Group Members


Research Topics

Antonella Carella

Postdoctoral Fellow

Ph.D. in Biomedicine and Molecular Oncology, University of Oviedo, Spain
M.Sc. in Medical Biotechnology and Molecular Medicine, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Italy
Phone: +39 0116709540
E-mail: antonellacarella@gmail.com

My project focuses on ...

The focus of my research is to study magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to measure tumor acidosis in glioblastoma, tracking spatial heterogeneity and spatial evolution. I am also interested in using molecular biology techniques to study RNA, DNA and proton pumps for monitoring tumor response to treatments and improving tumor diagnosis.


Research Topics

Feriel Romdhane

Postdoctoral Fellow

Ph.D. in Sciences and Technologies of Engineering, University of Tunisi, Tunisia
M.Sc. in Automatic, University of Tunisi
Phone: +39 0116706499
E-mail: ferielromdhane@yahoo.fr

The focus of my research is ...

The focus of my research is developing of magnetic resonance imaging sequences for the in vivo characterization of tumor acidosis. The main goal consists in the development of preclinical MRI scanner sequences to evaluate the acidification of the tumor microenvironment and in the development of new image analysis approaches to increase the accuracy of the tumor pH measurement.


Research Topics

Alessia Corrado

PhD Student

M.Sc. in Medical Biotechnology, University of Torino, Italy
Phone: +39 0116709540
E-mail: alessiacorrado2@gmail.com

My project focuses on ...

The aim of my project is to characterize tumor microenvironment in murine models of breast cancer using MRI techniques. Specifically, the project focuses on the evaluation of tumor acidity, vascularization and hypoxia by using non-invasive in vivo molecular imaging techniques as CEST-MRI, dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MRI and Oxygen-enhanced (OE) MRI.


Research Topics

Kranthi Thej Kandula

Research Fellow

M.Sc. in Computer Science, University of Rome La Sapienza, Italy
Phone: +39 0116706499
E-mail: kranthi.kandula@unito.it

My project focuses on ...

My project focuses on implementing new tools within the XNAT platform for making medical image datasets findabale and searchable.


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Elisa Pirotta

Research Fellow

M.Sc. in Molecular Biotechnology, University of Torino, Italy
Phone: +39 0116706499
E-mail: elisa.pirotta@unito.it

My project focuses on ...

My project focuses on investigating the role of proton transporters in the extracellular tumor acidification by exploiting novel imaging-based approaches.


Research Topics

Riccardo Gambino

Research Fellow

M.Sc. in Biomedical Engineering, Politechnic of Torino, Italy
Phone: +39 0116706499
E-mail: riccardo.gambino@unito.it

My project focuses on ...

My project focuses on the development of novel tools for uploading and processing medical image datasets for the XNAT platform.


Research Topics

Lab Alumni

  • Deborah Ambrosecchia, MSc student in Molecular Biotechnologies
  • Giulia Caranta, MSc student in Molecular Biotechnologies
  • Elena Botto, MSc student in Industrial Biotechnologies

Master Thesis Opportunities

We are offering master thesis for students registered with the Faculty of Biotechnology, Pharmacy, Physics, Bioengineering.
A Master thesis (duration: at least 6 months) consists of a small scientific project, under the supervision of a PhD student or of a post-doc in the fields of cancer biology - pharmaceutics - in vivo imaging - image processing.

Former Members

    Daisy Villano

    Now: Application Specialist at Olea Medical

    M.Sc. in Biomedical Engineering, University of Naples Federico II, Italy
    Phone: +39 0116706499
    E-mail: daisy.villano@unito.it

    My project focuses on ...

    My project focuses on the development of novel image-processing tools (mainly based on Matlab) for the analysis of 3D CEST MRI images and their representation. My research includes the development and the optimization of MRI acquisition sequences.


    Research Topics

    Annasofia Anemone

    Now: Clinical Trial Assistant at IQVIA

    Ph.D. in Biomolecular Sciences, University of Torino
    M.Sc. in Biotechnology, University of Torino
    Phone: +39 0116706476
    E-mail: annasofiaantonia.anemone@unito.it

    My project focuses on ...

