Rosalia Pellitteri

Accademic qualification: Researcher at National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation (IRIB). Degrees: 1980: High school Diploma 1985: Degree in Biological Sciences (110/110) at University of Catania (Italy) with thesis in Phisiology entitled:Functional and morphological study of trigeminal projections to the cerebellar nuclei. 1991: PhD in Physiology and Biochemistry at University of Catania with a thesis entlited: Functional neuroanatomy of neurons branching of pontine reticular nuclei. Training: 1988-1991: Ph.D program in Physiology and Biochemistry at University of Catania. 1990: Research activity at Institute of Neurobiology – NRC in Rome (Italy) to study cell culture techniques. 1991-1992: Research activity at Physiological Laboratory at Cambridge University (UK) to learn the technique of tissue culture of the nervous system. 1993-1994 PostDoc in Physiology and Biochemistry at University of Catania. 1995-1996 Grant NRC at Genoa University (Italy) where she studied the effect of Schwann cells on neurons in vitro. 1997-2003: Research activity at Department of Physiological Sciences of Catania University. 2004-today: researcher at National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation (IRIB). Scientific activity: research in neurobiology and neuroanatomy. 1) Functional neuroanatomy of direct and collateralized axonal projections within the CNS with administration of retrograde fluorescent substances, such as Fluoro Gold, Fast Blue, Dil; 2) Immunohisto and -cytochemical techniques; 3) Behavioral analysis; 4) Effect of trophic or growth factors on development and survival of CNS neurons in vitro; 5) Interaction between neurons and glial cells (Schwann cell and Olfactory Ensheathing cells); 6) Fluorescence and Confocal Microscopy. At the present she conducts the following lines of ongoing research: 1) Phenotypic characterization and protective effects of olfactory glial cells, Olfactory Ensheathing Cells (OECs); 2) Protective effect of phyto-molecules on olfactory glial cells (OECs) cultured in vitro exposed to cytotoxicity by beta-amyloid fragments; 3) Cyto-compatibility of polymer nano-particles and their uptake at the cellular level, for the intranasal transport of drugs used for the treatment of CNS pathologies (epilepsy). 4) Biocompatibility between silicon supports and stem cells (dental pulp cells and OECs) as a possible regenerative model in damaged areas of the Nervous System. 5) Differentiation of stem cells derived from human adipose tissue stimulated by conditioned media from glial cells (OECs and Schwann cells) towards neural phenotypes. Collaborations: -Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Physiology, University of Catania, (Italy). -Department of Drug and Health Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy -Dep. of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Catania (Italy). -Inst. Auxologico Italian-IRCCS of Milan (Italy). -Department of Pharmacy-Drug Sciences, University of Bari (Italy). -Department of Anatomía, Histología y Neurociencia, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, (Spain). She is member of the Italian Society for Neuroscience (SINS) and she is member of the board of directors of the Italian Group for the Study of Neuromorphology (GISN). 2007: Organization of XVII National Meeting of the Italian Group for the study of Neuromorphology (GISN). From 2009 to May 31, 2019, she was a member of the Council of the Institute. She has participated in several national and international congresses. She is reviewer for several international neuroscience journals. In addition, Dr. Pellitteri holds the position of expert on the subject in Integrative Physiology, Neurobiology (scientific-disciplinary sector Bio / 09) within the Degree Course in Health Biology. In the A.Y. 2010-2011 he had a teaching assignment of Neurobiology at the Faculty of Sciences, specialist degree course in Health Biology at the University of Catania. In the A.Y. 2015-2016 she was awarded a teaching in food and human nutrition at the Faculty of Sciences, specialist degree course in Health Biology of the University of Catania. She is co-supervisor of several degree thesis.