Rocca Maria Assunta

Rocca Maria Assunta is an Associate Professor of Neurology at Vita-Salute San Raffaele University and Head of the Neuroimaging of CNS White Matter Unit at IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute in Milano. Her research focuses on advancing MRI techniques to improve diagnosis and treatment of CNS white matter diseases, particularly multiple sclerosis (MS), vasculitis, and migraine. She has held leadership roles in neuroimaging initiatives such as MAGNIMS and chairs key scientific committees. With over 710 publications (Scopus H-index: 97), she also serves on editorial boards of journals like Neurology and Multiple Sclerosis Journal. Maria A. Rocca actively participates in clinical trials and has been recognized with prestigious awards including Top Italian Woman Scientist 2020 and the Rita Levi Montalcini Award.

• Education: Research Fellow at Klinikum Grosshadern (Munich, Germany, 1999-2000); prior grants from Università degli Studi di Milano (1997-1998).
• Research Interests: Structural/functional MRI development, neuroimaging biomarkers for disability progression, MS pathophysiology, and CNS white matter integrity.
• Grants & Funding: Leadership in national/international projects including ERA-NET NEURON and European MS Society grants.
• Labs/Teams: Directs the Neuroimaging of CNS White Matter Unit and coordinates the Neuroimaging Study Group of the Italian Neurological Society (SIN).

Her teaching roles include coordinating the International PhD Course in Molecular Medicine and serving on academic committees at Vita-Salute San Raffaele University.