PhD, Biomedical Research, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy – 2018
BS/MS, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Technology, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy – 2014
Maria Elena Cicardi, PhD
Research Instructor
Contact Information
900 Walnut Street
Jefferson Hospital for Neurosciences, Suite 418A
Philadelphia, PA 19107
Research Instructor
Education
Publications
- NLS-binding deficient Kapβ2 reduces neurotoxicity via selective interaction with C9orf72-ALS/FTD dipeptide repeats
- The nuclear import receptor Kapβ2 modifies neurotoxicity mediated by poly(GR) in C9orf72-linked ALS/FTD
- ARID1A-BAF coordinates ZIC2 genomic occupancy for epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in cranial neural crest specification
- Glucose hypometabolism prompts RAN translation and exacerbates C9orf72-related ALS/FTD phenotypes
- Minimal information for studies of extracellular vesicles (MISEV2023): From basic to advanced approaches
Grants & Awards
Awarded
- Department of Defense (DoD) - Discovery Award - W81XWH-20-PRMRP-DA – Investigating the Role of EVs to Abate the Spreading of Neuroinflammation in FTD Linked to C9orf72 Aberrant Expansion - Feb 2021-Aug 2023
- IBRO/PERC InEurope Short Stay Grant- “=Characterizing the CRISPR/Cas9 system in hiPSCs models - Jan 2016
- Scholarship for participation at the scientific meeting, Motor neuron diseases: molecular and cellular basis of selective vulnerability - Milano - July 3-4, 2014
Pending
- NIH R21 – Evaluation of CNS cellular senescence as a therapeutic target in ALS/FTD models”– In resubmission Nov 2024 (first round scored 31 percentile)
- In preparation
- NIH R01 – Role of C9orf72 in innate and adaptive immunity in brain and spinal cord
- NIH R21 – Disentangling the role of microglia in neurodegeneration using cortico-motor assembloids
Previous – Not Funded
- ALS-FAC special grant – Develop and validate ALS Organoid Models – (January 2024)
- MDA developmental grant – Targeting cellular senescence as new therapeutic strategy for ALS (March 2024 – Second submission)
- NIH R03 – Nov 2023 – Disentangling the role of immunity in CNS by spatial transcriptomics.
Research & Clinical Interests
My research career has been dedicated to understanding the underlying mechanisms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a devastating neurodegenerative disease. My graduate and postdoctoral studies focused on the etiopathology of ALS, particularly investigating the molecular targets impacted by C9orf72 protein products. Currently, I am exploring the role of microglia-derived extracellular vesicles in mediating the interplay between central and peripheral immunity, and adaptive and innate immunity, as potential drivers of ALS progression.