معرفی
Simona Lodato is an Associate Professor at Humanitas University and Group Leader of the Developmental Neurobiology Lab at Humanitas Research Center. Her research focuses on neurodevelopmental disorders, particularly the interplay between immune dysfunction and brain abnormalities in conditions like WHIM syndrome. She investigates the role of the CXCR4 gene in cerebellum development and immune system regulation using advanced techniques such as organoids, genomic analysis, and high-resolution imaging.
Dr. Lodato earned her Ph.D. from the European School of Molecular Medicine (SEMM) and the University of Naples Federico II, followed by postdoctoral work at Harvard University under Prof. Paola Arlotta. She has pioneered studies on corticospinal motor neuron identity and the assembly of functional neural circuits. Her work bridges molecular mechanisms with translational medicine, aiming to develop therapies for genetic disorders.
Key achievements include a multi-round grant from Fondazione Telethon to study WHIM syndrome and her role as an advisor to the Allen Brain Institute’s Next Generation Leader Council. Her research explores therapeutic strategies for spinal muscular atrophy, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, and ALS using organoid models and genetic interventions.
Dr. Lodato’s lab employs multidisciplinary approaches, integrating stem cell biology, epigenetics, and neuroimaging to uncover how genetic mutations impact brain and immune system development. Ongoing projects aim to translate these findings into clinical treatments for rare diseases.
