Center of Molecular and Genetic Epidemiology, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy

My research focuses on identifying molecular and biological factors reflecting the impact of environmental exposures on human health, with particular interest in epigenetics.

Over the past few years, I have initiated and established a research program of Environmental Epigenetics at the Center of Molecular and Genetic Epidemiology at Milan University, Italy. Unlike genetic mutations, which represent rare events with permanent consequences on genes, epigenetic changes are reversible and responsive to environmental influences. Using a highly quantitative Pyrosequencing-based approach for DNA methylation analysis, I have conducted several research investigations examining the associations of epigenetic changes with a variety of environmental pollutants, including particulate air pollution, airborne benzene, metals, pesticides, dioxin-like compounds, and persistent organic pollutants, which are known to be relevant to disease causation.

To complement my epigenetics research, I have conducted investigations to identify the evidence of epigenetic changes at the gene expression level by evaluating mRNA transcripts that are related to environmentally responsive pathways. Since most environmental pollutants cause oxidative stress, I have recently expanded my research to quantitatively measure oxidative stress-related biomarkers such as telomere length and mitochondrial mass in relation to environmental exposures, as well as their joint effects on disease outcomes. I have also been investigating genetic polymorphisms in genes that are critical to the metabolism of environmental pollutants, oxidative stress, and DNA repair to identify sub-populations who have a genetic susceptibility to disease when exposed to specific environmental exposures.

I have investigated a wide spectrum of environmental pollutants that produce various adverse effects on human health. My particular interest is in the effects of air pollution on cardiovascular diseases. Specifically, I have been investigating the epigenetic effects of particulate matter on the cardiac health of an aging cohort in Eastern Massachusetts, the Normative Aging Study cohort, in foundry workers in Italy, as well as in other populations.

1995 - M.D., University of Perugia, Italy
2003 - Ph.D., University of Milan, Italy
2000-2004 Post-Doctoral Fellowship, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD