I graduated in Molecular Biology and Genetics at the University of Pavia. Subsequently, I further developed my interest in cancer research through a research fellowship at the Regina Elena National Cancer Institute in Rome, where I investigated the biological effects of different classes of ligands targeting telomeric G-quadruplex structures, gaining experience in a variety of cellular and molecular biology techniques. This work led to the publication of two articles in Nucleic Acids Research.
In November 2024, I was awarded a research fellowship in the group of Dr. Claudia Ghigna (IGM-CNR, Pavia), where I studied - and will continue to investigate as a PhD student - the role of alternative splicing in tumor angiogenesis. For this purpose, I will use various cellular models and mouse tumor models that are best suited to study the complex interactions between tumor cells and their microenvironment. Finally, I will evaluate the potential use of innovative RNA-based technologies to modulate alternative splicing specifically in the cells that make up the tumor vasculature. My results may contribute to elucidating key mechanisms of tumorigenesis and to identifying novel potential therapeutic targets for cancer treatment.