Valeria Marigo

Professor Valeria Marigo serves as Full Professor of Molecular Biology and Head of the Bachelor School of Biotechnology at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia's Department of Life Sciences. Featured as Visionary of the Quarter in Q4-2021 by vision-research.eu, she leads pioneering research on inherited retinal degeneration (IRD) including retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA).

Her laboratory investigates molecular pathways in photoreceptor degeneration, with dual focus on cGMP signaling mechanisms and calcium regulation via pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF). Marigo's team identified a cGMP analogue with neuroprotective properties that reduces photoreceptor death in murine models, and demonstrated PEDF's mechanism of action in decreasing intracellular calcium levels through calcium pump regulation. She emphasizes developing therapies targeting common molecular denominators rather than gene-specific approaches to address IRD's genetic heterogeneity.

Marigo leads EU-funded collaborative projects developing biotechnological delivery systems for sustained therapeutic effect, working with clinicians to translate laboratory findings into clinical applications. Her research recognizes the slow progression of retinal neurodegeneration as a critical window for neuroprotective intervention, offering potential treatments for broader patient populations beyond current gene therapy limitations.