Marco Mainardi

Marco Mainardi is an Associate Professor of Physiology at the University of Padua, a position he assumed in 2023 after serving as a senior investigator at the Neuroscience Institute of the National Research Council and as an assistant professor at Scuola Normale Superiore.

His educational background includes:

• Master’s degree in Molecular Biology, University of Pisa (2006)
• Honors degree in Biology, Scuola Normale Superiore
• PhD in Neuroscience, Scuola Normale Superiore (2010)

Dr. Mainardi's research centers on synaptic plasticity and its dysregulation in neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental disorders, with a particular emphasis on Alzheimer's disease and neuroinflammation. He employs a comprehensive toolkit including genetically encoded reporters, electrophysiology, neuroimaging, and behavioral assays to elucidate how synapses adapt to physiological and pathological challenges.

His work is supported by funding from the Ministry of University and Research and the Italian Association for Research on Alzheimer’s (AirAlzh). Although specific advising roles are not detailed, his career path indicates extensive mentorship of graduate students and postdoctoral fellows.

At the University of Padua, Mainardi leads a dynamic research team that investigates synaptic mechanisms in health and disease, aiming to identify novel therapeutic targets for neurological conditions.