PhD, Pharmacology, The Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research

BS, University of Calabria

Our lab seeks to understand the role of the dopaminergic system in addiction and pathological disorders such as ADHD and Parkinson's disease. Chronic exposure to drugs of abuse causes several cellular and behavioral adaptations such as tolerance, sensitization and as well as long-term effects that can be transmitted to the offspring via epigenetic mechanisms. Our main goal is to understand the mechanism of action of drugs of abuse that ultimately generate addiction.

Currently I am teaching Science of Addiction. This is a course designed as an advanced course for undergraduate students and graduate students. Using addiction as a theme, we cover basic principles of pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, biochemistry, electrophysiology and genetics. Moreover, we discuss the psychological/social aspects of addiction.

In the spirit of “mens sana in corpore sano”, Latin for “a healthy mind in a healthy body”, I like to exercise and cook.