PhD Program in Molecular and Translational Medicine

Cycle XL (Academic Year 2024/25)

• Aqsa Anjum (Supervisor: Prof. Cristina Cocco) – Research topic: "Impact of a maternal high-fat diet during pregnancy on offspring neurological development"
• Thomas De Berardini (Supervisor: Prof. Luigi Atzori; Co-supervisor: Prof. Sebastiano Banni) – Research topic: "Variations in the metabolomic profile across different training modalities"
• Stefano Di Michele (Supervisor: Prof. Sebastiano Banni) – Research topic: "Metabolic flexibility as a therapeutic target in polycystic ovary syndrome: linking molecular mechanisms and nutritional strategies"
• Daniela Diana (Supervisor: Prof. Giorgia Sollai; Co-supervisor: Prof. Andrea Perra) – Research topic: "Physiological and genetic factors underlying interindividual variability in human olfactory function"
• Ornella Sassu (Supervisor: Prof. Paola Caria; Co-supervisor: Prof. Andrea Perra) – Research topic: "Mapping the molecular landscape of thyroid cancer through multi-omic integration"

Cycle XXXIX (Academic Year 2023/24)

• Monica Cabboi (Supervisor: Prof. Giancarta Carta) – Research topic: "Nutritional impact of gut-targeted supplementation on metabolic flexibility in healthy adults"
• Francesca Floris (Supervisor: Prof. Patrizia Zavattari) – Research topic: "Investigation of circulating microRNAs as therapeutic targets for controlling iron overload in transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia patients"
• Ilenia Iamundo De Cumis (Supervisor: Prof. Mario Scartozzi) – Research topic: "The role of molecular biomarkers as potential predictors of treatment response in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer undergoing chemoradiotherapy"
• Ylenia Lai (Supervisor: Prof. Maria Pina Serra) – Research topic: "The role of the pro-inflammatory environment and innervation in autologous tissue flaps following ischemia/reperfusion in reconstructive microsurgery"
• Micaela Rita Naitza (Supervisor: Prof. Alberto Cauli) – Research topic: "Molecular characterization of patients with refractory rheumatoid arthritis"
• Ali Qaisar (Supervisor: Prof. Fabian Feiguin) – Research topic: "Targets of TDP-43 (TBPH) regulation"

Cycle XXXVIII (Academic Year 2022/23)

• Eleonora Grecu (Supervisor: Prof. Daniela Murtas) – Research topic: "Assembly of patient-derived organoids for Alzheimer’s disease: a 3D integrated model to decode the complexity of human brain alterations associated with dementia"
• Francesco Lai (Supervisor: Prof. Andrea Perra) – Research topic: "Clinical and molecular characterization of inherited retinal degenerations (IRDs)"
• Antonio Luigi Manai (Supervisor: Prof. Cristina Cocco) – Research topic: "The role of VGF peptides as diagnostic plasma biomarkers for Parkinson’s disease"
• Stefano Mariani (Supervisor: Prof. Mario Scartozzi) – Research topic: "Possible mechanism of action of a methyltransferase inhibitor in cholangiocarcinoma"
• Alessia Mascia (Supervisor: Prof. Andrea Perra) – Research topic: "Evaluation of genetic variants in multiple myeloma to predict disease progression or remission"
• Angela Maria Mereu (Supervisor: Prof. Patrizia Zavattari) – Research topic: "Iron-erythropoiesis correlation: a flow cytometry analysis"
• Debraj Mukhopadhyay (Supervisor: Prof. Patrizia Zavattari) – Research topic: "Evaluation of the role of miRNAs as potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)"
• Mara Persano (Supervisor: Prof. Mario Scartozzi) – Research topic: "Prognostic/predictive factors in primary liver cancers"
• Giorgia Zedda (Supervisor: Prof. Andrea Perra) – Research topic: "Identification of new diagnostic and therapeutic molecular targets: in vivo and in vitro models of tumor and metabolic diseases"

PhD Program in Neuroscience

Cycle XL (Academic Year 2024/25)

• Carlo Maria Bellanca (Supervisor: Prof. Claudia Pisanu; Co-supervisors: Prof. Paola Fadda, Prof. Alessio Squassina) – Research topic: "Exploring the complex interaction between substance use disorders and neuropsychiatric conditions: could preventing drug-drug interactions and applying pharmacogenomic approaches lead to personalized medicine?"
• Camilla Coraddu (Supervisor: Prof. Miriam Melis; Co-supervisor: Dr. Anna Lisa Muntoni) – Research topic: "Role of the endocannabinoid system in the development of the mesolimbic dopaminergic system in rats"
• Giorgia Ferniani (Supervisor: Prof. Manolo Carta; Co-supervisor: Prof. Roberto Frau) – Research topic: "Disease-modifying therapies in a preclinical model of Parkinson’s disease based on alpha-synuclein overexpression"
• Elisa Meloni (Supervisor: Prof. Roberto Frau; Co-supervisor: Dr. Annalisa Savardi) – Research topic: "Evaluation of novel NKCC1 inhibitors for the treatment of ADHD and comorbid neuropsychiatric disorders"
• Ankit Siwach (Supervisor: Dr. Liana Fattore; Co-supervisor: Prof. Paola Fadda) – Research topic: "Effects of environmental pollutants on the brain and behavior: focus on micro- and nanoplastics"

Cycle XXXIX (Academic Year 2023/24)

• Khosro Aminzadeh (Supervisor: Prof. Annarosa Carta) – Research topic: "Targeting neuroinflammation and microglial modulation in neurodegeneration"
• Enrico Ginelli (Supervisor: Prof. Mirko Manchia) – Research topic: "Neurobiological and psychological biomarkers in psychiatric disorders"
• Daniele Pala (Supervisor: Prof. Marco Pistis) – Research topic: "Role of the endocannabinoid system in the response to anti-CGRP monoclonal antibody treatment in migraine disorders"
• Francesco Salis (Supervisor: Prof. Roberta Agabio; Co-supervisors: Prof. Antonella Mandas, Prof. Paola Fadda) – Research topic: "Pharmacological treatment of alcohol use disorder, gender medicine, and psychogeriatric evaluation in different aging models"

Cycle XXXVIII (Academic Year 2022/23)

• Jihane Balla (Supervisor: Prof. Paola Fadda; Co-supervisor: Dr. Simona Dedoni) – Research topic: "Exploring novel therapeutic strategies in neuroblastoma: synergistic effects of PPARα agonists and type I interferon"
• Martina Mulas (Supervisor: Prof. Monica Maria Francesca Puligheddu) – Research topic: "Cognitive impairment in sleep disorders and neurodegeneration"
• Lala Chaimae Naciri (Supervisor: Prof. Iole Tomassini Barbarossa; Co-supervisor: Prof. Melania Melis) – Research topic: "Artificial intelligence enables automatic definition of taste sensitivity: implications for clinical practice and chemosensory evaluations"
• Pasquale Paribello (Supervisor: Prof. Mirko Manchia) – Research topic: "Integration of clinical and biological signatures to support prognostic stratification of suicidal behavior in individuals with severe mental illness"

The abstracts of the research topics are provided in the following documents: