CORSO DI DOTTORATO
Neuroscience
Rome
- Analysis of the phenomena of neuronal plasticity underlying the mechanisms of maturation, aging and learning of the CNS and functional recovery following various lesional insults.
- Use of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and direct current magnetic stimulation (tDCS), magnetoencephalography (MEG), high-definition electroencephalography (HD-EEG), functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), transcranial doppler (TCD) and near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) for the evaluation of the reorganization of brain areas and changes in cortical excitability following CNS lesions and pathological affective states.
- Analysis of "dynamic connectivity" for the main nervous functions and mechanisms of neuronal plasticity and learning in physiological conditions and during recovery following injury. Similarly, these parameters are explored as a function of the physiological and pathological aging phenomena of the CNS.
- Study of gene expression programs that drive central nervous system development and their alteration in cognitive pathologies such as autism spectrum syndrome (ASD).
- Ultrasound study of cerebral circulation and the role of vascular prognostic markers in the definition of functional recovery following stroke.
- Functional neuroimaging (SPECT and/or PET) in Parkinson's disease treated with deep brain stimulation (DBS): effects on perfusion and/or cerebral glucose metabolism. Pre- and post-surgical correlation of functional parameters with clinical, cognitive and behavioral assessments.
- Presynaptic dopaminergic imaging (SPECT and/or PET) in Parkinson's disease: combined striatal binding approach with biological markers in the prediction of cognitive decline.
- Presynaptic dopaminergic imaging and brain glucose metabolism in atypical parkinsonisms: functional correlates of motor, cognitive and neuropsychiatric disorders.
- SPECT study of the dopaminergic system in substance and behavioral addictions.
- PET imaging of amyloid plaques and brain glucose metabolism in Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI): predictive role in conversion to Alzheimer's disease.
- Neuroplasticity: implications for the biology of metals and the biological effect of electromagnetic waves.
- Neurophysiological analysis of prognostic factors for patient outcome and the "personalization" of their rehabilitation treatment including robotic methods (and immersive virtual reality (MIT-MANUS, ALLADIN platform).
- Study of the molecular mechanisms responsible for synaptic deficits in experimental models of neurodegenerative diseases.
- Regulation of neural stem cell differentiation and endogenous neurogenesis as a potential mechanism of repair from acute and chronic damage of the central nervous system.
- Effect of Electrical Stimulation and Electromagnetic Fields on Synaptic Plasticity
- Characterization of new pathogenetic mechanisms and new genes of mitochondrial and metabolic diseases, muscular dystrophies and genetic neuropathies
- Characterization and validation of clinical, biochemical and instrumental biomarkers in mitochondrial diseases and definition of specific biomolecular and metabolic profiles
- Phenotyping of rare genetic diseases (mitochondrial diseases, "Limb Girdle" Muscular Dystrophies) according to new methods and standardized languages with software shared at national and European level (Pheno Tips, HPO codes)
- Study of clinical phenotypes of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: correlation with genetic risk factors
- Research in the field of oncology on morpho-pathophysiological aspects of microglial cells and evaluation of cellular interactions in human models of GBM and medulloblastoma.
- Toxicant-induced experimental model of predominantly hippocampal neurodegeneration accompanied by cognitive disorders (The model is used to study neurodegenerative, neuroprotective and neuroreparative processes, and can be usefully used to test drug activity. The model is used both in laboratory animals and in cell cultures).
- Study of the mechanisms of neuroplasticity and functional recovery in patients undergoing cervical spinal cord decompression surgery for degenerative, traumatic, neoplastic or infectious pathology.
- Research in the ultrasonographic field on ultrasound morphological aspects of the nerve in peripheral neurological pathologies with particular attention to the prognostic concept and therapeutic responsiveness of the nerve in the different phases of traumatic or immunorelated damage (ultrasoundly detectable) and on morpho-functional correlations (for the possible development of outcome measures and new "combo" technologies such as "echo/myograph").
- Pain studies and implications in the therapeutic/rehabilitation field (through LEP and QST).
- Psychopathological disorders (affective, obsessive-compulsive and impulsive spectrum) and integrated biological treatments (pharmacological, physical, psychological).
- Neurophysiology of bidirectional control via intraneural electrodes of the artificial arm/hand complex.
- Studies on responses to various sensory and multisensory stimuli (agreements are in place or in the process of being defined with MAXXI, Galleria Nazionale Arte Moderna, Parco della Musica/Musica per Roma, Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica, Istituto di Filosofia Tor Vergata, etc.) to verify their responses and responses to the brain and the autonomic nervous system both in healthy subjects and in patients with altered state of consciousness.
- Study of the neuropsychological models underlying cognitive functioning in the patient suffering from diffuse or focal neurological pathology with various etiologies (degenerative, vascular, tumor, infectious) on the basis of cognitive modeling and the assumptions of experimental neuropsychology
- Anatomical functional correlation of cognitive processes through the use of structural and functional neuroimaging systems
- Analysis of correlations between cognitive-behavioral processes and specific biological markers, genetic polymorphisms and allelic mutations.
- Neuropsychological and related neurofunctional mechanisms underlying the mechanisms of post-injury cognitive function recovery.
- Study of the molecular mechanisms of regulation of fetal and adult neurogenesis both in physiological conditions and in neurodegenerative diseases.
- Study of neuroprotection mechanisms in in vivo and in vitro experimental models of neurodegenerative diseases. These animal models, genetically modified and not, are used to study neurodegenerative, neuroprotective and neuroreparative processes and can be used to test the activity of drugs.
