Dr. Matteo Gastaldi MD, PhD
University of Pavia
– Pavia, Italy
Matteo Gastaldi was trained in neurology at the University of Pavia and Hospital Macchi foundation (Varese). He acquired his PhD at the University of Pavia under the supervision of his mentor Dr. Diego Franciotta. In this period, he spent 18 months at the John Radcliffe Hospital neuroimmunology laboratory (University of Oxford) under the supervision of Prof. Angela Vincent, where he developed a keen interest in the field of antibody mediated disorders of the central nervous system. In the following years he spent 3 months at the IDIBAPS Barcellona neuroimmunology laboratory under the supervision of Prof. Francesc Graus and Josep Dalmau, a leading laboratory for the detection of neuronal surface antibodies. Since 2020 he is the head of the neuroimmunology laboratory and Neuroimmunology research Unit at the IRCCS Mondino Foundation, a referral laboratory for the detection of neuroglial antibodies in Italy.
He is currently part of the board of the Italian Association of Neuroimmunology, where he coordinates a research group for the study of autoimmune neurology (NINA) that promotes network projects in this field. Within the same scientific society, with his former mentor Diego Franciotta, he helped coordinating the annual AINI external quality scheme, that promotes standardization among neuroimmunology laboratories across Italy.
His main research interest is the field of antibody mediated disorders of the nervous system including demyelinating disorders, myasthenia gravis and autoimmune encephalitis. The current research projects of the Mondino Neuroimmunology Laboratory include the standardization and evaluation of the immunoassays for neuronal antibody detection, the relevance of antibody-mediated myelin loss in Multiple Sclerosis, the prognostic and pathogenic role of MOG antibodies and the relevance of neuronal antibodies in the development of new onset psychosis.
Dr. Carlo Antozzi MD
IRCCS Neurological Institute Foundation C. Besta
– Milan, Italy
Dr. Luana Bendetti MD, PhD
Azienda Ospedaliera San Martino e Clinica Universitaria Convenzionata
– Genoa, Italy
Dr. Alvino Bisecco MD, PhD
Assistant Professor, Neurology
University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli
Consultant Neurologist, Division of Neurology
AOU University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”
– Naples, Italy
Alvino Bisecco (MD, PhD), Assistant Professor in Neurology (RTDb) at University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Napoli and a Consultant Neurologist at I Division of Neurology – AOU University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Napoli.
My main topic of interests during Residency, PhD and the first years of Academic/Hospital career is Multiple Sclerosis and non-conventional Neuroimaging.
In 2012 I visited the Quantitative Neuroimaging Laboratory, University of Siena, Italy, under the supervision of Prof. N. De Stefano, where I improved my skills on MRI brain atrophy measurement techniques.
In 2013 I am awarded with the European ECTRIMS-MAGNIMS fellowship and spent two years of my PhD at Neuroimaging Research Unit, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy under the supervision of Prof. M. Filippi and Prof. M.A. Rocca, where I perfectionated my knowledge on the applications of structural and functional advanced neuroimaging techniques to the study of MS and other demyelinating disorders.
Until a few years ago my main activity was focused on MS (on which I continue to work, both from a clinical practice, clinical research and neuroimaging point of view).
Since 2023, as a part of I Division of Neurology, we have created the Clinical Neuroimmunology Center, of which I am the Head, with a focus on CNS and PNS neurological disorders with autoimmune pathogenesis (Encephalitis, MOGAD, NMOSD, myasthenia gravis (MG), CIDP, myositis, , check-point inhibitors neurotoxicity, paraneoplastic syndromes and other autoimmune diseases of NS).
We also have active collaboration with hematologists/oncologists for complications from immunotherapy and with rheumatologists/immunologists for neurological complications of systemic autoimmune diseases.
From a scientific point of view, numerous lines of research and national/international collaborations in neuroimaging and clinical studies on MS, NMO/MOGAD, myasthenia gravis, CIDP, complications from checkpoint inhibitors, paraneoplastic syndromes are currently active at our center .
Regarding the field of Neuroimaging, MRI Research center is equipped with a research-dedicated 3T MRI, and with an equipe of neuroradiologist/ bioengineers with high expertise on the most advanced techniques of conventional and nonconventional structural/functional MRI and on the application of Artificial Intelligence techniques in Medicine. Our MRI Research center is part of both The Italian Neuroimaging Network Initiative (INNI) and The European Magnetic Resonance Imaging in MS (MAGNIMS) consortiums.
