia (1997–2002); PhD in Pharmacology and Toxicology – University of Florence, Italia (conseguito ad aprile 2007)
Formazione alla ricerca:
Undergraduate Research Fellow, Department of Pathology, University of Florence (2001–2002); Graduate Research Fellow, Department of Pharmacology, University of Florence (2002–2007)
Formazione in leadership e management (selezione),“From Scientist to CSO”, New York Academy of Sciences, NY (2011), “Essentials of Project Management”, NYULMC and CCFL (2013), AAMC “Leadership Development Seminar for Women in Medicine and Science” (2021)
Incarichi Accademici:
Director and Professor (Tenured), Alzheimer’s Center at Temple (ACT); Professor, Department of Neural Sciences; Professor, Lemole Center for Integrated Lymphatics Research; Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia (07/2025–presente) Interim Director, Alzheimer’s Center at Temple; Associate Professor of Neural Sciences, Lemole Center for Integrated Lymphatics Research, Cardiovascular Sciences, LKSOM, Temple University (2019–06/2024; Interim Director 07/2024–07/2025); Assistant Professor, Departments of Neurology and Psychiatry, NYU School of Medicine; Director, Biofluid Biomarkers Core, Cohen Veteran Center, NYU (2015–2019); Research Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology, NYU School of Medicine (2012–2014); Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Pathology, NYU School of Medicine (2007–2012), su meccanismi molecolari dell’aggregazione amiloide e danno neurovascolare in Alzheimer e angiopatia amiloide cerebrale.
Riconoscimenti e Premi (selezione):
New Investigator Research Grant, Alzheimer’s Association (2012)
Scientist Development Grant, American Heart Association (2013–2017),Blas Frangione Foundation New Investigator Research Grant (2014), Leon Levy Fellowship in Neuroscience (2016–2017), Thome Memorial Foundation Award in Alzheimer’s Disease Drug Discovery Research (2020), PA Cure Alzheimer’s Disease Research Award, PA Department of Health (2020–2025), Karen Toffler Charitable Trust Original Scholar at Temple University e Direttrice del Toffler Scholarship Program (2020–presente), Standing Member, NIH NOMD Study Section (dal 2021), Eletta Vice-Chair (2023) ed in seguito Chair (2025) del Vascular Cognitive Disorders Professional Interest Area (PIA) dell’Alzheimer’s Association, Membro del Scientific Program Committee dell’Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) (2023–2027), Ripetutamente ai primissimi posti della Temple LKSOM Matrix per produttività accademica (n.1 tra Tenure Track per tre anni consecutivi; n.1 complessivo Tenured + Tenure Track nel 2024/2025), Dawn Marks Faculty Award per didattica, mentoring e contributo alla comunità studentesca (2024), Educational Excellence Award in Research Mentoring, Temple University LKSOM (2025)
Attività Didattica e di Mentoring (selezione):
Oltre vent’anni di attività didattica e di mentoring a livello di laurea, PhD, MD e postdoc in Italia, NYU e Temple University., Insegnamento in corsi di Neuroscienze, Neurofarmacologia, Neuroanatomia e Scienze Traslazionali delle malattie del sistema nervoso presso Temple University LKSOM (2019–presente)., Co-Director del Neuroscience Cluster Student Seminar Class (2021–presente)., Supervisione di numerosi dottorandi e MD/PhD (più tesi completate con successo tra il 2022 e il 2025) e mentee vincitori di borse competitive (K99/R00, AHA Fellowships, Toffler Scholarships).
Mentor in programmi strutturati per la diversità e la formazione di giovani ricercatori (COMRADE Program, T32 per minority fellows, NCSI, IRP).
