Current Position
Researcher in Anatomic Pathology, Department of Public Health, University of Naples “Federico II”
Education
2009 – Medical Biotechnology Degree, summa cum laude, University of Naples “Federico II”, Naples, Italy.
2013 – Ph.D. in Anatomic Pathology, University of Naples “Federico II”, Naples, Italy.
Title of thesis: “Valutazione dello stato mutazionale degli oncogeni predittivi di risposta terapeutica al trattamento di EGFR: validazione analitica e clinica.”
Licensure and Qualifications
Licensure: AA_074980, Naples (from 24/02/2016).
National Academic Qualification as Associate Professor from 29/04/2019 to 29/04/2025 (art. 16, comma 1, law 240/10).
Member of the Scientific Commission, School of Medicine, University of Naples “Federico II“ (D.R. n. 3422 of 26/10/2020).
Professional Experience
2008 – Research Partnership Italy–Spain, Molecular Pathology Laboratory (Prof. M. A. Piris), Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncologicas (CNIO), Madrid, Spain.
2010 – Training “Laser capture microdissection with PALM MicroBeam system (Zeiss)”, Molecular Diagnostics Unit (Prof. Luis Lombardia), CNIO, Madrid, Spain.
2013 – Ion PGM Training, Life Technologies, Frankfurter Str. 129B, 64293 Darmstadt, Germany.
2015–2017 – Research Partnership, Molecular Predictive Pathology, Pangaea Inst/Dexeus University, Barcelona, Spain.
National and International Research Projects
2008–2010 – Research group member, Italy–Spain Partnership (MIUR grant IT1816): “Role of AKT kinase in growth control of haematological and solid neoplasms”, in collaboration with Dr. Miguel Angel Piris, Programa de Patologia Molecular, CNIO, Madrid, Spain.
2009–2012 – PRIN Project Member: “Histological and immunohistochemical effects of combined administration of rapamycin, tolvaptan, and AEZ‑131 on the progression of polycystic disease in PCK rats”, University of Naples “Federico II”, Naples, Italy.
2015–present – Co‑Investigator, Research Project “Molecular Biology in indeterminate thyroid FNA”, funded by Regione Campania (Legge Regionale n. 24 del 29/12/2005).
2016–present – Co‑Investigator, Research Project “Translation in clinical practice of ctDNA analysis for EGFR mutation in NSCLC patients”, Promoter: University of Naples “Federico II”, Naples, Italy.
Academic Appointments
2013–present – Speaker, theoretical‑practical Master’s degree “Metodologie di Anatomia Patologica per lo studio dei biomarcatori predittivi di risposta terapeutica” (Coordinator Prof. Giancarlo Troncone), Department of Public Health, University of Naples “Federico II”.
2016–present – Professor for teaching activities in Anatomic Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Naples “Federico II”, Naples, Italy.
2016–present – Professor for teaching activities in Anatomic Pathology, Neurophysiopathology Techniques degree, University of Naples “Federico II”, Naples, Italy.
2016–present – Professor for teaching activities in Anatomic Pathology, Audiometry and Hearing Aid degree, University of Naples “Federico II”, Naples, Italy.
2016–present – Professor for teaching activities in Anatomic Pathology School, University of Naples “Federico II”, Naples, Italy.
2019–present – Chair of Young Investigators, International Society of Liquid Biopsy.
2020–present – Member of Revisors panel for Ph.D. students, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
2020–present – Member of “NETWORK ONCOLOGY AND PRECISION MEDICINE” International Ph.D. Program, University of Rome “La Sapienza”, Rome, Italy.
2021–present – Member of the Breast Unit, University of Naples “Federico II”, Naples, Italy.
2021–present – Second Supervisor, International PhD Course in Molecular Medicine, Curriculum in Experimental and Clinical Medicine, San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy.
2021–present – Second Supervisor, Doctoral School in Life and Health Sciences, PhD Program in Complex System for Life Sciences, University of Torino, Italy.
2021 – UICC Virtual Fellowship (18 May 2021), “Clinical and Translational Research in Lung Cancer”.
Editorial Appointments
2020–present – Editorial Board Member (Associate Editor), Frontiers in Oncology, “Thoracic Oncology” specialty section.
2020–present – Editorial Board Member (Associate Editor), Frontiers in Oncology, “Women’s Cancer” specialty section.
2020–present – Editorial Board Member (Deputy Editor), Critical Reviews in Oncology/Hematology.
2020–present – Editorial Board Member (Associate Editor), Journal of Molecular Pathology.
2020–present – Editorial Board Member (Associate Editor), Cells.