National/international collaborations of our center include: Italian MS group of study, Italian MS Registry (RISM), INNI network, MAGNIMS network, MG study group.
Moreover, I am involved as Principal Investigator or Sub Investigator in many phase 2/3 Clinical Trials on Multiple Sclerosis, Myasthenia Gravis and Autoimmune Encephalitis.
Dr. Silvia Casagrande MD, PhD
University of Florence
U.O. di Neurologia Ospedale S. Maria del Carmine
– Rovereto, Italy
Dr. Silvia Casagrande (Trento, November 18, 1988) obtained the degree in Medicine and Surgery in 2013 from the University of Florence with a thesis entitled “Clinical, laboratory and instrumental characterization of neurologicalsyndromes associated with antibodies anti-onconeural antigens”, This was a result of a shared project involving the Careggi University Hospital of Florence and Fondazione Istituto Neurologico Mondino of Pavia. In 2019 she specialized in Neurology at the University of Florence with a thesis focused on the definition of autoimmune encephalitis according to the 2016 diagnostic criteria. In 2023, she acquired a PhD in Neuroscience at the University of of Florence, with a multicentre project focused on the longitudinal characterization of hippocampal and global brain atrophy in different forms of Limbic Encephalitis.
She works currently as neurology consultant at the Neurology Unit of Santa Maria del Carmine Hospital, Rovereto. Her clinical and research activities are focused on autoimmune neurological disorders with a particular interest in autoimmune encephalitis, paraneoplastic neurological syndromes and myasthenia gravis. She is a member of the coordinating group of the “EAN autoimmune encephalitis treatment Guidelines” project supervised by Prof. M. Titulaer and L. Massacesi.
Dr. Rosa Cortese MD, PhD
Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neuroscience
University of Siena
– Siena, Italy
Dr. Valentina Damato MD, PhD
Assistant Professor in Neurology
Consultant Neurologist, SOD Neurologia 2, AOU Careggi
University of Florence
Department of Neuroscience, Drugs and Child Health (NEUROFARBA)
– Florence, Italy
Dr. Maria Pia Giannoccaro MD, PhD
Junior Assistant Professor
Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences
University of Bologna
– Bologna, Italy
I am a Neurologist and Research Fellow working in the Laboratory of Neuromuscular Pathology and Neuroimmunology of the IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna and Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Neuromotorie of the Bologna University.
During my PhD, spent as an Honorary Research Fellow in Professor Angela Vincent’s Neuroimmunology lab in Oxford, I investigated the role of antibodies against neuronal and glial proteins in the development of autoimmune encephalitis and other neurological disorders, including epilepsy, narcolepsy, and other sleep disorders.
In my clinical work, I run an outpatient clinic for patients with possible autoimmune neurological conditions, including peripheral and central nervous system disorders. From a research perspective, I run the Neuroimmunology section of laboratory of Neuromuscular pathology dedicated to the diagnosis and understanding of underlying mechanisms of autoimmune neurological disorders.
Dr. Raffaele Iorio MD, PhD
Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS
Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore
– Rome, Italy
Dr Raffaele Iorio is a M.D., Ph.D., and trained Neurologist.
During his Ph.D., spent as a Research Fellow in Professor Vanda Lennon’s Neuroimmunology lab at the Mayo Clinic (Rochester, USA), He investigated the clinical and immunological characteristics of Aquaporin-4 autoimmunity. The manuscripts published during the research fellowship at the Mayo Clinic were included in his Ph.D. thesis which was defended on April 7th, 2014.
In 2015 he joined the Neurology Unit of the Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli as a staff neurologist where he started an Autoimmune Neurology Outpatient Clinic dedicated to patients with neurological disorders associated with neural autoantibodies. His research is focused on the clinical characteristics and the immunobiology of autoimmune and paraneoplastic neurological syndromes.
In recognition of the quality of his research, he has been awarded the “American Academy of Neurology International Scholarship Award” and the “Anna Paola Batocchi Award in Clinical Neuroimmunology” in 2013, the Best Ph.D. Thesis of the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore of 2014. In 2020 he won the Young Researcher’s Award from the Italian Ministry of Health for the project entitled “Single-cell deep phenotyping of B lymphocytes to personalize immunotherapy in patients with myasthenia gravis”.
