Emanuela Santini

Emanuela Santini is a Principal Researcher at the Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet since 2022, with a PhD in Neuroscience from Karolinska Institutet (2009). Her research focuses on autism spectrum disorders, Parkinson's disease, and signaling pathways like mTOR and eIF4E, often using mouse models to study synaptic plasticity, dopamine neurotransmission, and translational control.

• Employment: Principal Researcher, Karolinska Institutet (2022–present)
• Education: PhD in Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet (2009)

Her work examines the molecular basis of neurological conditions, particularly how dysregulated protein synthesis and signaling cascades contribute to autism and Parkinson's disease. She investigates mechanisms underlying Levodopa-induced dyskinesia, fear memory extinction, and synaptic dysfunction in genetic models.

The 15 most recent publications highlight her interest in autism spectrum disorders, striatal signaling, and translational control pathways. Key trends include mTOR hyperactivity in ASD models, dopamine-neuron maturation during critical periods, and autophagy's role in movement disorders. Grants from the Swedish Research Council (2023) and StratNeuro bridging grants (2022) support her research.

Collaborations with institutions like University of Coimbra and researchers such as Eric Klann and Gilberto Fisone demonstrate her academic network. She participates in neuroscience outreach and was acknowledged in a doctoral thesis defense (2025) as part of the academic community.