Born in Palermo in 2000, after obtaining her high school diploma in 2019 at the “Vittorio Emanuele II” Classical High School in Palermo, she obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in Biotechnology in 2023 at the University of Palermo. In October 2025, she continued her studies, graduating in Medical Biotechnology and Molecular Medicine at the same university. Her thesis, titled “Development of nanovectors for the delivery of radiopharmaceuticals” was developed at the Bio-nanomaterials and Composites Laboratory, within the Department of Chemical Engineering of the University of Palermo. This work effectively combined biotechnological training with engineering innovation.

Since November 2025, she holds a PhD scholarship funded by the Sicilian Region within the field of “Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics” at the Bi.N.D. Department of the University of Palermo (XLI cycle). She carries out her research project at the Experimental Research Group on Lung Diseases of the Ri.MED Foundation, under the supervision of Dr. Chiara Cipollina and Prof. Conigliaro. The research takes place both at Ri.MED Foundation and at the Biology and Genetics Section of the Bi.N.D. Department, and is titled: “Role of Extracellular Vesicles (EVs) in the propagation of Pyroptosis and damage to distant organs following lung injury“.

The PhD project investigates the role of Extracellular Vesicles (EVs) – heterogeneous cell-derived structures acting as systemic messengers – in mediating inter-organ cross-talk and propagating damage to secondary sites, particularly during inflammatory states. Specifically, the function of EVs released under simulated pathological conditions (such as exposure to cigarette smoke extract or lipopolysaccharide) in the spread of pyroptosis will be analyzed, as well as the transport modalities of certain mediators, such as Gasdermins, to distal cells and tissues. The main objective of the project is to answer a question: do EVs derived from lung injury directly transfer the active mediators of pyroptosis, such as Gasdermins, or do they instead carry upstream molecules that trigger the activation of pyroptosis in the recipient cell?