Corsi Francesca

Contacts:

francesca.corsi@phd.unipi.it

Supervisor(s):

Professor Maria Claudia Gargini

PhD project Title:

Saffron treatment as nutraceutical strategies for a mutation-independent approaches to slow down Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP)

Abstract of the PhD project:

Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) is a hereditary retinal dystrophy characterized by the progressive degeneration of photoreceptors and abnormalities in retinal pigment epithelium. The purpose of my PhD project is to fill a gap in current knowledge of RP by devising a still missing pharmacological treatment which exploits the ability of new molecules to target oxidative stress and delay the disease progression. In particular, I will study the efficacy of a treatment based on saffron and its natural and synthetic derivatives, in slowing down the progression of retinal degeneration in animal models of RP.

Publications link:

Oral communications at conferences:

• “Role of oxidative stress and the antioxidant effect of nutraceutical molecules” 14th Annual Meeting of Young Researchers in Physiology (YRP), Bertinoro (Italy); 29/07/2021 – 31/7/2021 .
• “Anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic activities of TSPO ligands in an in-vitro model of retinal neuro-inflammation” 4th Brainstorming Research Assembly for young Neuroscientists, Pisa (Italy); 20/10/2021 – 22.10.2021.
• “Antioxidant activity of 8-amino-quinoline compounds combined with natural acid in an in-vitro neuronal model” The future of Redox Biology, Siena (Italy); 17/06/2022 – 19.6.2022.
• “Resilienza e neuroprotezione: la nuova frontiera dello zafferano” Zafferano Chimica e Salute, L’Aquila (Italy); 23/10/2023.
• “Anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic activity of a TSPO ligand in slowing retina neurodegeneration in a model of retinitis pigmentosa” Ever Congress, Valencia (Spain); 26/10/2023 – 28/10/2023.