Angelique di Domenico

Angelique di Domenico is an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurology at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), affiliated with the Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases (IND). She holds a PhD in Biomedicine from the University of Barcelona and conducted postdoctoral research at NYSCF. Her research focuses on glial contributions to neurodegeneration, particularly astrocyte roles in Parkinson's disease and tau prionopathies. She investigates pathogenic mechanisms using iPSC-derived models, 3D organoids, and advanced cell imaging techniques.

Education:

• PhD in Biomedicine, University of Barcelona (2017)
• MSc in Neuroscience (Neurodegeneration specialization), King's College London (2012)
• BSc in Psychology, Goldsmith's University of London (2010)
• UCSF Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Champion Training (2022)

Research Interests: Astrocyte biology in neurodegeneration, iPSC disease modeling, Parkinson's pathogenesis, tau prionopathy, glial-neuronal interactions, and neuroinflammation mechanisms. Her work combines stem cell biology, cell culture models, and automated image analysis to understand non-cell-autonomous neurodegeneration pathways.

Publications: Her research demonstrates astrocyte-driven neurotoxicity in Parkinson's (e.g., 2019 Stem Cell Reports paper), identifies novel astrocyte markers (2020 Neuron), and explores tau pathology mechanisms (2018 Molecular Neurobiology). Recent work (2024 JCI Insights) highlights IL-6 signaling as a therapeutic target in astrocyte-induced degeneration.

Awards:

• City of Barcelona Award in Life Sciences (2020) for breakthroughs in Parkinson's research

Lab & Collaborations: Works under Nobel laureate Stanley Prusiner at the IND, focusing on tau prion biology. Collaborates with institutions globally (NYSCF, University of Barcelona) on iPSC models and glial mechanisms. Active in DEI initiatives through UCSF training programs.