Curriculum: Drug Sciences

Supervisor: Elio Acquas

Co-Supervisor: Valentina Bassareo, Laura Dazzi

Curriculum vitae

Roberta graduated with honors at the University of Cagliari, both in 2019 in Biological Sciences (EQF level 6; thesis title: “Measurement of Dopamine content in brain homogenates following the administration of nanoparticles: possible therapy for Parkinson’s”) and in 2021 in Neuropsychobiology (EQF level 7; thesis title: “Role of the mesocortical dopaminergic system in the cognitive symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis”).

Roberta carried out her internships in the laboratory of Microdialysis directed by Professor Laura Dazzi. She analyzed the functioning of the mesocortical dopaminergic system using animal models, in the study of Parkinson’s disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Addiction and behavioral disorders.

After her Master’s degree, she spent an Erasmus studentship at the Bernal Institute of University of Limerick (Ireland) where she learned to apply molecular biology techniques to study Autism prevention.

She is currently a PhD student of the Doctoral School of Life, Environmental and Drugs Sciences (Drugs Sciences CV) of the University of Cagliari under the supervision of Professors Elio Acquas, Valentina Bassareo and Laura Dazzi. Roberta’s PhD’s project and present research interests focus on the study of the neurobiology of alcohol addiction.

Research Topic

Study of the neurobiology of alcohol addiction

Abstract

Roberta Puliga's research project investigates the mechanism of alcohol action, focusing on its ability to stimulate dopaminergic transmission in the mesocorticolimbic system, originating from dopaminergic neurons in the Ventral Tegmental Area (VTA). The focus is on the role of salsolinol (SAL), a molecule generated in the VTA following the condensation of dopamine (DA) with acetaldehyde (ACD), an alcohol metabolite. Recent evidence suggests that SAL may be the key player in exciting mesencephalic dopaminergic neurons in the VTA.

The primary objective is to verify, using in vivo cerebral microdialysis on awake, freely moving rats, whether SAL formation occurs in the VTA after single or repeated alcohol administration, or following binge drinking protocols (voluntary intake). The study will also assess if this formation correlates with changes in DA levels in the nucleus accumbens shell (AcbSh) and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFCX). The research will utilize male and female Sardinian alcohol-preferring (sP), Sardinian alcohol-non preferring (sNP), and Sprague Dawley (SD) rats, to represent human population variability and explore gender differences in alcohol sensitivity.

The originality of this study lies in the in vivo verification of the SAL hypothesis and the use of a unique animal model like the sP rats. Expected outcomes aim to identify novel therapeutic targets for alcoholism (such as catalase and salsolinol-synthase) and to better understand the neurochemical and behavioral differences linked to administration type and sex, thereby providing a basis for future targeted therapies.

Publications

IRIS: https://iris.unica.it/cris/rp/rp69033

ORCID: https://iris.unica.it/cris/rp/0009-0001-3045-6274