Dr. Sara Mariotto MD, PhD
Neurology Unit
Department of Neuroscience
Biomedicine and Movement Sciences
University of Verona
Policlinico GB Rossi
– Verona, Italy
Sara Mariotto was born in Verona on 13-03-1985. She got her high school diploma at the “Scipione Maffei Institute” (classical studies) in 2004 with a score of 100/100 cum laude and graduated in Medicine and Surgery in July 2010 at the University of Verona, with a thesis entitled “Study of the Cingolate Anterior Cortex in Frontotemporal Dementia” obtaining a score of 110/110 cum laude. In July 2016 she specialised in Neurology with a thesis entitled “Diagnostic role of serum anti-myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibodies in patients with suspected neuromyelitis optica seronegative for anti-aquaporin-4 antibodies” obtaining a score of 70/70 cum laude. She then completed a 3-year PhD in the Graduate School of Life and Health Sciences, Doctoral program in
Neuroscience, Psychological and Psychiatric Sciences, and Movement Sciences at the Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine, and Movement Sciences, University Hospital of Verona, Italy, defending her doctoral thesis entitled “Neurofilament light chain levels in patients with antibodies to myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG-Abs)” in May, 2020 with a positive result. She also obtained the certificate of Doctor Europaeus.
Her research areas include neuroimmunology, neuroinfectivology, neuropathology, and peripheral nerve diseases. Her principal field of interest is the study of autoimmune/inflammatory encephalitis, encephalomyelitis, and peripheral inflammatory neuropathies. In relation to these topics, she studied antibody-mediated disorders of the CNS under the supervision of Prof. Markus Reindl, learning anti-MOG antibodies detection/IgG subclass analysis with cell-based assay, peripheral blood mononuclear cells isolation, and the detection of cytokines in serum and CSF with ELISA during her fellowship at the Clinical Department of Neurology, Medical University of Innsbruck (March-October 2017). She also spent a period (October 2017) at the Institute of Neurology, Medical University of Vienna learning new techniques for the diagnosis of autoimmune encephalitis, under the supervision of Prof. Romana Höftberger. During her residency and PhD she actively participated to the clinical and research activities and study design on central and peripheral nervous system inflammatory and autoimmune conditions. In particular, she introduced novel diagnostic and prognostic assays in the diagnostic workup of the Laboratory of Neuropathology, designed scientific collaborative studies, and she presented research results at national and international meetings on these topics. After her PhD she was awarded an 8-month scholarship (October-May 2020) on the study of diagnostic and prognostic test in antibody-mediated encephalitis and neuromyelitis optica. From December, 2020 to October 2021 she worked as a Junior Researcher at the Neurology Unit, University and AOUI of Verona, Italy. Since then, we works as a Neurologist at the AOUI Verona, Italy.
H index: 19
Dr. Elia Sechi MD, MS
University of Sassari
Department of Medical, Surgical and Experimental Sciences
– Sassari, Italy
Dr. Marianna Spatola MD, PhD
Institit Central des Laboratoires,
Hôpital du Valais
– Barcelona, Spain / Sion, Switzerland
Dr Marianna Spatola is an MD PhD and trained Neurologist. Her research is focused on autoimmune neurological disorders, with a particular interest in understanding the pathogenic mechanisms of antibody-mediated encephalitis, and the contribution of viral infections in triggering brain autoimmunity. She received a widely international training: she obtained her M.D. degree from the University of Turin (Italy), completed her Neurology residency in Lausanne (Switzerland), obtained her PhD in Life Science at the University of Lausanne (Switzerland) and University of Barcelona (Spain), received her Certificate in Biostatistics from Harvard University (USA), where she has been working as a research fellow for the last 4 years. She is author of 29 publications in peer-reviewed journals such as Neurology, Brain, Lancet Neurology, Nature Communications, and a book chapter of the “Neuroimmunology” textbook published by Springer Nature in 2021. She has broad experience as a speaker at 13 international congresses (in Europe, USA, India) and several national and local meetings. In recognition of the quality of her research, she has been awarded the Faculty Prize from the University of Lausanne in 2018, the Neuroscience Research Scholarship Award from the American Academy of Neurology in 2018, the Abstract of Distinction Award from the American Academy of Neurology in 2019, and the Neurovirology Lectureship Award from the International Neurovirology Society in 2021.
