Eleonora Palagano

Eleonora Palagano is a Tenured Scientist (Research III level) at the National Research Council of Italy's Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources (IBBR) in Florence, where she has been working since 2019. Her research spans the interdisciplinary fields of bone biology and the application of plant-derived compounds for conservation purposes.

Dr. Palagano earned her PhD in experimental medicine and medical biotechnology from the University of Milan (2015-2018), following a Master's degree in Pharmacology and Medical Biotechnology from the University of Florence (2010-2012) with 110/110 cum laude, which included experimental thesis work at Trinity College, Dublin. She also holds a Degree in Medical Biotechnology from the University of Florence (2007-2010) with 110/110 cum laude, and qualified as a Professional Biologist from the University of Florence in 2019.

Her research interests have evolved from a primary focus on bone biology and genetic skeletal disorders to include the application of essential oils and plant compounds for paper conservation and food preservation. Early in her career, she made significant contributions to identifying genetic mutations in rare skeletal diseases like osteopetrosis and acrofrontofacionasal dysostosis. More recently, her work has expanded into analyzing wild thyme chemotypes, developing cocrystals of essential oil components, and investigating the antifungal properties of plant compounds for cultural heritage preservation.

Analysis of her publication trends reveals a strategic shift from purely medical genetics toward interdisciplinary applications. While her earlier work (2015-2020) focused almost exclusively on bone disorders and genetic skeletal diseases, her recent publications (2021-2025) demonstrate a growing emphasis on conservation science, with approximately 40% of her recent work dedicated to essential oils and plant compounds for paper and food preservation.

• 44th ECTS CONGRESS NEW INVESTIGATOR AWARD, Salzburg, Austria (2017)
• Travel Award 7th Osteoimmunology Conference, Crete, Greece (2018)
• ECTS Travel Award, Budapest, Hungary (2019)

Dr. Palagano's technical expertise spans multiple disciplines: in biochemistry (immunoblotting, immunoprecipitation, mass spectrometry); molecular biology (site direct mutagenesis, PCR, molecular cloning); and cell biology (cell culture, immunofluorescence, osteoclast differentiation). Her laboratory work bridges medical genetics and conservation science, collaborating with multiple institutions across Italy including various divisions of the National Research Council. She is fluent in Italian (mother tongue) and has good spoken and written English skills, facilitating international collaborations.