Patrizia Casaccia

Patrizia Casaccia is the Einstein Professor of Biology and Biochemistry at The Graduate Center, CUNY, and Director of the Neuroscience Initiative. She holds an affiliation as Co-director of the joint CUNY-Mount Sinai Glial Center. Her research focuses on epigenetic regulation in glial cells, environmental influences on white matter, and gut-brain interactions in neurodegenerative disorders like multiple sclerosis (MS).

Dr. Casaccia holds a medical degree from the University of Rome and a Ph.D. in Neurobiology from SUNY Health Science Center Brooklyn. She has trained numerous students and postdoctoral fellows, recognized through multiple Teaching and Research Awards. Her work is funded by grants from the NIH, Department of Defense, and National MS Society.

Her lab employs advanced techniques such as single-cell isolation, robotic technologies, and omics approaches to study myelin formation, neurodegeneration, and microbiome effects. Recent articles highlight epigenetic mechanisms in oligodendrocyte differentiation, ceramide-mediated neuroprotection, and novel MS therapeutics.

Key awards include peer-recognized teaching excellence and research contributions. She mentors junior faculty and leads translational research in MS, bridging basic science and clinical applications.