Dr. Alberto Vogrig MD, PhD
Clinica Neurologica e Neuroriabilitazione di Udine
Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Friuli Centrale
– Udine, Italy
Il Dott. Alberto Vogrig è Dirigente Medico Neurologo presso la Clinica Neurologica e di Neuroriabilitazione di Udine, Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Friuli Centrale. Il Dott. Vogrig ha conseguito la specializzazione in Neurologia presso l’Università degli Studi di Verona con massimo dei voti e lode (2016) ed ha eseguito diversi soggiorni di aggiornamento esteri (Atene, Grecia; Bergen, Norvegia; Praga, Repubblica Ceca) oltre a due prolungati periodi di ricerca, uno negli Stati Uniti (Università di Stanford, California) ed uno in Francia (Università di Lione).
L’attività assistenziale e di ricerca del Dott. Vogrig è rivolta in maniera elettiva a due filoni principali:
(1) Neuroimmunologia, con particolare riferimento alle sindromi neurologiche paraneoplastiche, encefaliti autoimmuni e neuro-tossicità da immunoterapia. Tale attività viene eseguita anche grazie all’esperienza clinica e di laboratorio di tre anni acquisita presso il Centro di Riferimento Francese per le Sindromi Neurologiche Paraneoplastiche (Lione) con Dottorato di Ricerca in Neuroscienze intitolato “Triggering factors and immunopathogenesis of paraneoplastic neurological syndromes” (Direttore di Tesi: Prof. Jerome Honnorat).
(2) Epilettologia, con gestione dell’Ambulatorio Epilessia e dell’attività di diagnostica neurofisiologica (EEG, Video-EEG, polisonnografia).
Dall’ottobre 2021 sta sviluppando un gruppo di ricerca dedicato alla neuroimmunologia presso la Clinica Neurologica di Udine (Direttore: Prof. Gigli), con la finalità di migliorare l’approccio diagnostico-terapeutico delle patologie neurologiche immuno-mediate, oltre che caratterizzarne nel dettaglio l’epidemiologia e lo spettro clinico.
La produzione scientifica (oltre 60 pubblicazioni indicizzate su Scopus al Febbraio 2022) è consultabile presso https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=alberto+vogrig.
Dr. Marco Zoccarato MD, PhD
Azienda Ospedale Università di Padova
– Padova, Italy
Il dr. Marco Zoccarato, nato il 26 febbraio 1982, ha conseguito la Laurea in Medicina e Chirurgia presso l’Università di Padova nel 2008 discutendo la tesi dal titolo “Encefalite limbica immuno-mediata: eterogeneità clinica ed anticorpale”. Nel 2013 si è quindi specializzato in Neurologia nella stessa Università sotto la supervisione del prof. Bruno Tavolato discutendo la tesi “Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor encephalitis clinical and immunological characterization of a case series”. Nel 2017 ha conseguito a Padova il dottorato di ricerca in Neuroscienze con il progetto dal titolo: “Exploring the clinical spectrum of Glutamic Acid Decarboxylase antibodies in neurological patients, through the validation of an Enzme-Linked immunosorbent Assay”
Nel 2008 ha svolto un periodo di attività di ricerca presso il Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine (University of Oxford), sotto la supervisione della prof. A. Vincent, dedicandosi allo studio degli anticorpi contro antigeni di superficie associati ad encefalite autoimmune.
Dal 2009 al 2016 si è dedicato ad attività laboratoristica nell’ambito delle patologie neurologiche paraneoplastiche ed autoimmuni presso il Laboratorio di Neuroimmunologia diretto dal prof. Bruno Giometto (dapprima presso la Clinica Neurologica II di Padova, quindi presso l’UOC di Neurologia dell’Ospedale di Treviso).
Dal 2014 ha prestato servizio come Neurologo presso l’Ospedale “Ca’ Foncello” di Treviso e dal 2016 è Dirigente Medico presso l’UOC di Neurologia dell’Ospedale “S.Antonio” (Azienda Ospedale Università di Padova).
Attualmente coordina l’ambulatorio Malattie Neurologiche Autoimmuni e l’ambulatorio Malattie Demielinizzanti afferenti alla propria unità di Neurologia.
Dal 2016 è inoltre membro del gruppo multidisciplinare interaziendale neuro-oncologico fra AOPD ed Istituto Oncologico Veneto. Presso tale istituto esegue attività di consulenza e coordina l’ambulatorio di Neurologia.