Technology Transfer Activities
2017–present – Proposing member of the spin‑off of the Department of Public Health, University of Naples “Federico II”, GENEDIN s.r.l. (Via Giovanni Devoti 14, 00167, Rome, Italy).
Developer and owner (50%) of the SiRe® panel (CE‑IVD), a pool of oligonucleotidic probes for characterization of molecular assessment of predictive genes of response to targeted therapies in metastatic colo‑rectal carcinoma, non‑small cell lung cancer, melanoma, and gastrointestinal stromal tumors.
Reviewer for International Projects
2021 – Reviewer for Dutch Cancer Society (KWF) projects, call 2021‑1.
Expertise and Contribution to Molecular Predictive Pathology
I graduated in biotechnology from the University of Naples “Federico II”, Italy, in 2009, then trained at the Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncologicas (CNIO), Madrid, Spain, within a Research Partnership with the group of Prof. M. A. Piris.
I obtained a PhD and Doctor Europaeus in Anatomic Pathology from the University of Naples “Federico II”, Italy, in 2013 under the direction of Professor Stefania Montagnani, then collaborated at Pangaea Inst/Dexeus University, Barcelona, Spain, in 2016 under the direction of Professor Rosell.
Since 2015 I have worked as researcher at the University of Naples “Federico II”, Italy.
From 2008 to 2010 I was Research group member, Italy–Spain Partnership (MIUR grant IT1816), “Role of AKT kinase in growth control of hematological and solid neoplasms”, in collaboration with Dr. Miguel Angel Piris, Programa de Patologia Molecular, CNIO, Madrid, Spain.
From 2009 to 2012 I served as PRIN Project Member on rapamycin, tolvaptan, and AEZ‑131 in polycystic disease in PCK rats.
From 2015 to present I am Co‑Investigator of the Research Project “Molecular Biology in indeterminate thyroid FNA” funded by Regione Campania (L.R. n. 24 del 29/12/2005).
From 2016 to present I am Co‑Investigator of the Research Project “Translation in clinical practice of ctDNA analysis for EGFR mutation in NSCLC patients”, promoted by University of Naples “Federico II”.
I am expert member of the International Society of Liquid Biopsy (ISLB) and board committee member of the Italian Group of Molecular Pathology and Predictive Medicine (PMMP).
I am currently Chief Supervisor of the Molecular Pathology Laboratory, Department of Public Health, University of Naples “Federico II”.
My research focuses on molecular oncology and immunotherapy in thoracic oncology and with a pan‑tumoral approach, using new generation techniques in liquid biopsies, specifically circulating free tumour DNA.
I am developer of an NGS panel (SiRe®) for detection of clinically relevant mutations in NSCLC, GIST, mCRC, and metastatic melanoma.
I am founder of the University of Naples spin‑off Genedin, involved in developing next‑generation procedures for detection and analysis of positive and negative biomarkers in solid tumors.
Drafting Member of Italian Guidelines
2019–present – AIOM – Lung neoplasms.
2020–present – SIAPEC – Melanoma.
2020–present – AIOM, SIAPEC, SIF, SIBICO – Molecular Predictive Pathology in cancer patients.
Drafting Member of International Guidelines
2019–present – International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) – Liquid biopsy in lung cancer.
Papers
(>140 peer‑reviewed publications; full list as in original file, including articles in Cytojournal, Diagn Cytopathol, J Clin Pathol, Cancer Cytopathol, Eur J Cancer, Lung Cancer, Clin Cancer Res, Oncotarget, Front Oncol, Cancers (Basel), Int J Mol Sci, Crit Rev Oncol Hematol, ESMO Open, etc., covering topics such as thoracic oncology, cytopathology, liquid biopsy, NGS, predictive biomarkers, colorectal cancer, thyroid cancer, immunotherapy, tumor mutational burden, PD‑L1, and COVID‑19 impacts on pathology practice.)
Selected Conferences and Meetings
(As in original list, including >70 national and international events from 2015–2020, e.g. European Congress of Cytology, AIOM National Congress, SIAPEC‑IAP Annual Congress, IASLC Hot Topic Liquid Biopsy, SOHC 2020, European Congress of Pathology 2020, WIN Symposium, IO YOUNG, AIPO meetings, and multiple focused workshops on NSCLC, mCRC, molecular pathology and liquid biopsy.)
Awards
2009 – Best Cytopathology Study Award, 22nd European Congress of Pathology, Florence, Italy.
2021 – Frontiers in Oncology – GYN Associate Editorial Recognition Award.
Bibliometric Indicators
Scopus: 2411 citations; H‑index 27.
Google Scholar: 3146 citations; H‑index 31.