Group Leader : Silvia Middei
Topic : Neurobiology

Our research investigates how brain networks work and how they are associated with both normal functions, in particular memory and social behavior, and breakdown that lead to brain disorders.
Our studies aim to assess brain activation, synaptic plasticity and the underlying neurobiological processes in transgenic mice for Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) and Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) performing specific memory or social interaction tasks. These studies provide an understanding of how diseases affect neuronal networks underlying cognition.
Recent findings were the basis to testing a new AD-related drug (Scopa et al., 2019). In addition, we have investigated the compensatory activity of brain networks that sustains intact cognition at early stages of AD progression (Pignataro et al., 2019).
We are now running an international project to assess the neurobiological alterations underlying compulsive and avoidance behaviors in ASDs. The main research question in these studies is how exposition to social stimuli modulates the development of brain networks

Key Pubblications

 

  • Pignataro A, Meli G, Pagano R, Fontebasso V, Battistella R, Conforto G, Ammassari-Teule M, Middei S. Activity-Induced Amyloid-β Oligomers Drive Compensatory Synaptic Rearrangements in Brain Circuits Controlling Memory of Presymptomatic Alzheimer’s Disease Mice. Biol Psychiatry. 2019 Aug 1;86(3):185-195
  • Rizzello E, Middei S, Marchetti C Synaptic Correlates of Anterograde Amnesia and Intact Retrograde Memory in a Mouse Model of Alzheimer’s Disease. Curr Alzheimer Res. 2020 Feb 24:10.2174/1567205017666200224122113
  • Pignataro A, Middei S. Trans-Synaptic Spread of Amyloid-β in Alzheimer’s Disease: Paths to β-Amyloidosis. Neural Plast. 2017;2017:5281829
  • Scopa C, Marrocco F, Latina V, Ruggeri F, Corvaglia V, La Regina F, Ammassari-Teule M, Middei S, Amadoro G, Meli G, Scardigli R, Cattaneo A.Impaired adult neurogenesis is an early event in Alzheimer’s disease neurodegeneration, mediated by intracellular Aβ oligomers. Cell Death Differ. 2020 Mar;27(3):934-948
  • Scopa C, Marrocco F, Latina V, Ruggeri F, Corvaglia V, La Regina F, Ammassari-Teule M, Middei S, Amadoro G, Meli G, Scardigli R, Cattaneo A.Impaired adult neurogenesis is an early event in Alzheimer’s disease neurodegeneration, mediated by intracellular Aβ oligomers. Cell Death Differ. 2020 Mar;27(3):934-948

Programs & Resources

CNR Short term mobility grant, Year 2018. Project title: Modulation of Oxytocin system in a mouse model of Fragile X Syndrome. Role in the project: PI (Collaborator: Susanna Pietropaolo, Bordeaux University, France)

CNR Research grant on Health ageing, Years 2013-2016. Project title: Disease mechanisms of working memory load capacity in ageing and Alzheimer’s Disease. AGESPAM IGB-CNR. Role in the project: Collaborator (Coordinator: Martine Ammassari-Teule, Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy)

Alzheimer Association Grant, Years 2012-2014. Project title: Learning from epilepsy to understand Alzheimer’s Disease. NIRG-12-237009. Role in the project: co-PI (PI, Cristina Marchetti, European Brain Research Institute, Rome, Italy)

Alzheimer Association Grant, Years 2011-2013. Project title: Preventing and monitoring onset of synaptic degeneration in early Alzheimer’s Disease. NIRG-11-204588. Role in the project: Collaborator (PI: Marcello D’Amelio, Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy)

FILAS, Starting Grant 2011. Project title: Sviluppo delle ricerche sul cervello: Aspetti molecolari e comportamentali delle malattie del Sistema Nervoso. DSB.AD004,089. Role in the project: Unit PI (Coordinator Delio Mercanti).