Assoc. Prof. Dr. Luana Fioriti | Pharmacology | Best Researcher Award

Laboratory Director at Istiuto di Riceerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri | Italy

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Luana Fioriti is a distinguished neuroscientist recognized for her groundbreaking research on prion-like proteins, synaptic plasticity, and neurodegenerative disorders. She has served in leading roles at Columbia University and the “Mario Negri” Institute in Milan, where she heads her laboratory in the Department of Neuroscience. With extensive expertise in protein aggregation, memory mechanisms, and disease-related pathways, Dr. Fioriti has contributed significantly to advancing knowledge in molecular neuroscience. Her pioneering work has been published in leading scientific journals and supported by prestigious awards and fellowships. She continues to drive innovation in translational neurobiology research.

Publication Profile 

Orcid

Education 

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Luana Fioriti earned her PhD in Neuroscience at the Mario Negri Institute and Open University, Italy, where she investigated abnormal forms of prion proteins in inherited prion diseases. She completed a Master’s in Biotechnological Applications at the University of Milan with summa cum laude honors, and a degree in Biological Sciences, majoring in Molecular Biology, also with summa cum laude, from the same university. Early in her career, she trained at the Mario Negri Institute’s Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disorders, under Dr. Gianluigi Forloni, where she developed her expertise in prion biology, neurotoxicity, and mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative diseases.

Experience 

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Luana Fioriti has held prominent academic and research positions in both Italy and the United States. She currently serves as Head of Laboratory at the Department of Neuroscience, Mario Negri Institute, Milan, and Adjunct Associate Research Scientist at Columbia University. She has conducted extensive work in the laboratories of Nobel Laureate Eric Kandel and Dr. Ottavio Arancio at Columbia. Previously, she was an Associate Research Scientist at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Her career reflects a consistent focus on molecular neuroscience, protein biology, and translational approaches to neurodegenerative disorders, combining leadership, mentorship, and cross-institutional scientific collaboration.

Awards and Honors 

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Luana Fioriti has been recognized with numerous fellowships and awards for her contributions to neuroscience. Early in her career, she received fellowships from the University of Milan, the Italian Institute for University Study, and the Mario Negri Institute. She was awarded a scholarship to present at the World Alzheimer Congress and fellowships from Fondazione Monzino and the Italian Academy for Advanced Studies at Columbia University. She earned the Columbia Mentorship Award, the Telethon Career Development Award, and the AIMS Award for identifying SARS-CoV-2 protein inhibitors. These honors highlight her outstanding research leadership and impact in neurobiology.

Research Focus 

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Luana Fioriti research focuses on the molecular mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases and memory persistence, with a particular emphasis on prion-like proteins, SUMOylation, ubiquitination, and tau pathology. Her work explores how protein aggregation and regulation influence synaptic plasticity and memory storage, contributing to both normal physiology and disease pathology. She has advanced understanding of prion biology, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and traumatic brain injury. Through translational neuroscience, she investigates SUMO mimetics and small molecules as therapeutic candidates for dementia and other neurodegenerative disorders. Her research integrates cell models, animal systems, and cutting-edge molecular approaches to identify potential drug targets.

Publication Top Notes

Coiled-Coil Structures Mediate the Intercellular Propagation of Huntingtin

SARS-CoV-2 Nucleocapsid Protein Induces Tau Pathological Changes That Can Be Counteracted by SUMO2

Structure of a reversible amyloid fibril formed by the CPEB3 prion-like domain reveals a core sequence involved in translational regulation

A Combined Cell-Worm Approach to Search for Compounds Counteracting the Toxicity of Tau Oligomers In Vivo

Liquid-Liquid Phase Separation in Physiology and Pathophysiology of the Nervous System

Ubiquitination and SUMOylation of amyloid and amyloid-like proteins in health and disease

Neuronal Localization of SENP Proteins with Super Resolution Microscopy

CPEB3 inhibits translation of mRNA targets by localizing them to P bodies

Roles for small noncoding RNAs in silencing of retrotransposons in the mammalian brain

SUMOylation Is an Inhibitory Constraint that Regulates the Prion-like Aggregation and Activity of CPEB3

The Persistence of Hippocampal-Based Memory Requires Protein Synthesis Mediated by the Prion-like Protein CPEB3

Conclusion

Based on her extensive and innovative contributions in neuroscience, neurodegenerative disorders, and translational molecular biology, Dr. Luana Fioriti is an excellent candidate for the Best Researcher Award. Her ability to integrate fundamental discoveries with therapeutic implications, coupled with her international recognition, patents, and leadership in cutting-edge research, make her highly deserving of this honor. With continued expansion of her global visibility and interdisciplinary collaborations, she is poised to make even greater contributions to the scientific community and global health.