Finanziamenti alla Ricerca – Selezione (PI o Co-PI)
Attivi (selezione)
NIH R01AG062572 (PI) – “Targeting carbonic anhydrases in Alzheimer’s disease” (2019–2026; ~$2,3M)
DOD PRARP (PI) – “Identifying diagnostic biomarkers of the cerebrovascular contributions to cognitive impairment in repeated blast concussion” (2025–2029; ~$2M)
Wellcome Leap Care Award (PI) – “Hormonal History and Neuroendocrine Signatures of Alzheimer’s Disease in Women” (2025–2028; ~$1,27M)
NIH R21NS135606 (PI) – “Vascular MicroRNA-212 in CAA and Alzheimer’s disease” (2023–2026)
NIH 3R01AI153325-03W1 (Co-PI) – “The role of bacterial amyloid curli in Alzheimer’s disease” (2023–2026)
NIH RF1 (Co-I) – “Mitochondria and metabolism in neurodegeneration” (2021–2026)
Karen Toffler Charitable Trust – Toffler Scholar Program (PI per Temple) – supporto continuativo dal 2020
Translational Research Pilot Grant, Temple University (Co-PI) – biomarcatori microgliali in ALS (2024–2026)
Temple LKSOM Startup Fund (PI) – supporto infrastrutturale per il laboratorio (in corso)
Completati (selezione)
PA Cure Award in Alzheimer’s Research (PI; ~$4,06M; 2020–2025)
NIH R01 NS104127 (PI; ~$2,54M; 2018–2025)
Alzheimer’s Association AARG (PI; 2020–2024)
Thome Memorial Foundation (PI; 2020–2023)
American Heart Association Scientist Development Grant (PI; 2013–2017)
Leon Levy Fellowship, NYU ADC Pilot Grants e numerosi altri finanziamenti NIH, DoD, fondazioni private e istituzioni accademiche.
Brevetti
US Patent (2020) – “Use of Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors for treatment of neurological and psychiatric disorders” – Inventrice unica.
Domanda di brevetto Temple (2025) – “Carbonic anhydrase V inhibitors and methods of use for treatment of neurological and psychiatric disorders” – Inventori: S. Fossati, M. Ilies.
Attività Editoriale e di Revisione
Associate Editor, Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience (dal 2018)
Associate Editor, Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease (dal 2019)
Standing Member, NIH NOMD Study Section (dal 2021); precedenti ruoli di Ad hoc reviewer in più study section NIA/NINDS.
Grant reviewer per Alzheimer’s Association, Ministero della Salute (Italia), Swedish Research Council, MRC (UK), Alzheimer’s Society UK, DoD PRARP, American Institute of Biological Sciences e altri.
Conferenze, Invited Talks e Ruoli Scientifici (selezione)
Membro del Scientific Program Committee dell’AAIC (2023–2027).
Chair/Co-Chair di sessioni su neuroepigenomica, barriera emato-encefalica, neurovascolarizzazione e VCID all’AAIC 2024–2025.
Session Chair e relatrice invitata in numerosi congressi internazionali (AAIC, AD/PD, Vascog, conferenze su carbonic anhydrase, TRiMAD, Rainwater Foundation Tauopathy Challenge, ecc.).
Oltre un decennio di invited lectures in università e centri di ricerca in USA, Europa e Canada (NYU, Temple, Drexel, Cornell, University of Gothenburg, Indiana University, Université Laval, La Sapienza, UCL, ecc.).
Servizio Istituzionale (selezione)
Temple University / LKSOM
Director (e già Interim Director) dell’Alzheimer’s Center at Temple (ACT)
Membro del Faculty Senate e Medical Faculty Senate
Membro del Dean’s Advisory Committee (dal 2022)
Ruoli in diversi search committee per posizioni apicali (Chair di Dipartimento, Senior Associate Dean for Research, ecc.)
Membro dell’MD/PhD Program Advisory Committee (2021–2025)
Department of Neural Sciences & Centri associati
Chair dell’Equipment Committee (2021–2025)
Membro dei comitati per programming, mentoring e training
Founding Member del Lemole Center for Integrated Lymphatic Research e organizzatrice del Journal Club (2020–2022)
Società Scientifiche (selezione)
New York Academy of Sciences (dal 2007)
Society for Neuroscience (dal 2008)
ISTAART – Alzheimer’s Association (dal 2011; Chair Vascular PIA 2025–2027; Vice-Chair 2023–2025)
American Heart Association (dal 2012)
Italian Scientists and Scholars in North America Foundation (ISSNAF) (dal 2012)
Vas-Cog Society (dal 2018)
Pubblicazioni scientifiche