PhD candidate in Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology.

I received my bachelor's degree in Biotechnology, cum laude, in July 2020 from the University of Pavia with a thesis entitled: "Analysis of platelet aggregation induced by amyloid peptides," supervisor Prof. Ilaria Canobbio. In September 2022, I received, cum laude, a master’s degree in Experimental and Applied Biology, Biomolecular Biomedical Sciences curriculum, with a thesis entitled: "Study of the effects of curcumin and its derivatives on platelet activation," supervisor Prof. Ilaria Canobbio, at the Platelet Biochemistry Laboratory of the Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, head Prof. Mauro Torti. Curcumin is one of the main components of the Turmeric rhizome (Curcuma longa), which has numerous therapeutic properties, including anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties with beneficial effects on cardiovascular and neurological diseases. However, its therapeutic potential is limited by its low bioavailability and poor pharmacokinetic profile. The aim of the PhD project is to investigate the effects of curcumin, and its synthetic structural analogues, on platelet activation. Platelet adhesion to thrombogenic matrices, phosphorylation of selected kinases, platelet aggregation, granule secretion, ROS production will be analysed. Cell biology, SDS-PAGE, Western Blotting, Immunoblotting, light transmission aggregometry, flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry, microscopy, ELISA and cell culture techniques will be used.