PANINA PAOLA

Paola Panina is an Associate Professor of Applied Medical Sciences at the Faculty of Medicine, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan. She holds a Biology degree from the University of Parma (1983), a postgraduate specialization (1987), and a PhD in Biotechnology from the University of Brescia (1993). Her career includes roles at the Basel Institute for Immunology (1988–1991), CNRS-LGME INSERM (France), and Roche Milano Ricerche as a Senior Scientist. She co-founded Bioxell SpA in 2002, directing preclinical research for therapies targeting multiple sclerosis and lung inflammation. Currently, she leads the BRAVEinMS initiative, developing bioinformatics and cell reprogramming tools to discover drugs for progressive MS. Her lab focuses on neural stem cell transplantation, iPSC-derived neural progenitor cells, and their neuroprotective roles.

Education:

• Bachelor’s in Biology, University of Parma (1983)
• Postgraduate Specialization, University of Parma (1987)
• PhD in Biotechnology, University of Brescia (1993)

Research Interests: Her work bridges neuroimmunology, regenerative medicine, and cell therapy. Key areas include:
- Mechanisms of neural stem cell transplantation in MS
- Bioinformatics-driven drug discovery for neurodegenerative diseases
- Epigenetic dynamics in cell reprogramming
- Role of autophagy and the cannabinoid system in inflammation
- Zika virus impact on neural progenitor cells

Scientific Contributions: Over 98 publications span topics like 3D stem cell models for MS, heparin’s antiviral properties, and chromatin velocity analysis. Recent clinical trials include a phase 1 study of neural stem cell transplantation for progressive MS.

Awards:

• Royan International Research Award (2013)
• Fellowship Association pour la Recherre sur le cancer (1991)
• Fellowship from Istituto Superiore di Sanità (1991)

Leadership & Networks: Coordinates BRAVEinMS, a six-institute network for MS research, and serves as a Membro Commissione VQR and gender equity committee representative at the university. Her interdisciplinary teams collaborate across immunology, bioengineering, and computational biology.