BIO
Following a PhD working at the University of Piemonte Orientale in Novara, Italy under the mentorship of Andrea Graziani, I did my postdoctoral training in Belgium in the lab of Pierre Sonveaux (UCLouvain), to work on tumor metabolism and cancer progression. There, I contributed to define the role of mitochondrial metabolism in driving metastasis and supporting metabolic symbiosis in cancer cells. In 2016, I moved back to Italy funded by the Rita Levi-Montalcini program for young researchers to start my own laboratory at the Molecular Biotechnology Center (MBC), University of Torino.
RESEARCH
Cachexia is a tremendous syndrome characterized by the unstoppable weight loss, a complication occurring in at least 90% of pancreatic cancer patients. Nevertheless, our knowledge concerning cachexia is still rather limited. For this reason, my laboratory is currently focused on the development of novel models, both in vivo and in vitro, to study body weight loss and muscle atrophy in cancer.
In particular, I am interested in the role of metabolic dysregulations as drive of skeletal muscle wasting and how muscle loss, which encompasses 50% of total lean mass, might support tumor growth.
Tumors are highly energy demanding to support survival and growth in a harsh environment. Hence, they promote nutrient mobilization from the body to support their increased metabolic demand. Ultimately promoting systemic wasting and cachexia. In particular, we are working on the metabolic competitions occurring between skeletal muscle and growing tumor with the aim of breaking the vicious circle which leads to skeletal muscle wasting and tumor growth.
HOBBIES / EXTRAS
I love to cook and bake, I love cooking and baking a lot, maybe because doing science is just like cooking. I like to try out new recipes at home, it’s a great challenge and it’s good fun. I like growing carnivorous plants, I have always been fascinated by something with a little twist. I am also a huge fan of Star Wars saga and of Master Yoda. “Do or do not. There is no try”.