Dr. Luigi Zuiliani MD, PhD
Laboratorio di Neurobiologia
U.O.C. di Neurologia
Ospedale S. Bortolo
– Vicenza, Italy
Il Dr. Zuliani Luigi (Treviso, 31 Marzo 1977) si è laureato nel 2002 presso l’Università di Padova. Nel 2008 ha ottenuto il Diploma di Specializzazione in Neurologia discutendo la tesi: “Limbic Encephalitis and Potassium Channels Antibodies – Characterization of Clinical Spectrum and Antibody Pathogenicity”; nel 2012 il Dottorato di Ricerca in Scienze Mediche (indirizzo Neuroscienze) discutendo la tesi: “Central Nervous System Neuronal Surface Antibody associated syndromes – Clinical and Laboratory Characterization”.
Nel 2003 ha ottenuto un Assegno di Ricerca nell’ambito del Progetto Ministeriale Italiano – “Identificazione di nuovi antigeni onconeurali nelle sindromi paraneoplastiche” (supervisore Prof. Bruno Giometto).
Nel 2005-2006 ha svolto attività di ricerca presso l’Università di Barcellona (Hospital Clinic, Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer – IDIBAPS; Universitat de Barcelona), con supervisore il Prof. Francesc Graus, in qualità di vincitore di un Fellowship Grant di 6 mesi della Società Europea di Neurologia (ENS).
Da luglio 2008 a Settembre 2009 ha svolto attività di ricerca presso l’Università di Oxford (Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine e Department of Clinical Neurology, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford), con supervisore la Prof.ssa Angela Vincent, in qualità di vincitore di un Fellowship Grant della Federazione delle Società Europee di Neurologia (EFNS).
Da Ottobre 2009 a Novembre 2018 ha assunto l’incarico di Dirigente Medico presso l’UOC di Neurologia dell’Ospedale Ca’ Foncello di Treviso (Azienda ULSS 2 Marca Trevigiana).
Da Dicembre 2018 ad oggi è Dirigente Medico presso l’UOC di Neurologia dell’Ospedale San Bortolo di Vicenza (Azienda ULSS8 Berica), dal Agosto 2020 con Incarico Professionale di Alta Specializzazione in Neuroimmunologia, con attività di coordinazione del Centro Sclerosi Multipla e del Laboratorio di Neurobiologia per la diagnostica autoanticorpale.
E’ inoltre tra i collaboratori del gruppo di Neuroimmunologia presso l’Istituto di Ricerca Pediatrica Città della Speranza di Padova.
Estratto pubblicazioni:
- Zuliani L, Marangoni S, De Gaspari P, Rosellini I, Nosadini M, Fleming JM, De Riva V, Galloni E, Perini F, Frigo AC, Sartori S, Zoccarato M, Giometto B. Epidemiology of neuronal surface antibody-mediated autoimmune encephalitis and antibody-based diagnostics. J Neuroimmunol. 2021 Aug 15;357:577598. doi:10.1016/j.jneuroim.
- Zuliani L, Nosadini M, Gastaldi M, Spatola M, Iorio R, Zoccarato M, Mariotto S, De Gaspari P, Perini F, Ferrari S, Evoli A, Sartori S, Franciotta D, Giometto B. Management of antibody-mediated autoimmune encephalitis in adults and children: literature review and consensus-based practical recommendations. Neurol Sci. 2019 Oct;40(10):2017-2030. doi: 10.1007/s10072-019-03930-3.
- Zuliani L, Zoccarato M, Gastaldi M, Iorio R, Evoli A, Biagioli T, Casagrande S, Bazzigaluppi E, Fazio R, Giannotta C, Nobile-Orazio E, Andreetta F, SimonciniO, Costa G, Mariotto S, Ferrari S, Galloni E, Marcon M, Franciotta D, Giometto B. Diagnostics of autoimmune encephalitis associated with antibodies against neuronal surface antigens. Neurol Sci. 2017 Oct;38(Suppl 2):225-229. doi: 10.1007/s10072-017-3032-4.
- Zuliani L, Graus F, Giometto B, Bien C, Vincent A. Central nervous system neuronal surface antibody associated syndromes: review and guidelines for recognition. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2012 Jun;83(6):638-45. doi:10.1136/jnnp-2011-301237.