- Characterization of neural stem cell populations and their aberrations in central nervous system neoplasms.
- Analysis of the processing of coding and non-coding RNAs during brain development and in neurodegenerative and cognitive diseases.
- Study of the molecular mechanisms responsible for synaptic deficits in experimental models of Alzheimer's disease. Identification of early predictive biomarkers.
- Role of glial cells in the regulation of synaptic function in physiological conditions and in experimental models of Alzheimer's disease.
- Role of infectious agents in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases.
- Role of metabolic signals in brain plasticity.
- Engineering of proteins for the control, in vivo, of synaptic function.
- Analysis of the regulation of RNA metabolism involved in synaptic plasticity.
- Neuroinflammation and its involvement in neurodegenerative phenomena (in vitro models - primary cultures of microglia or rat astrocytes, immortalized lines - and in vivo - EAE - in which the activation patterns of the innate inflammatory response are studied and, on these, pharmacological tools of interest).
- Neuropeptides involved in the stress and pain response (in vitro models - acute explants of the hippocampus, hypothalamus and brainstem of rats, synaptosomes - and in vivo - restrain stress, Von Frey- models in which it is possible to study the in vitro correlates of the response to stressors, as well as the signaling of pain pathways and their pharmacological modulation).
- Study of the biomolecular events associated with the events of receptor cell damage in the inner ear following the noxious stimuli of acoustic trauma and exposure to ototoxic substances in the laboratory animal.
- Study of pharmacoprotection events associated with the use of antioxidants in the treatment of inner ear damage following acoustic trauma and exposure to ototoxic substances in laboratory animals.
- Analysis of physiological and clinical events associated with neural plasticity following auditory rehabilitation in profoundly deaf people with cochlear implantation by verification of activation responses of implanted electrodes and association with evaluation of verbal comprehension and language development tests.
- Analysis of biomedical signals (acoustic nerve action potential, voice-pitch frequency characteristics, quality of life assessment).
- Use of electrical stimulation of the promontory in the evaluation of cochlear implant function.
- Evaluation of the relationship between activation of activated electrodes in the cochlear implant and listening to music: creation of a new music training software (PC discrimination, melody recognition, instrumental song recognition).
- Evaluation of the relationship between activation of activated electrodes in the cochlear implant and telephone communication.
- Stem cells and regeneration of cochlear receptors for the treatment of deafness.
- Stem cells and bone tissue cell regeneration for the therapy of bone defects of the facial massif.
- Stem cells and cells originating from squamous carcinoma of the head and neck.
- Stem cells and adipose tissue grafting in the tissue defects of the facial massif.
- Application of universal newborn hearing screening (otoacoustic emissions and ABR) in the prevention and planning of rehabilitation of profound deafness.
- Genetic analysis of deafness (connexin 26) in familial hearing loss.
- Diagnostic and prognostic role of recording vestibulospinal evoked potentials (VEMPs).
- Study of biomedical phenomena associated with language development. In neonatal and early childhood of profoundly deaf people undergoing rehabilitation with cochlear implants, events indicative of neural plasticity and neural maturation are sought by studying neural depolarization (Nerve-responses-Threshold) and measuring the impedance of cochlear electrodes.
- Study of the ion-electrical interface between acoustic nerve neuron and cochlear electrode.
- Analysis of the genetic epidemiology of head and neck cancers.
- Evaluation of biological markers of predictivity and prognosis in head and neck cancer.
- New therapeutic strategies in the treatment of head and neck cancers.
- Development of new drugs or use of off-label drugs in the treatment of disabling syndromic conditions.
- Neuro-cognitive profiles in children with complex disabling pathology (brain neoplasms, congenital syndromes, brain malformations).
- Characterization of new genes responsible for syndromic conditions and delineation of the pathogenetic mechanism.
- Study of the impact of paediatric diseases on disability
- Analysis of basal metabolic rate in children with different forms of disability, by means of calorimetric study, food intake and energy expenditure
- Analysis of the major neurogastroenterology problems such as: study of gastroenteric motility, analysis of the microbiota, detection of the incidence of GERD and its complications, in the various disabling conditions
- Assessment of sleep disturbances by questionnaires and polysomnography.
- Study on pain in children with psychomotor retardation by questionnaires and for specific cases threshold analysis by neurophysiological studies (LEP)
- Evaluation of bone metabolism
- Neonatal brain injury and central nervous system plasticity.
- West's syndromes and cognitive development.
- Development of Rating Scales for Neuromuscular Diseases
- Natural history studies aimed at identifying progression trajectories and early prognostic factors in neuromuscular diseases
- Characterization of genetic epileptic syndromes
- Cerebral visual impairment
- Molecular, electrophysiological, and behavioral biomarkers of cognitive decline in experimental models of Alzheimer's disease.
- Study of the mechanisms underlying the proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells and modulation of adult neurogenesis with physical stimuli.
- Mechanisms of regulation of neuronal excitability and synaptic plasticity.
- Role of ion channels in the physiology of nerve and glial cells, and in the pathogenesis of neuromuscular and neurodegenerative diseases.
- Study of the relationship between intracellular signaling and neuronal dynamics and morphodynamics by means of advanced fluorescence image analysis techniques.
- Characterization of the kinetics of formation of prefibrillary aggregates of proteins (β-amyloid, tau, α-synuclein, etc.) involved in neurodegenerative diseases.
- Study of the homeostasis of the various redox pairs within cells and their functional role;
- Effects of transcranial direct current electrical stimulation (tDCS) and electromagnetic fields on synaptic function.
- Role of neurotropic viral agents in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases.