    My project focuses on exploiting MRI-CEST pH imaging as a non-invasive in vivo molecular imaging techniques to investigate tumor acidosis in murine tumor models. I am also interested in using this novel technique for assessing treatment response to inhibitors of cancer metabolism and to drugs targeting proton pumps.


    Research Topics

    Sara Zullino

    Now: project Manager at EATRIS

    Ph.D. in Complex Systems for Life Sciences, University of Torino
    M.Sc. in Biomedical Engineering, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
    Phone: +39 0116706485
    E-mail: sara.zullino@unito.it

    My research aims at ...

    My research aims at building novel Matlab and Python based tools for processing preclinical MRI images, in particular devoted to exploit MRI-CEST (Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer) methods for investigating tumor acidosis. I am also involved in developing a customizable workflow engine for archiving, sharing, and processing medical images for preclinical imaging facilities through the integration of an open source imaging informatics platform with customized tools for automated image processing.


    Research Topics

    Martina Capozza

    Now: Postdoctoral Fellow at Molecular Imaging Center, University of Torino

    Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical and Biomolecular Science, University of Torino, Italy M.Sc. in Biotechnology, University of Torino, Italy
    Phone: +39 0125561876
    E-mail: martina.capozza@unito.it


    Research Topics

    Pietro Irrera

    Now: Postdoctoral Fellow at Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, USA

    Ph.D. in Biomolecular Sciences, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Italy
    M.Sc. in Biotechnology, University of Torino, Italy
    Phone: +39 0116706485
    E-mail: pietro.irrera@unicampania.it


    Research Topics

    Chetan Dhakan

    Now: Postdoctoral Fellow at MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA

    Ph.D. in Biomolecular Sciences, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Italy
    M.Sc. in Pharmacology & Toxicology, Gujarat University, India
    Phone: +39 0116706499
    E-mail: mailto:chetan.dhakan@ibb.cnr.it


    Research Topics

    Lorena Consolino

    Now: Postdoctoral Fellow at Institute for Experimental Molecular Imaging, RWTH Aachen Universty, Aachen, Germany

    Ph.D. in Molecular Bioscience, University of Torino
    M.Sc. in Biotechnology, University of Torino


    Research Topics

    Amerigo Pagoto

    Sadly passed away in August 2019
    Postdoctoral Fellow

    Ph.D. in Molecular Bioscience, University of Torino
    M.Sc. in Biotechnology, University of Torino


    Research Topics

    Alessandro Paglialonga

    Graduate Student

    M.Sc. in Computer Science and Engineering, Politecnico di Milano, Italy

Bhavna Rani

Now: Postdoctoral Fellow at Uppsala University, Sweden

Ph.D. in Surgical Experimental Sciences and Cellular Therapies, University of Bari "Aldo Moro" (under Marie Curie ITN program)
M.Sc. in Oncology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands


Research Topics

Former Lab Alumni

Name Year Graduation Current Position
Noemi Salmistraro 2020 MSc in Molecular Biotechnologies Research Fellow at IBFM-CNR, Milano
Martina Maltone 2020 MSc in Molecular Biotechnologies Research Fellow at Mario Negri Institute, Milano
Vittoria Ventura 2020 MSc in Pharmaceutical Sciences MBA student
Miriam Roberto 2020 MSc in Pharmaceutical Sciences Internship at Bracco Imaging
Valeria Proietti Dante 2019 MSc in Computer Science PhD student in Computer Science
James Cimino 2018 MSc in Molecular Biotechnologies Regulatory & Product Marketing Specialist at TECNOSS S.R.L.
Martina Bracesco 2018 MSc in Molecular Biotechnologies Employee at Bio Vit srl
Alice Antonello 2018 BSc in Molecular Biotechnologies MSc at University of Trento
Valentina Di Natale 2017 MSc in Molecular Biotechnologies PhD student at University of Torino
Chiara Callari 2016 MSc in Molecular Biotechnologies Employee at ASL Vercelli
Riccardo Abategiovanni 2014 MSc in Molecular Biotechnologies General Manager at Sotto Sotto LTD
Filippo Michelotti 2013 MSc in Molecular Biotechnologies Research Scientist at Deutsches Diabets Zentrum, Dusseldorf
Chiara Pro 2011 MSc in Molecular Biotechnologies
Alice Busato 2011 MSc in Molecular Biotechnologies Research Fellow at University of Verona